BY ANDREA PALMER
Dr. Kelly Cooper, DVM, runs the Clifton Park
Veterinary Clinic on Ushers Road in Ballston
Spa. The hospital has been in practice since the
late 1976, when it was founded by Dr. Gerard
Bogaard, DVM.
The clinic is hosting an open house and fall
festival on Sept. 19, with a bounce house and
entertainment. A cat adoption center will be on
the premises. There will be free giveaways and
tours of the animal hospital. Hours will be 10
a.m. to 2 p.m.
The clinic is a general practice animal hospital.
Says Cooper, “We focus on preventative health for
dogs and cats, and can do pocket pets if necessary.
Our main goal is to keep pets as healthy as possible
before problems occur.”
“We focus on fear-free practice, to decrease
stress as much as possible. Most of our dog clients
love coming here because they get lots and lots
of treats. They may have gained half a pound or
so before they leave, but they’re happy. We have
dogs dragging their owners in looking for treats.
Cats are a little harder–they are determined to
be unimpressed,” Cooper said.
Cooper is a native to the region and graduated
from Shenendehowa High School. She attended
UMass and Amherst, and Cornell for veterinary
medicine.
Cooper bought the practice in 2008 from Dr.
Bogaard, when the clinic was Country Knolls
Animal Hospital. “I had been working for some
time and was looking at starting a private practice,
and he was looking to retire. He asked if I was
interested in buying. It was perfect timing,” said
Cooper.
“We offer all basic services of a veterinary
hospital. We try to be a small-town doctor and
keep it friendly and family-oriented. I am the only
doctor here, and my clients always see me. We
focus on maintaining the relationship. We work
with the owners and what is going to work best
for them and the pet,” Cooper stated.
“We are offering a wellness plan, where clients
can pay for a year’s worth of services, including
vaccines, in monthly payments. It helps prevent
having to come up with a large sum all at once,”
said Cooper. Plans are specific to puppies/kittens,
adults and seniors.
The hospital is located at 379 Ushers Road.