By Glenn Rolfe

GEORGETOWN — A potential homecoming could bring emergency round-the-clock animal care to pet owners.

Veterinarian Dr. Daphne Clendaniel, currently with the Blue Pearl Pet Hospital in Pennsylvania, is seeking to start her own practice with an office hospital base in the Georgetown Professional Center on Old Laurel Road.

Georgetown Town Council on Monday held a public hearing on the requested amendment and conditional-use application by SPG Development LLC.

SPG LLC’s requested amendment to Georgetown Professional/Medical Center Phase 3 is to the conditional use, which was granted on June 13, 2022, according to town manager Eugene Dvornick.

“The original conditional use was for professional offices. And in the definition of professional offices, a veterinary hospital is not specifically defined,” said attorney John A. Sergovic. “So, to rectify the desired use for the desired user we sought to amend the conditional use to allow a veterinary hospital.”

The plan is to utilize one of three offices, about 6,000 square feet, in the professional center. Zoning for that property is multi-family residential/MR-1.

“This will be the only emergency and surgery hospital between New Castle and Salisbury, Maryland,” said Shelby Tomlinson, with SPG Development. “She (Dr. Clendaniel) is planning to move back here and open up her own practice for a veterinarian emergency hospital.”

Dr. Clendaniel, whose college education includes the University of Delaware and the University of Pennsylvania, was out of the country and unable to attend the council meeting.

The veterinary hospital would be open weekdays 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., plus emergency availability.

“When you need someone, you need someone then,” said Ms. Tomlinson.

One condition is that when animals are there, the hospital will be staffed. The facility is not intended to be a boarding or kenneling facility.

Per the planning commission’s request, the dog/animal walkway/relief area has been moved from the side to the rear of the office.

Ms. Tomlinson said the ahospital would have a huge impact on Georgetown and Sussex County, given the high demand with pet ownership.

Mayor Bill West asked if this emergency veterinary service will be exclusively for small animals, or if it would include larger animals, such as horses on maybe a “go to the farm basis?”

To her knowledge, Ms. Tomlinson said Dr. Clendaniel has accreditation and experience with large animals. “Those animals would not come to this hospital,” she said.

Ms. Tomlinson said once Dr. Clendaniel’s practice has taken root, she plans on bringing on a few more staff members who have the same accreditation.

The application will stay on the record for two weeks and then come up for a vote.

“I think it’s great idea. It’s another business coming to Georgetown,” Mayor West said. “I know a lot of people that have had to take their animals to Dover for an emergency situation because there is nothing down here.”