Dear Middlesex County Animal Hospital clients,

As you are likely aware, the past year and half of adjusted hospital protocols (due to the Covid-19 pandemic) has put incredible stress on our staff. As always, we have done our best to serve you and your pets. Even as we look forward to reopening the building and seeing you and your pets in person, we are faced with a staff shortage that will affect business going forward. In addition, Dr. Katherine Aubert recently notified us that she will be moving on from MCAH. For the past year and a half, even prior to Dr. Aubert’s departure, we have been diligently searching for an associate veterinarian without success due, in part, to a nationwide shortage of veterinarians.

For this reason, we continue to not accept new clients and we will have fewer available doctors’ appointments for the forseeable future. We will do our best to accommodate you and your pets’ needs during this unprecedented time. We have been and will continue to hold some appointment spots each day to facilitate scheduling for sick and urgent medical issues. Despite this, it is certain that some days we will be forced to refer patients to area emergency hospitals.

In order for us to continue servicing our existing clients and their pets, we ask that you allow for flexible scheduling of non-critical and well pet visits/annual exams. Please call early if your pet is having some type of medical issue, and be understanding that sometimes our only option will be to recommend to take your pet to an emergency hospital. Please call promptly if you need to reschedule or cancel an appointment so that we can fill that time spot. When clients cancel appointments last-minute or no-show for an appointment, it takes a critical appointment slot from a pet in need. Similarly, arriving late for appointments significantly delays other scheduled appointments and results in increased wait times overall. If you arrive late for your scheduled appointment, you will likely be asked to reschedule.

We are excited to announce that as of MONDAY, AUGUST 23RD, ONE client will have the opportunity to accompany their pet into the clinic for doctors’ appointments and drop off procedures.

MASKS ARE REQUIRED WITHOUT EXCEPTION. We will still offer the option to remain curbside in the comfort of your vehicle if that is a better for you and your pet. Technician appointments will remain curbside for the time being. You will be directed to park in the back lot just behind the hospital.

For curbside appointments, please call (978) 600-0444 from the parking lot to check in.

Pick ups for medications and food will also remain curbside. We will have a new pick-up window for these items. When you arrive, you will see a sign indicating the new location located to the RIGHT of the main entrance.

Middlesex County Animal Hospital is doing everything possible to get back to previous staffing levels and to further expand our availability to accommodate our clients and patients in the future. We are asking for your patience and understanding during these challenging times but rest assured we will do everything possible to provide the best care for your pets.

Sincerely,

Dr. Scott Heckerling, Mr. Joe Mercado, Dr. Alexandra Shailor, Dr. Steven Wharrie, and the entire Middlesex County Animal Hospital Staff