Veterinarians Lewis Wilkins and Lauriel Turner have a combined 98 years of service at the Tappahannock Veterinary Hospital. The facility, which opened in 1958, is closing effective June 29.
The Tappahannock Veterinary Hospital at 525 Airport Road is closing at the end of this month following 56 years of service to pet owners and cattle farmers in the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck.
Dr. Lewis Wilkins, 81, says the facility has been on the real estate market for more than two years. He’s been seeking a new owner in anticipation of surgery on his right knee five years after having left knee surgery.
“Those kids who come out of vet school now have lots of debt after four years of college and four years of vet school,” he said. “What bank is going to loan them half-a-million dollars to purchase property, anesthesia and x-ray machines?”
Dr. Eugene Musselman built the facility in 1958.
Dr. Wilkins, who grew up on a dairy farm in Great Bridge, came to Tappahannock in 1971. He and Christopher Dillmann were partners at the facility until Dillmann departed for Massachusetts in 1976 with Wilkins becoming the sole owner.
“When I came here there were 12 dairy farms,” Wilkins reflected. “They’ve all gone out of business with the government buying them out of the milk business. So, they converted the land to farmland growing crops instead of tending to cows.”
Over his 53 years here, Wilkins says surgeries have been a backbone of his practice, removing foreign objects from pets’ stomachs as well as performing C-sections to deliver animals into the world.
Dr. Lauriel Turner has been affiliated with the facility since 1979.
“I came here from Ohio and my brother (Dick Fletcher) lived across from Lewis and that’s how I found out he was looking for somebody,” she reflected. “I grew up on a farm and participated in 4-H showing cattle and dogs, so it was a natural progression.”
Lauriel says June 29 will be a bittersweet day for her.
“When you’ve done something for so long it becomes a part of you,” she said. “I will miss seeing the people and our staff. But, I have really enjoyed it.”
Turner says she has mostly enjoyed working with small animals, but recalled performing a C-section on a dwarf cow and helping deliver a colt.
Both Wilkins and Turner say they appreciate the comments they’ve received since the facility’s closure was announced.
“The comments we’ve gotten since we announced (the closure) have given me goosebumps,” Wilkins said.
“It’s nice to know that people have appreciated our help,” Turner said. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know the people in the area because I was a come-here!”
Wilkins estimates that the practice has 2,000-3,000 clients.
“We’re going to be here off and on for a couple of months (after the closure) settling records and helping people,” he said. “There are other vets in the area, but some are not taking on new clients.”
Wilkins noted that Tractor Supply in Warsaw will be offering vaccines and testing. “They’ll have clinics once a month or so,” he said. “But, that’s not enough.”
Veterinary clinics across the nation are facing a severe shortage of veterinarians, leading to the closure of many animal hospitals.
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