Changes Are Subtle But Valuable At Mt Pleasant Hospital For Animals

By Nancy K. Crevier

Change is a good thing, but it does not have to be something that happens all at once, said Dr Rakesh Vali.

Although Dr Vali purchased Mt Pleasant Hospital for Animals at 119 Mt Pleasant Road from Dr Brian Silverlieb in October 2010, it is only in recent months, following the death in February of his friend, mentor, and founder of the veterinarian clinic, that Dr Vali has begun to implement changes.

“We had already begun planning for the business to change hands when Dr Silverlieb was initially diagnosed with brain cancer in March of 2010. By late summer, he was ready to move forward with those plans,” said Dr Vali. “This hospital was his baby. He wanted to know someone would be here to take care of his patients,” Dr Vali said.

The first few months after Dr Silverlieb died, it was still a shock, but early this summer Dr Vali began making improvements to the physical facility. The 1719 building is the ancestral home of the Camp and Platt founding families of Newtown, and while it had been updated since becoming the animal hospital in 1977, there were repairs that had been put on hold when Dr Silverlieb became ill. Those are the immediate changes longtime clients notice at the hospital.

The waiting area is painted soothing shades of pale green, with window blinds to match. New, cushioned chairs line the perimeter of the space, and clients and animal patients alike enjoy watching the black mollies and neon tetras dart about in the wall-mounted aquarium. Overhead track lighting brightens the room now, as well. They are small changes, said Dr Vali, but ones that help make the visit to the veterinarian a pleasant experience. The aim, he said, is to “make your pet feel relaxed and adored from the moment it steps through our door.”

Other changes will be ongoing, he said, including updating the boarding area to provide more comfortable accommodations for the 30 to 40 dogs that make use of the service. The Catell Ritz, a dog-free zone that offers individual crates and supervised playtime, will soon provide entertainment for its feline guests in the forms of a fish tank and cat-friendly movies.

Technological Upgrades

Changes that are not so visible include new software that allows staff and doctors to provide better service to the clients. “This software cost $80,000,” said Dr Vali, “but it connects us to all of our patients’ records, and to the lab. If any blood work is sent out, it is automatically updated. It is allowing our practice to become paperless,” he said.

Most clients will also not see the digital x-ray machine that has been added to the rest of the state-of-the-art equipment at Mt Pleasant Hospital for Animals. Digital x-rays provide a crisp image, said Dr Vali. “It gives us nice exposures and because of that, we have better diagnostic capabilities. Digital images mean that if we need to send out x-rays to be read by a radiologist, there is a quick turnaround. That is a big benefit to us, and to our patients,” he said.

The digital x-ray machine complements services that were implemented under Dr Silverlieb, said Dr Vali. The hospital is known for its onsite laboratory for immediate blood and urine results, and its onsite ultrasound, endoscope, and intensive care unit. Dental x-rays are also available onsite at the animal hospital.

Dr Vali graduated from the University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. Before purchasing the business, he was an associate of Dr Silverlieb’s for eight years, specializing in small animal reproduction, mainly dog breeding. So he is pleased to announce that with the recent purchase of a new endoscope, the facility can perform the highly specialized transcervical insemination technique.

The outlay of money for these three pieces of technology was not small, said Dr Vali, but he feels that they will only add to the hospital’s reputation for high standards and customer service. Through the integrated clinical practices and education, Mt Pleasant Hospital for Animals not only keeps pets healthy, but delivers what they believe to be the finest in veterinary care, he said.

Assisting Dr Vali in providing quality service for the past several months is Dr Sarah Murray. Dr Murray, a 2007 graduate of Atlantic Veterinary College on Prince Edward Island, Canada, provided on and off coverage for Dr Silverlieb when he was not well. In recent months, she has increased her presence at the Mt Pleasant Hospital to every Tuesday and every other Saturday.

“I love farm animals, and my first job after graduating was with a farm and small animal hospital in Bethany, where I still live. I miss working with the farm animals here,” said Dr Murray, who breeds border collies, “but I’m enjoying working with our small animal clientele. What I love is that Mt Pleasant is a very family type of practice. Everybody cares about the animals and is devoted to the care of our patients and boarders.”

Compassionate Care

Clients who were initially concerned about the change of ownership at the veterinarian clinic have quickly learned that the prime focus of client satisfaction and compassionate care that were the hallmarks under Dr Silverlieb remain the focus for Dr Vali and his staff. “While we have been updating the building and boarding area, we still offer the same excellent diagnostic skills and customer service that were so important to Dr Silverlieb,” stressed Dr Vali. “He taught me that we bend over backward to accommodate our clients. If a client calls and needs us, we have to be there,” he said.

An answering service texts the doctor during off hours and he will call back, or refer the patient to the Danbury Emergency Clinic on Route 6, if that is more appropriate, he said. The hospital has also added extended Saturday, early morning, and late evening hours. When necessary, the doctors will also make house calls.

He is pleased that the client/patient list remains stable, and added that they are now beginning to see third generation clients with their pets for wellness exams, vaccines, pharmaceutical and pet supplies, and other pet needs.

Mt Pleasant Hospital for Animals remains a supporter of Canine Advocates of Newtown and the Park & Bark Dog Park, and works with the local pound and shelter, said Dr Vali. He plans to continue to hold the annual adoption day each fall, in conjunction with Newtown Parks and Recreation and Canine Advocates.

Dr Vali is also pleased that Mt Pleasant Hospital for Animals was voted Danbury News Times Readers’ Choice “Best Veterinary Hospital in Greater Danbury.” “People will continue to see some changes,” said Dr Vali, “but a little at a time. What won’t change, is our dedication to our clients.”