March 17, 2015

Pedersens open state’s largest veterinary clinic

By Amy Robinson
Farmer Staff Writer

Watford City Veterinary Center officially opened the doors to its new 32,000-square foot state-of-the-art veterinary facility last Monday, March 9, after breaking ground in the summer of 2013.
It was only two and a half years ago that local Watford City Veterinarian Dr. Bruce Pedersen was listing his major goals when he first started practicing veterinary medicine in Watford City. One of his goals was to incorporate technology into his business so that it could help him better communicate and educate his clients. But his second goal was to eventually expand his practice.
“I anticipate my clinic growing into a multi-doctor practice,” stated Pedersen two and half years ago. “But before I get ahead of myself, my main objective is to take one patient at a time and provide the best practice possible.”
Needless to say, in addition to taking one patient at a time and providing the best practice possible, all of his major goals have now been accomplished. His new facility has not only allowed for an increase in space, but the addition of new technology and equipment to better serve his clients and their animals.
“The big change is just mainly space, but we’ve been able to add some equipment, more sinks, and more cages,” says Pedersen. “That little building worked so well for as long as we could use it, but now we’re able to have the space to do so much more. We can now use all the contemporary equipment we had in the smaller building and more of it, and we are less encumbered now with space restrictions.”
It was through the generosity of the Watford City Livestock Association donating the land for the new facility, that reaching this milestone was  possible for Pedersen, his staff, and the community. With the rapid growth over recent years in the Bakken, came the expanding need for veterinary services. It is Pedersen’s continued hope to play a key role in this community, and to be able to preserve and maintain that special bond with the opening of his new facility.
“Growth is unlimited as far as what we can do,” said Pedersen. “Our culture has always been based on innovation. And space hinders that. Technology, it’s always changing. We’re still ‘knuckle-dragging,’ and we’re all there. And with technology ever-changing, we have to change with it.  That’s what really excites me - it’s the  creating, the data collection, and discovering connections between cause and effect. We now have a big enough pot to make the recipe. The client experience, the medical technology - we’ve always wanted to ensure those things.”
The new facility was designed with Pedersen’s clients in mind. Back in the fall of 2014, Heather Pedersen, Dr. Pedersen’s wife, started reaching out to various community members, obtaining their permission to rummage through their old tear-down, wood and scrap materials. The more rusty and old an item was, the better. Two full months were spent planning, calling, collecting, refurbishing, and re-purposing these ancient pieces of history.
Pieces of history that now adorn  and hang throughout the facility showcasing and representing the strong community ties held by the people of Watford City - pieces that the Pedersens preserved to show respect and admiration for this area’s history.
“We have old doors, windows, window shutters, shipping crates, wagon wheels, ladders, mattress springs, and rusty metal,” says Heather Pedersen. “It’s been really fun having these people come in here and enjoy the history that’s displayed. Plus, we wanted to put some fun, little surprises around, tucked away, to give it some character - like balloons and fireside comics. We just want to bring a smile to our customer’s faces and offer a unique environment.”
Of all the veterinary clinics in North Dakota, Pedersen’s new facility is the biggest, and it is the third largest in the nation. Currently, the clinic has a staff of 14, including three veterinarians and two relief veterinarians. The staff at Pedersen’s clinic has extensive experience in small and large animal care, surgery, emergency medicine, dermatology, oncology, internal medicine, and advanced procedures.
“We now have the potential to be one of the nicest facilities in the country,” said Pedersen, “if not in the world. We want the ambience of this to be the hybrid of the community. The facility has a good blend representing the human-animal bond.”
The Watford City Veterinary Center is a full-service veterinary facility providing the greater McKenzie County area with medical, surgical, behavioral, and other veterinary-related care for both large and small animals since 1967. Originally founded by Dr. Robert Nelson, then transferred to Dr. Pedersen in 2012, the “clinic” turned to “center” when the brand new facility was built in 2014.
The new center offers a mixed use animal hospital that blends modern medicine and technology with old-fashioned care. It is a three-level entity carefully designed to optimally serve the needs of the community and to provide excellent care to the animals they love.
The list of services offered is extensive. Services include food, animal and livestock services, small animal medicine and surgery, acupuncture, dentistry, 24/7 emergency care, wellness exams, and healthcare services, boarding, pet spa, diagnostic imaging, education, and telemedicine, pharmacy and retail, and euthanasia, funeral, and cremation services. In the very near future, the center will be opening its first crematorium. Currently, clients have a four to five-week turnaround time and everything goes to Williston. However, once open, the community will have access right in their backyard without the wait time.
“The moral of the story is that I think it’s going to help us increase the quality of care and of life for not only our clients and their pets, but their families as well,” said Watford City Associate Veterinarian Dr. Seth Nienhueser with regards to the new facility.
In addition to the multitude of services offered to both small and large animals at the new facility, the Watford City Veterinary Center will act as a teaching hospital for students, interns, and individuals with a passion to learn and work in the field of veterinary medicine. And those interested students and individuals that come will be welcomed into a very family-oriented environment.
“They make you feel like a part of their family,” says Karen Pace, Watford City Veterinary Center receptionist. “This is a very family-oriented place. They care deeply about all of their employees.”
“The Pedersens are both fantastic to work for,” says Susan Frost, Watford City Veterinary Center office manager and receptionist. “It’s been so great working with everyone here. The decor is beautiful and we offer everything now. This facility is such a great asset to the community. And the community has been so supportive of it. It really is a home away from home.”
When Pedersen stated a couple of  years ago that he wanted his clinic to be the ‘Mayo Clinic’ of veterinary medicine, unbeknownst to him, he would eventually see the day his clinic would finally transition into just that - a veterinary center held with such high regard and respect. The opening of this state-of-the-art facility has become a dream come true for this Watford City veterinarian. A love and passion that started out in a young man has continued to grow and evolve into the prestigious career of a doctor.
“Veterinarian medicine is the greatest medicine in the world,” said Pedersen. “It’s a field with a lot of potential, and you don’t have to be encumbered by all the rules of traditional medicine. And this is an amazing facility that offers modern medicine and technology with oldfashioned care.”

WATFORD CITY WEATHER