North Star VETS’ new location in Brick, opening March 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
The first 24-7 veterinary emergency room and hospital in Ocean County will open next month in Brick, the parent company told Shorebeat in an interview last week.
NorthStar VETS, which operates two of the state’s most advanced veterinary hospitals in Robbinsville and Maple Shade, will open a third location in Brick March 30. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house is set for March 28, said Phil Barnes, marketing director for NorthStar. The 10,000 square foot facility will open in the Market Place at Brick shopping plaza on Route 70, directly next to Petco. (The shopping center also houses Costco, Christmas Tree Shops and Dick’s Sporting Goods.)
North Star VETS’ new location in Brick, opening March 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
“There are many different ways in which pets need emergency care, and we’ll be there to serve all those needs,” said Barnes, adding that the facility will have imaging equipment including a 64-slice CT scanner.
Demand drove the veterinary hospital’s decision to open a second location in Brick – about 45 minutes away from Robbinsville and at least a half-hour away from another 24-7 veterinary emergency room in Monmouth County.
“There are a lot of pet parents in that part of the state that come to us in Robbinsville,” said Barnes. “It’s basically responding to the need we were already seeing.”
While the emergency room portion will doubtlessly glean the most attention, the hospital itself will have a rotating schedule of veterinary specialists on a daily basis – the same doctors who work at the highly-acclaimed Robbinsville location. Pet owners will be able to avail themselves of “80 percent of what we can do in Robbinsville,” said Barnes. Some advanced procedures may have to be done at the central office, but most will be able to be handled close to home. The emergency staff will be permanently based in Brick.
North Star VETS’ new location in Brick, opening March 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
North Star VETS’ new location in Brick, opening March 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
“We’re really making sure that it’s top of the line facility,” Barnes said.
While the opening of NorthStar will be a certain boost to Brick’s business community and allow pet owners to sleep more peacefully at night, it’s ultimately our animal friends who will benefit from more care – especially in questionable situations where a lengthy trip to an 24-7 veterinary office was something people may have skipped.
“Pets eat chocolate, they can get hurt in an encounter with another animal,” said Barnes. “You’re much more likely to say, ‘let’s get this checked out’ if it’s right down the road.”
