SPARTANBURG — A Union County resident who is in the business of saving animals’ lives has a newly renovated emergency service facility.
Dr. Patrick Mornane has been an active veterinarian for more than 40 years. He graduated from the University of Melbourne, Australia in 1967, and after doing mixed practice and equine work, he went to Darwin in 1972 and established Parap Veterinary Hospital — a large multi-doctor practice which serviced the Top End of the Northern Territory.
After 20 years, Mornane sold the practice and completed a postgraduate course at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan. He was then selected for the Charlie Bild Very Important Practitioner program at the University of Florida, where he stayed for six months before taking over a practice in Miami and creating satellite practices in Miami Beach and Pinecrest.
Six years ago, Mornane and his wife, Lynn, moved to Union, and in early 2010 he sold the last of his practices in Florida. Lynn operates their local bed and breakfast — Nicholson Mansion at Fairforest Creek — while Patrick operates an emergency veterinary practice in Spartanburg.
His practice was originally located on Spartanburg’s east side, but for the past four-five months, renovations have been underway at a new facility at 121 S. Blackstock Road, on the west side of Spartanburg, and the facility — known as C.A.R.E. (Care Animal Regional Emergency) Clinic — officially opened last week.
“The old place was sort of a hole in the wall,” Mornane smiled. “Now, we have much better facilities and equipment. We can do a much better job here.”
Mornane has a partner in taking over the new location — longtime Spartanburg veterinarian Dr. Doug Chappell. Chappell has over 35 years of veterinary experience in Spartanburg and surrounding counties in all facets of practice. Chappell has consistently provided high quality surgical care for animals as small as pocket pets and as large as a one-ton bull. Mornane said he is happy to have a partner with whom to share the work load.
“It’s not the day in, day out grind of having my own practice,” he said.
Mornane said he has always enjoyed veterinary work, particularly emergency service, because it is stimulating and keeps the mind young and vigorous.
“Emergency work is not easy to do,” Mornane said. “You have to use every bit of your experience. It’s testing work, but very rewarding.”
The C.A.R.E. Clinic can provide care for various types of pets including dogs, cats, rabbits, pocket pets, reptiles, birds and small farm animals.
Mornane said he and Chappell are most commonly presented with medical problems such as acute gastrointestinal problems, urinary tract obstructions and toxicities, as well as traumas such as animals being hit by vehicles, dog fights and gunshot wounds.
After animals are stabilized and life-saving procedures are performed, they are often transported back to their regular veterinarians.
Mornane also said the C.A.R.E. Clinic is the preferred facility for animal emergencies from Union County.
“We are open when other veterinarians are closed,” he said.
The clinic is open from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday-Friday; noon to 8 p.m. on Saturdays; and 24 hours on Sundays and holidays.
Aside from his career, Mornane also makes plenty of room for animals in his personal life. He currently serves on the board of Pawstrong Animal Cancer Foundation, and he and Lynn own six French bulldogs; two Great Danes; a rescue dog; a rare breed Dandie Dinmont Terrier which they show; and an exotic African Serval cat named Liam.
For more information about C.A.R.E. Clinic, visit www.CAREAnimalClinicSC.com or call (864) 591-1923.
Staff Writer Derik Vanderford can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 29, or by email at dvanderford@civitasmedia.com.
Post a Comment
