Vet Clinic Undergoes Renovations

Photo By Airman Quentin Marx | Senior Airman Jonas Benoit, a 28th Security Forces Squadron MWD handler, comforts Anita, a 28th SFS explosive detector dog, during a wellness appointment at the Ellsworth Air Force Base Veterinarian Treatment Facility at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., July 30, 2019. The clinic sees privately owned animals ranging from cats and dogs to guinea pigs and hamsters, and service members and retirees with full benefits can utilize the veterinary clinic. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Quentin K. Marx)  

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, SD, UNITED STATES

08.06.2019

Story by Airman Quentin Marx 

28th Bomb Wing

The Ellsworth Air Force Base Veterinary Treatment Facility began renovations in April, and is scheduled for completion in December.

The remodel includes a complete interior demolition and redesign of the facility. There will be equipment upgrades and new infrastructure like electrical components and a new Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system.

With the redesign, the clinic will have two exam rooms, a treatment room, pharmacy and lab. They will also have a new surgery suite and an MWD procedure room, which they did not have prior, said U.S. Army Capt. Casey Barwell, Ellsworth AFB Veterinary Section officer in charge.

At its core, the clinic’s mission is readiness, and adding an MWD procedure room ensures Barwell and her team can accomplish that mission. The room will provide a separate area for military working dogs to be seen, while not taking away from appointments for personally owned pets of service members.

“We want to make sure that our service members are all ready to deploy, and part of that is taking care of their family, which includes their pets,” Barwell said. “We make sure [families] are ready to [make a permanent change of station move], and make sure our military working dogs are ready for deployments.”

The clinic is also receiving a separate X-ray room, which includes a digital X-ray machine. Barwell adds having this digital capability will reduce the referral wait times for pets of service members.

Aside from ensuring Ellsworth’s MWD population is ready to deploy, the clinic sees privately owned animals ranging from cats and dogs to guinea pigs and hamsters. Service members and retirees with full benefits can utilize the veterinary clinic.

During the renovation, the clinic is still taking patients Monday through Wednesday, and Friday, and opens from 8 a.m. to noon, and reopens from 1 to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 605-385-1589.

• Date Taken: 08.06.2019
• Date Posted: 08.14.2019 18:04
• Story ID: 334803
• Location: ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, SD, US