HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Dignitaries gathered for the ground-breaking at Homestead Animal Hospital last Wednesday. From left are County Commissioner Butch Borasky, Ron Murphy, Gabriel Adame, Dr. Maninder Herr, Susan Bai and Ronnie Murphy. Advertisement

A ground-breaking for Homestead Animal Hospital, on Homestead Road and Banyon Street last Wednesday, was hailed as another improvement in the care for Pahrump's growing animal population.

Dr. Maninder Herr, who currently works out of a manufactured building at the Quarter Horse Veterinarian Clinic, will move into the new quarters when the building is completed.

Gabriel Adame, owner of Adame Construction, expects to finish construction of the 2,508-square-foot, stucco building by the end of July.

Herr said he'll be able to board up to 100 cats and dogs at the new facility. He'll also be installing new technology, like digital X-ray machines.

Initially the plan is to provide 24-hour on-call emergency services, but Herr said eventually there could be a 24-hour emergency center. That would save pet owners a trip to Las Vegas after hours.

Speaking of his existing location, Herr said, "it's an old practice and there's not any room for expansion or anything new."

Herr expects to hire licensed veterinary technicians and assistants once the new clinic opens.

"There will be definitely good boarding, grooming and then on top of that hospitalization for isolation purposes, like if there's a parvo dog or a critical patient that needs hospitalization," Herr said.

"We'll also be doing a little bit of exotics here and there. In fact, we have done several at Quarter Horse too, like pot-bellied pigs, rabbits and birds," he said.

Plans drawn up by Nevada Geo-Tech Inc. show an X-ray room, surgery room, lab, waiting room, three exam rooms, reception area and boarding facilities.

Dr. Herr was asked to take over Quarter Horse Veterinary Clinic in February 2005 when Dr. James Reilly had licensing problems.

The ground-breaking follows the opening of the All Creatures Animal Hospital, staffed by veterinarian Dr. Suzanne Zervantian, at 1601 E. Basin Ave. last year.

Debbie Wormald, supervisor of the Nye County Animal Shelter, said Herr comes to the county shelter twice weekly for a low-cost spay and neuter clinic.

"We definitely need another animal hospital and I guess his is going to be full-service," Wormald said. "It gives us another vet we can use in emergencies. He's going to accept our vouchers."

Nye County Animal Control Supervisor Tim McCarty said, "Dr. Herr is a real plus for the animal enthusiasts in the valley, without a doubt."

Zervantian's new animal hospital, right down the street from the animal shelter, is "a wonderful facility, again a plus for the animal community," McCarty said, He said the All Creatures Animal Hospital contains two surgery rooms, a bountiful staff and pleasant atmosphere.

"It's definitely a step forward," McCarty said.