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McLean County Emergency Vet To Close 3 Nights Weekly

Dr. Joshua Li and Clooney
Animal Emergency Clinic
Dr. Joshua Li of Highland Pet Hospital also works part-time at the Animal Emergency Clinic.

Pet owners in McLean County who need a veterinarian in an emergency might soon have to take their furry friend to Urbana after hours.

The Animal Emergency Clinic, 2505 E. Oakland Ave., Bloomington, has announced it will close on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights starting in September.

Dr. Joshua Li, a veterinarian at Highland Pet Hospital in Bloomington, is one of the vets who works part-time at the emergency clinic. He said the clinic has struggled for years to find enough vets to keep it staffed.

“Because of the longevity of the national veterinary shortage, particularly for the (emergency) side, we have decided to reduce our hours a little bit, at least for this time,” Li said.

The clinic has brought in vets throughout the community to try to fill open shifts.

Li added if more vets come forward who are willing to take on those evening or overnight hours, the clinic would consider restoring those hours.

Li explained closing the center on weeknights limits the intervals in which emergency services wouldn’t be available.

“The owners of the emergency clinic decided that it’s more important to staff the emergency clinic on weekends when we know there are no daytime veterinarians open,” Li said.

Emergency cases will be referred to a clinic at the University of Illinois Small Animal Clinic and SportsVet Animal Medical Center in Savoy.

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Eric Stock is the News Director at WGLT. You can contact Eric at ejstoc1@ilstu.edu.
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