NEWBERRY — The name may be different, but the medical care has not changed. That is what Roy Taylor, owner of PetCare of Newberry (formerly Newberry Animal Hospital) said during the grand opening last week.
PetCare of Newberry is located on 436 Wilson Road, Newberry.
“Newberry Animal Hospital has been here for about 53 years — we found there was a need in the community for more grooming services, boarding services, in-home services so that’s why we are changing the name and adding the services to grow with the community needs,” Taylor said.
Taylor also added that with additions to Newberry, such as Samsung, they will hopefully treat and care for more pets.
“With Samsung bringing in a lot of employees, we’re hoping that’ll equate to new residents in the community with individuals likely to have a pet. We want to make sure — especially if you move to another area and don’t have relatives nearby — you have some place where you know it is going to be comfortable for your pets to visit while you’re traveling,” he said.
Dr. Josh Von Szalatnay, or “Dr. Von” as his patients know him, will be the primary veterinarian seeing the animals. According to PetCare of Newberry’s website, Szalatnay is a native of Saluda and attended the College of Charleston where he received his undergraduate degree in Biology. Upon graduation from the College of Charleston, he then pursued and obtained a Veterinary Degree from the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
The website states that Szalatnay also devotes his time to the welfare of homeless animals as well as extensive participation with Remote Area Medical, an organization devoted to rural medical and veterinary care. He is also the recipient of the Global Citizen Award given by the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine.
“Same fantastic medical care that we’ve got, Dr. Von is our primary veterinarian, but we have digital x-ray, all the dental equipment, also sonograms, so any cutting-edge equipment we’ve also got here as well to make sure we can give the proper diagnosis to the pet and give them the treatment that they need,” Taylor said.
Taylor added that the ultrasound is the newest piece of technology added, but doesn’t want people to think PetCare is only for sick animals.
“When you think of animal hospitals, it makes you think of ‘okay, my dog is sick,’ but PetCare encompasses more with the boarding and grooming services, that’s what we’re really looking at as far as expansions — so it’s not only for sick animals, but also healthy animals as well,” he said.
PetCare of Newberry welcomes all animals, but suggested calling the office beforehand to ensure the vets are familiar with the animal.
“If you brought in a reptile and they weren’t familiar with it, then it wouldn’t do much value to bring it in — but we will try to get you a referral,” Taylor said. “They recently saw a bearded dragon so we do reptiles, but we want to make sure the veterinarian that’s working is comfortable with your pet, but it still will primarily be dogs and cats.”
While much of PetCare of Newberry is still the same, Taylor said this is simply an expansion of services.
“We didn’t have the grooming facility or boarding before so, again that’s why the name changed, it’s expanding from more of a medical healthcare facility to include those other services, that’s the biggest difference,” he said.
PetCare of Newberry is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. and is closed on Thursdays and Sunday and half a day on Saturdays.