‘Fear-Free’ Environment Created For Animals At Springs Family Veterinary Near Exit 15

By Jill Nagy
Veterinarian Sara Ryan wants animals to feel comfortable coming to her new clinic, Springs Family Veterinary Hospital, 9 Hampstead Place, Saratoga Springs. So, she provides treats for them and does her best to create a “fear-free” environment.
And, she separates the dogs from the cats.
“Fear-free” is a nationally recognized professional certification, she said. Ryan and all of her staff are either certified or working toward that certification. They are trained to recognize early signs of stress or anxiety, and to use calm voices and non-threatening body language with the animals.
The hospital has non-slip floors and plenty of natural light.
She opened her practice in June. It’s her first stand-alone practice after working in emergency clinics and other people’s private clinics and seeing a previous franchise end when the franchiser was bought out by another corporation.
Previous clients are finding her and her office is in The Springs, a pet-friendly apartment complex. She is assisted by a receptionist/office manager (who is also a certified professional animal trainer), two licensed veterinary technicians, a technician in training and a kennel assistant. She said she hopes to hire a second veterinarian next spring.
The staff, she said, is excellent, well-trained and experienced. As a result, she said, “the pets are so comfortable here.”
Springs offers a full range of veterinary services and several payment plans. They do not board animals.
Ryan grew up in Charlton, southern Saratoga County. She graduated in 2004 from the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School in Philadelphia and practiced in New Jersey before returning to New York about 12 years ago.
Hers is a small practice devoted mostly to dogs and cats. It is housed in rented space in the Springs complex near Northway Exit 15.
Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on alternate Saturdays.
There is parking on Weibel Avenue and behind the clinic building. The telephone number is 518 554-8484 and the website is www.springsfamilyvet.com.