Business & Tech
BestFriends Vet Clinic Opens in Albertville
The community's newest destination for four-legged friends is off and running, said owner and vet Dr. Lisa Sell.
opened Jan. 5, a few months after Dr. Lisa Sell decided in late 2011 to open her own practice in Albertville. Sell, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine [DVM], had been practicing in the area for the last 20 years.
"I have so many long term relationships in the area, so that was a huge part of my decision to stay local and work with people that want to work with us," Dr. Sell said. She lives with her husband and three school age children and pets, of course, in the St. Michael area.
The new clinic is located just behind Casey's General Store off 57th Street Northeast in Albertville. Besides herself, Dr. Sell also employs two full time vet techs and one part time.
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Dr. Sell said Albertville's been a great fit, and the city was good to work with in establishing a specialized business like an animal clinic.
In fact, business is so good at BestFriends it's hard to find time to squeeze in for an interview. That's a good thing in this economy, the employees said. It's obvious watching the vet techs, Julie Evensen and Maria Ekhoff, with the animals and their owners that not only do they enjoy what they are doing, but the clients love these people and the practice just as much.
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The clinic has been busy since they opened their doors with a blend of new and long term clients. It's no surprise to Dr. Sell who says her and her employees "work hard to foster strong relationships with clients and their pets through good and bad."
Dr. Sell takes special interests in preventive care, geriatric and internal medicine and long term disease management and also prides herself on having a family-friendly facility.
"Not only for our clients but also for our employees," she said.
The spacious, self-designed facility could be considered state-of-the-art with the benefits of new technology.
"The technology is taking a little getting used to," Dr. Sell said.
Best Friends Vet Clinic doesn't offer boarding (except for same-day surgery patients), and while they do offer sick patient care, they refer most intensive care situations to the University of Minnesota.
As far as running her own practice, Dr. Sell is enjoying it.
"Because I'd been practicing before I knew to some extent what I was getting into. I get to choose to practice the way I want to practice. Also, I get to work every day with people I enjoy," she said.
