Kitties are getting the royal treatment thanks to the expansion at Animal Medical Center of Chandler. Beginning in August, feline clients will have their own private entrance, lobby and exam room.
“We’re really excited because this is the first feline facility to be added to Chandler,” says Dr. Andrea Stickland, the owner of the animal medical center. “We’ve done a lot of feline medicine. There are some cats that are used to [being around other animals] but there are some who’ve never seen a dog. It makes our lives and the owner’s lives easier to have a separate area for kitties.”
They work with a lot of high stress felines and do what they can to make their visit a pleasant experience with pheromone sprayed towels, cat trees and special brushes. They also have extended appointment times.
“We take our time, let them feel who we are, and we’ve learned to read body language. We do the same thing with dogs. We’re a fear free facility and go through a lot of training and work to keep our dogs and cats calm,” says Stickland.
The animal medical center is a family owned and operated facility, run by Stickland and her husband who handles the business side. They have four veterinarians on staff.
“Our goal in this part of Chandler is to really encompass that family-oriented feel. We have an open door. Our technicians are heavily trained and a second arm to the doctors,” she says.
They welcome questions and have a hands-on approach with their clients. Before opening the Animal Medical Center of Chandler six years ago, Stickland was a minor partner at another facility. She took all the good things she learned from previous jobs, to create a place she’d want to bring her pets.
“Our extended exams make us different than a lot of facilities,” says Stickland. “We try to do a thorough exam at every appointment. If we are looking at the ears, we look at the entire body.
Their appointments run from 30 minutes to an hour. They also offer telemedicine appointments.
Stickland has always been an animal person but started her medical career on the human side. She was in pre-med for obstetrics and gynecology but landed a veterinarian assistant job as an undergrad.
“I fell in love with the fact there was such a great relationship between the animals and the people. I really got to know the families and their animals. It was a hard decision,” she says.
At the very end she got into both schools, but veterinarian school won.
“I love animals, but you really have to love the people, too,” says Stickland.
Learn more at Amcofc.com.
