Normandy Park's Companion Animal Medical Center has become another victim of the economy. Dr. Leslie Kasper closed the doors to her veterinary clinic to the public after 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15.

Kasper will continue to run Burien's new animal control program despite the closure.

While the veterinary clinic closure was not something Kasper had expected, or wanted to happen, she said now she will be able to spend more time on Burien's animal control.

"I hope that I will be even more accessible because I won't be trying to operate the shelter and a veterinary office," Kasper said.
For the time being Burien Animal Control will not have a physical place to drop off and pick up pets.

The city of Burien took animal control services in house, instead of contracting for animal control services with King County, in July of this year. Previously Burien had contracted for animal control services with King County since its incorporation in 1993.

The county's decreased service and additional fees would have cost the city $330,000 over the next two years, above and beyond the $119,000 the city generates in pet licensing fees to pay for animal control.

The city's contract with Kasper is for $120,000 and goes until 2013.

"The city has been very satisfied with how she has fulfilled the contract and we are supportive of continuing that," Burien management analyst Jenn Ramirez-Robson said.

Kasper said she is relocating animals, and will be sending new animals to a couple of different facilities. She also said she is looking for a new location, but at the moment is focusing on finding homes for the animals she has.

On the day of the clinic closure, Kasper said she had 30 cats she was trying to find space for. She said she was reaching out to rescue groups for temporary holding.

If you see a dog wandering around, or are wondering if your pet was picked up by animal control Kasper said to call the Burien Animal Control number, 206- 870-8471, which remains the same.

Because there is no single place where animals are going to be held Kasper said if you are looking to find/pick up your pet to call and she will coordinate a meet up to return the pet to you.

Kasper said if there is a dangerous animal to call 911. The police have a direct line to her and will dispatch her to take care of the animal.

Especially since she will be out in the field more, Kasper said she will likely not answer the animal control number very often, but that she checks the messages regularly and if you leave a message will respond to calls as soon as possible.

Anyone interested in adopting a pet from Burien Animal Control can go to petfinder.com and search Burien Animal Control to see all of the pets listed.

Kasper opened the Companion Animal Medical Center in April 2009. She said the prolonged construction going on right outside of the practice on 1st Avenue South was a contributing factor, and definitely did not help, but that it was not even the largest contributing factor to why the practice did not make it.

The construction, which has limited access to businesses along 1st. Avenue for months, has put a strain on all of the businesses along that stretch.

Kasper said there was someone interested in taking over the practice, but they were not interested in continuing to run Burien Animal Control through there.