Pet Vet Express opens in Crestline Village
Dr. Kris Mahaffey said she believes veterinarians do not just care for animals; they also serve people.
For 15 years, Mountain Brook clients asked Pet Vet Express to expand to their neighborhood from their Vestavia Hills location. On Aug. 9, Mahaffey opened a satellite clinic in Crestline Village.
“We listened, and we had a great opportunity, and we decided to make it happen,” Mahaffey said. “Hopefully, we can be here and be able to provide Mountain Brook with anything they may need as far as a veterinary clinic.”
She said she hoped pet owners would find the new location, two doors left from the Pants Store in Crestline, convenient for running errands while someone grooms or examines their animals.
“I’m a working mom, and I know how precious everyone’s time is,” Mahaffey said. “I think that we’re going to be providing a niche, something where people don’t have to travel a long distance in order to get things addressed … I know with my clients in Vestavia, it is so important that they’re able to do several things at one time.”
Jackie Burks, a veterinarian with more than 30 years of experience, runs the day-to-day operations of the clinic.
Burks takes a simple and straightforward approach to serving clients: Determine each animal’s needs and help the owners reach the best solution for them.
“We’re going to recommend the best for people’s pets,” Burks said. “We are going to help them, decide what’s going on, what’s the best to be done. Now, we realize that people can’t always do the best for various reasons, and then we’ll figure out what to do when that time comes.”
The clinic provides a full assortment of services, including wellness exams, vaccines, microchipping and dental procedures. Eventually, they plan to start food and prescription delivery. Grooming is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays and bathing and nail-clipping are Tuesday-Friday. Because the city does not allow overnight boarding, the Mountain Brook location performs minor, but not major surgeries. However, the Vestavia Hills clinic, five miles away, does offer these.
Mahaffey said she expects the clinic to suit the Mountain Brook community well.
“I love that this area, everybody’s out walking, enjoying the great outdoors,” she said. “Everybody’s getting healthy. I think that’s very important in this area.”
Burks and his wife have always enjoyed their visits to Birmingham and are glad to live near their son, his wife, their 2-year-old grandson and their favorite restaurant.
“We’re excited. We’ve always liked this area,” Burks said. “[Kris’ husband] said, ‘You know where Crestline Village is?’ I said, ‘Is that the one where La Paz is? Yeah, I know exactly where that is.’”
The Mountain Brook Pet Vet Express is at 253 Country Club Park and is open Tuesday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call 518-0606 or go to alpetvet.vetstreet.com.