Everyone knows pets are just four-legged family members. A pet can be a faithful companion, a trusted confidant, a snuggly comforter.
And like any other family member, pets need to be properly cared for.
Folks have been entrusting care of their pets to Wignall Animal Hospital in Dracut for more than four decades, and during that time,
Wignall has earned a reputation of excellence when it comes to providing veterinary care.
February is Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, Pet Dental Health Month, Responsible Pet Owners Month, Dog Training Education Month and Cat Health Month. So it’s only appropriate that Wignall is Dracut Economic Development’s Business of the Month.
In addition to well visits and checkups, Wignall offers spay and neutering, dental care, orthopedic surgery, ultrasound, full-service boarding, day care and laser therapy.
The hospital’s five care themes are: preventive medicine, dental health, senior pet health, weight management and client education.
Wignall, at 1837 Bridge Street, has five exam rooms and is adding two more, as well as reflooring the existing rooms.
Wignall started out as a small veterinary practice out of a home. In 2000, the current facility was built on the same site. Today, there is also a day-care and boarding facility, Camp Wignall, which is a perfect place for dogs (and maybe even a cat or two) to spend the day while Mom and Dad are working.
“We have two fenced-in areas out back for playtime,” says Amy Hale, the practice manager. “Playtime is very important for animals while they’re boarding.”
Wignall is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. It recently added three veterinarians, bringing the total to eight, who rotate between Wignall and its sister practice, Belvidere Veterinary Hospital, in Lowell.
Dr. Kate Thomas, Wignall’s medical director and a Dracut resident, said the hospital makes sure its staff is up to speed on the very latest veterinary procedures.
“There’s no old-school medicine here,” she says.
The hospital is open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and is available for emergencies, though the staff may opt to send severe cases to nearby hospitals, including Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn and Rockingham Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Windham, N.H.
“Usually, we can handle emergencies,” Amy says, “but if there is a true trauma or a pet that needs surgery and overnight care, we’ll triage them here then transport them. We’re very lucky to be in an area where there are plenty of emergency-care facilities.”
Part of Wignall’s appeal is that those who work there tend to stay, which, in turn, makes its patients (and their owners) more comfortable.
“Everyone on the leadership team started here at an entry level, making it a great place for staff to work,” says Amy, who is in her 13th year with Wignall.
Kate has been with Wignall since she graduated from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. As the medical director, she oversees the care provided by all of
the veterinarians on staff.
- “I came here straight out of college and never left because I love it,” she says. “It’s an awesome place to work. I was really lucky to land here.”
Your pets will be lucky to land at Wignall, too. And if you leave your pets at Camp Wignall for the day, rest assured they will receive all the creature comforts of home.
“We strive to be low-stress,” Amy says. “There are a lot of treats, catnip and positive reinforcement.”
Check out Wignall at https://wignall.com, or call 978-454-8272.