Bartlett considers plan for fourth animal hospital

Bartlett Square Shopping Center, near the intersection of Illinois Route 59 and Army Trail Road, may soon be home to Bartlett’s fourth animal hospital.

The village’s planning and zoning committee discussed the possibility of allowing 16-year resident and veterinarian Jennifer Anda to open the Army Trail Animal Hospital in a vacant space at 1095 W. Army Trail Road, on the west end of the strip mall.

The 2,780-square-foot hospital would include three exam rooms, a lab and pharmacy, a surgery room and X-ray and dental rooms. There would also be three caged runs and approximately 26 cages of different sizes.

“I think it would be a very welcome addition to the shopping center,” said Trustee T.L. Arends. She also asked Anda if she intended to join the village’s Chamber of Commerce, to which she responded yes.

Anda would use the hospital primarily to treat dogs, cats, birds and small animals. There is also a possibility of overnight boarding for animals recovering from surgery or for non-critical sick pets or pets with chronic illness if their owners are out of town and want a veterinarian to care for their pet.

To start, the hospital will be operated by Anda and one or two employees, but there is potential for up to six employees to work at the facility.

The proposed hours of operation would be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It would be closed Sunday.

In the coming weeks the planning commission will hear the proposal and host a public hearing on the animal hospital. Village officials estimate a final vote could be made by the first week of April.

Other animal hospitals that exist in the village are Bartlett Animal Hospital, Westgate Veterinary Center and Heartland Animal Hospital.