CUMBERLAND – The animal hospital so many have watched be built from the ground up throughout the last year in Cumberland County is now open and ready to meet and greet their established people and paw clients and also make friends with new ones.

Cumberland Animal Hospital, originally Andersonville Animal Clinic, has finished its relocation and is open, ready, and in its new and spacious building at the intersection of Routes 45 and 60 in the Hillcrest area of Cumberland.

“We did a complete move,” said Veterinarian Dr. Elizabeth Hazlegrove about the move to Cumberland County. “All of my employees came with me and we shifted locations and names.”

Although the location and drive might be a little different than what established clients are used to, the new office with its new name is now centrally located and in a convenient location, according to Cumberland Animal Hospital's owner Dr. Hazlegrove.

“They are very supportive of the new hospital and are very excited as well for what we could provide for their pets,” offered Dr. Hazlegrove about the Cumberland location. “From Sprouses Corner, the location is actually not that much farther but a more direct access. It's a couple miles further-but it takes less time. Even though it might be a few miles further, it is more accessible.”

An open house/ribbon cutting for the new building and animal hospital is scheduled for Sunday, February 19 from 2 until 5 p.m. and all are invited to attend.

There will be tours given of the new facility and everyone will be able to see all of the new equipment being utilized in the hospital, such as an in-house laboratory, digital radiology, and an upcoming grooming service in the spring.

“Behind the scenes-they can see what we can offer them,” added Dr. Hazlegrove about the scheduled open house.

According to Dr. Hazlegrove, it's taken about three years to get through the whole process since approaching Cumberland for its zoning permit.

“From the rezoning all the way up to getting here,” she said, “it's been about a three-year process.”

The hours of operation are on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday between 8 a.m. until five p.m. and then Saturdays, as a walk-in, until noon.

“We provide wellness and prevention care,” offered Dr. Hazlegrove. “…We provide dental care, surgeries, and certainly hospitalization and treatment as needed. Sort of everything from your sick, to your well, to helping you stay healthy. And, of course, an information outlet for people and clients who have just general pet questions.”

Dr. Hazlegrove has always wanted her office in Cumberland, she said.

“I'm originally from Cumberland,” she explained. “I was born and raised in Cumberland County off of Stoney Point Road. I went to William and Mary for my undergraduate work, graduated there in 2000, and went on to vet school at Virginia Tech.”

After graduating from Virginia Tech in 2004, Dr. Hazlegrove knew she wanted to practice veterinarian medicine in her home county.

“It had always been a dream to do rural veterinary medicine and I've enjoyed that immensely,” she said. “And I've been working toward being able to open up a practice here in Cumberland and making it possible to provide veterinary care.”

Concerning the area's rural nature, Dr. Hazlegrove offered, “I want people to be able to have the option for digital x-rays. For the same services that you would be able to find in the big city without having to drive there.”