Two of the region’s well-established animal hospitals each have plans to start construction on new building projects in the coming months. 

The first of the projects is a new location for the West Plains Animal Hospital, on which work is expected to start this summer. The project site is a 2-acre parcel neighboring a Les Schwab Tire Center at 11003 W. Sunset Highway.

Wolfe Architectural Group PS, of Spokane, designed the project, and Baker Construction & Development Inc., also of Spokane, is the contractor.

Kirk Ledbetter, of Baker Construction, says total costs for the project still are being determined, but construction on the 4,400-square-foot building likely will begin later this month or early next month. 

The business, which currently leases a 2,000-square-foot space in the Crosspoint Plaza, at 10408 W. Sunset Highway, is owned by Dr. Kris Belles, who has practiced there since 2005.

“We just purchased the new site last week, so we don’t have exact costs or an address yet,” says Belles. “We’re still in the planning and permitting stages right now.”

Belles says the new clinic will include four exam rooms and space for specialized care and boarding of senior pets or those with difficult medical conditions.

“Our purpose in creating this new location is to have room to expand and treat specialized cases,” she says. “We’re definitely looking forward to having the additional room to grow.” 

A second animal hospital project that’s also in the works, this time in Coeur d’Alene, is a new clinic for the Alpine Animal Hospital.

Business owner Dr. Tawnie Bailey says a new 6,000-square-foot clinic will be built at 1735 W. Kathleen, in north Coeur d’Alene. 

She says Alpine Animal Hospital will move there from its current location at 655 E. Best, where it has been located for over 40 years.

“We’ll have seven exam rooms, 18 runs, and a comfort room with separate exit for euthanasia cases,” she says. “This new spot gives us the ability to separate the animal species a bit more as well as added customer parking.”

She says the business currently has a staff of 14 but plans to hire two additional veterinarians.

The $600,000 project was designed by ML Architect & Associates Inc., of Post Falls, and Rybeck Construction Inc., of Coeur d’Alene, is the contractor.

Bailey says the project design is complete and construction is expected to begin shortly.