New North Shoppes veterinary clinic expects to start taking first clients in January

By Darren Doyle

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- An Andrew County native said he expects his veterinary practice to open near the Shoppes at North Village early next year.

After growing up around the profession and getting educated in Veterinary Medicine, Austin Haeker is ready to take on a practice of his own.

Haeker attended Savannah High School and earned degrees from Kansas State University and the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine.

"I started as a kennel boy... worked my way up to assisting with surgeries and things, and seeing, helping with rooms. (Since college), I have been working for the past year or so at Taylor Animal Hospital in Parkville...Smithville. Now I'm ready to come back up and open up a practice," said Dr. Haeker. 

Haeker intends to provide a regularly scheduled clinic for dogs, cats and other small animals. He also plans to offer 24-hour on-call emergency services to pet owners in the Northwest Missouri area. 

The clinic is located at 5423 North Pointe Drive in St. Joseph, behind the Shoppes at North Village. The clinic has been under construction since February.

"It seems to be the place that St. Joe's is gravitating towards, right? All the new stuff's going up there. We wanted to be somewhere convenient for people," Haeker said. "Right off the interstate, people can find us pretty easily."

Haeker said an open house is planned on Friday, Jan. 9. He said he expects to start taking new clients on Wednesday, Jan. 14.