The Lien Animal Clinic has been in its existing building since 1951, when there was just one veterinarian working there.

Now, more than 50years later, the clinic has clearly outgrown the space.

“We just had run out of room,” said Starla, Clark, the clinic’s lead office manager. “The clinic has really expanded, we are now 25 to 30 people.”

But Lien Animal Clinic, 3710 S.W. Alaska St., won’t be moving far. Owners Timothy R. Kraabel and Elizabeth Fritzler have built a new building directly north of the old building, which they began constructing in February. However, Kraabel and Fritzler began planning the move years ago.

The new building will measure just under 4,000 square feet, compared to the current 2,800 square foot building, which Kraabel said was poorly arranged. The clinic will now have five exam rooms, each larger than the three in the clinic’s current building.

It is two stories, with an elevator to assist patients with limited mobility. There is much more space for hospitalized animals and brand new cat boarding spaces.

After moving to the new building, Lien Animal Clinic will also feature much more modern equipment. All medical records will be electronic and the clinic will feature large, mounted computer screens displaying patient information.

Lien Animal Clinic will also feature digital radiology, which less than 10 percent of animal hospitals offer. The technology doesn’t require harmful chemicals, so it is more environmentally friendly that traditional x-rays. It is also faster, limiting radiation exposure to patients and technicians.

The clinic plans to move into the new facility on July 25, after which they will be closed for three days. The current clinic will be demolished, providing much more parking for Lien Animal Clinic.