Petfocus Vetcare presently operates from a former video rental store near the Five Ways, but is on the move to the corner of Wagga and Kaylock roads with plans for an expanded clinic already approved by Albury Council.

Clinic owner Dr Renee Pigdon will redevelop four of the five shops built less than five years ago with the fifth shop to be leased to a pet-related business.

A cat hospital and complementary surgery and consulting rooms will be built in one of the shops and two other shops dedicated for dogs.

“We’ve just outgrown the premises essentially,” Dr Pigdon said.

“We’ve always wanted to have a purpose-built clinic with a separate dog and cat facility.

“It’s a stressful exercise for a dog or cat coming into a clinic.

“It’s going to be a fear-free clinic, but the only purpose-built cat hospital between Melbourne and Canberra.”

A well-being area for pets with functions including physiotherapy featuring under-water treadmill will also be established on the site which was a former car yard.

Dr Pigdon bought the business from another vet, Dr Jana Stevenson, five years ago, with four other vets working onsite plus nursing staff.

Dr Pigdon’s husband Murray is the managing director of Davis Sanders Homes.

A development application to transform the majority of shops was approved by council in March and Dr Pigdon hopes to have the new practice operating by September.

The estimated cost of the works is $350,000 with fitout works due to start next week.

As part of development consent, the clinic is permitted to operate between 6am and 10pm seven days per week and exising car parking arrangements will remain in place.

Meanwhile, a development application for a multi-level car park at the Northpoint Tower complex owned by the Zauner Group nearby has been lodged with council.

The Griffith Road site is presently used as a car park and will be two levels to accommodate 117 vehicles once completed.