Staff Writer
Whether your cow has a belly ache, your goat hurts its leg or your pig won’t eat, the veterinary doctors at Five Oaks Animal Hospital and Livestock Veterinary Services are there to help.
The livestock service moved from U.S. 258 North to 1991 N.C. 11/55 South on Nov. 11 and added a small animal clinic serving the needs of dogs, cats, rabbits and other small furry pets.
“We made a decision last year to build a new facility,” said Dr. Randy Jones, who owns the facility with Dr. Robert Cary Sexton.
Jones, Sexton and Dr. Brad Heins administer care and consultation services of livestock, traveling to local farms for sick and preventative care. Their patients are mainly cattle, swine, goats and sheep, and an occasional horse, Jones said.
Jones, who studied veterinary medicine at N.C. State University and has lived in Kinston since 1985, worked for 10 years at Riverbank Animal Hospital.
He started working with livestock out of his home, opened his first practice on Vernon Avenue and, in 2002, bought the U.S. 258 facility.
The following year, Sexton joined him. Heins joined him this year. Jones’ wife, Beth Jones, is the business manager.
Dr. Carlton Rouse, along with part-timer Dr. Jessica Girard, provide care at the new small animal clinic. The clinic does not see exotic pets, reptiles or birds, Jones said.
Today, there are fewer veterinarians who specialize in livestock care, making it a necessity for an agricultural area, he said. But adding the small animal clinic makes it a full-service animal care facility.
“We want to provide the community with a full veterinary service that is affordable that provides the services they need,” Jones said.
The new clinic provides appointments and walk-in care, surgical procedures, boarding, grooming, flea and tick formulas, medications and prescription feed at its 14-acre site. However, Jones envisions more.
“Our goal is to eventually have a large animal clinic, meaning people would be able to bring their livestock to the facility for surgery and overnight care,” he said.
The veterinarians emphasize preventive health care, including creating wellness plans and reducing the need for antibiotics for farm animals, Jones said.
“We stress preventative medicine on the large animal side and preventative medicine on the small animal side.”
Five Oaks Animal Hospital is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. For information, call 252-686-8601.
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Local businesses are celebrating the national “Shop Small, Y’all” day on Saturday.
Downtown businesses will be featuring posters with the state image and slogan, encouraging residents to support local businesses and keep their tax dollars in the county.
Research has shown small businesses contribute immensely to their local economies by providing jobs, customer shopping options and services, local funds for local banks, local leadership, increased tax funds for the local government and an attractive environment for future business.
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The seventh annual Holly Day Celebration on the Neuse will start at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Downtown shops will be opening their doors to offer treats and discounts for the holiday.
The tree lighting will occur at 6 p.m. at the Lenoir County Courthouse, followed by entertainment, dining, shopping, buggy rides and other activities.
Rick Vernon from Tutt Media Group will emcee the event.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.
Do you have a new retail business or one that’s undergone a significant change? The Free Press would like to hear about it. Contact Margaret Fisher at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com.