Some considered the old Lien Animal Clinic a West Seattle landmark. Today it was demolished. Behind the 3710 SW Alaska St. location just to the north is the new clinic, half again as large, with the latest equipment.

A parking lot will be placed where the old clinic stood.

"We're very excited about the new place, but it's really sad to watch the demolition," said veterinarian Tim Kraabel who owns Lien Animal clinic with his wife, Elizabeth Fritzler, who also practices there.

"We practiced a lot of good medicine in this (older) facility," he said. "It outlived its usefulness. Our new facility is a lot more modern and thought out."

Kraabel bought the clinic in 1999 from Larry King.

"I worked for Larry, then he worked for me when he was semi-retired," said Kraabel. William Lien, now retired, owned it before that, in 1951.

"I worked here for about 10 years, right in that office," said a melancholy Verna Lumbert, pointing to a chunk of cinderblock, plaster, and wood cascading down after a one-two punch from the demolition truck's wide-open jaws.

"People started working in this building as high school kids," added Lumbert. "Some have gone on to become (vet) techs and some even enrolled in veterinarian school."

Read previous Herald news coverage here .