By Debbie Robinson
news@joplinglobe.com
MIAMI, Okla. — Veterinarian Rod Hough knew he would have to find a new location for his animal hospital after the devastating July 2007 flood nearly destroyed his building on Steve Owens Boulevard in Miami.
Sunday afternoon, Hough and his seven staff members opened the doors to the new, expanded Miami Animal Hospital on Alternate 69 South, less than three miles north from the Oklahoma Turnpike interchange.
Several hundred people attended Sunday’s event, which featured tours of the new buildings, grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, a petting zoo, horseback rides and an agility demonstration by Blue, a mixed-breed blue heeler.
“We had five feet of water in the main building at 1801 Steve Owens Blvd.,” Hough said. “Despite the help from friends and clients digging a trench and adding sand bags, the water still rose.”
Hough said, at first, he was told by Miami city officials that he would not be allowed to rebuild in the flood plain, so the search began for a new site.
Ground was broken for the new buildings — one for small animals and another for large animals — last September, Hough said.
He treats domestic pets, such as cats and dogs, and large animals, such as cattle and horses.
“I treat anything, unless it crawls on its belly or has feathers,” Hough said.
The main building for small animals is 4,300 square feet, with the large animal hospital topping out at 2,400 square feet on a total of two acres.
Hough, a graduate of Oklahoma State University at Stillwater, said veterinary medicine has changed since he started in 1995.
“It’s gotten a lot more high-tech,” he said.
That was evident during a tour of the new hospital, which features an X-ray machine and a new endoscope used to provide a visual examination of internal organs without invasive surgery.
“We didn’t have this at the old clinic,” he said.
Two panels of lighted stained glass were salvaged from the old clinic and are used in eye examinations.
For dogs who require overnight stays, another new feature is air conditioning, Hough said.
Other features include an intensive care unit, surgery room, new computer network and a public restroom.
As children pet rabbits, a baby pig, cats and dogs or played in an inflatable jumping cage, others Sunday afternoon toured the outside and inside of the buildings, which featured pine siding in the reception area.
Hough said the flood was devastating because his father, Wylie Hough, bought the former veterinarian hospital in 1963. The business had been in existence since it first opened in 1950.
“This (July 2007) was the first time water ever came inside the building,” he said.
“I grew up in the veterinarian business and used to go out with my dad,” he said. “I wanted something (profession) that I could take my kids along with me also.”
Evelyn Lydon attended Sunday’s event to see the new hospital, which she described as “impressive.”
She owns a nearby cattle ranch and brings her animals to Hough’s clinic.
“He’s compassionate with the animals, and you can get ahold of him anytime,” Lydon said.
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