Cat Care Clinic in Ormond Beach is celebrating 25 years of caring for felines with a special community open house. The event will take place on Saturday, March 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the clinic, located at 320 S. Yonge St.
Visitors will be able to take self-guided tours of the clinic and purchase $5 raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes such as free lab work, pet strollers, and exams. There will also be a coffee bar, snacks, and gift bags for attendees. The event is free and open to the public.
“This is a celebration for us and for the community,” said Dr. Amber Carter, owner of Cat Care Clinic. “It’s our way of saying thank you.”
Dr. Carter, who dreamed of working in feline medicine since college, purchased the clinic in 2015. She and her husband, practice manager Kenny Carter, took over from founders Dr. Leslie Nixon and her husband John, who opened the clinic in 2000. Within five years, the business moved from a small plaza on Granada Boulevard to a 4,000-square-foot space on Yonge Street, specially designed for cat care.
The clinic includes four exam rooms, a main treatment area with an oxygen cage, a digital X-ray room, a surgical suite, and a full endoscope for internal exams. It also has an in-house lab for quick test results.
Dr. Carter, who once studied drama and stage management at Duke University, changed careers after reading about veterinary work in a career almanac. She earned a molecular biology degree from the University of Central Florida and later graduated from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Early in her veterinary studies, she decided to focus solely on cats.
“Cats are amazing creatures,” she said. “I love the calm of a feline-only practice without barking dogs.”
She first worked at Cat Care Clinic in 2007, left in 2010, and returned in 2014 when the Nixons asked if she was interested in buying the practice.
Today, the clinic is staffed by five veterinarians, including Dr. Carter and Dr. Nixon, both board-certified in feline practice. The team also includes three receptionists, eight technicians, and support staff.
Longtime receptionist Jenn Lo, who joined the clinic in 2007, said the work environment is one of the best. “They take care of us,” she said. “The best part of the job is the cats.”
Client Michele Dennis, a retired teacher, has brought her pets to the clinic since it opened. “They care deeply about these cats,” she said. “I would recommend them to anyone.”
Dr. Carter said the clinic’s mission is to provide top-level care, great service, and a supportive workplace. “If the experience isn’t good for patients and clients, the medicine doesn’t matter,” she said.
While the anniversary is a time to celebrate, Dr. Carter said it’s also a chance to raise awareness.
“The event is to remind people that cats need yearly vet visits too,” she said. “We’re here to make that a positive experience—for cats and their people.”
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