Boulder Creek Veterinary Clinic: Forty Years of Caring for the Town's Animals

May 21

On December 9, 1985, Dr. Kathie Gerrity became the owner and sole veterinarian of Boulder Creek Veterinary Clinic. In her anniversary account, the handoff was "just a transfer of keys." There was no polished reopening. Mary Bradley was the only employee, and Gerrity's family stepped in wherever the new practice had a hole.

The equipment tells you how different that first clinic was. The telephone was an avocado-green, one-line model. Patient records lived on 4-by-6-inch index cards. Animals were weighed on a coin-operated scale, X-rays came from equipment that was already outdated, and making copies meant a trip to a copy shop.

Gerrity was not new to difficult veterinary work. She graduated from UC Davis in 1979, completed a 14-month internship at Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital and spent five years at United Emergency Animal Clinic in Campbell. She brought particular interests in dermatology and trauma care to the small Highway 9 practice.

Forty years later, the clinic has computers, an in-house laboratory, radiology and ultrasound, and a much longer service list. The clinic's anniversary account described a staff of 12. The more revealing measure is how long some of those people have stayed. Angie Smith joined in 2001. Michele Farwell followed in 2003.

Our own Cane Corso supplies the quieter, everyday version of that history. He is well over 100 pounds, deeply lovable and terrified of the vet. The staff handles him with patience and treats, including biscuits that look absurdly small in his enormous, slobbery mouth. Every dog and cat in our house goes here.

What the clinic handles

The clinic's published services cover the routine and the not-so-routine:

Wellness care: new puppy and kitten visits, annual physical exams, vaccines, and deworming
Dental: teeth cleaning and dental services, including dental X-rays
Surgery: spay and neuter, plus general surgical care
Diagnostics: an in-house laboratory, radiology, and ultrasound
Treatment: heartworm disease treatment and laser therapy
Grooming: therapeutic bathing and grooming services
Extras: exotic pet care, pet boarding, and travel certificates for pets crossing borders

The exotics line is worth underlining. Plenty of clinics stop at dogs and cats, so if your household includes something with feathers or scales, this is one of the closer places that will see it. Call first to confirm they treat your particular animal.

The pet shop inside

The clinic doubles as the town's small pet shop. Inside the same building there's a retail corner with food, treats, toys, and supplies, which means a vet visit and the errand for a bag of food can be one stop instead of a drive down the valley, sick animal or not.

Emergencies

The clinic describes itself as fully staffed and equipped for emergency veterinary services. If your pet is in trouble during open hours, the clinic's own advice is simple: stop reading and call, at 831-338-7205. For anything after hours, there is no 24-hour emergency room in the valley. The nearest is Pacific and Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists in Santa Cruz, 831-475-5400, open around the clock, and our vets and pet services guide keeps the wider list. Calling the clinic will also play a recording naming its current referral. If your animal is in immediate danger, go straight there rather than waiting on an email or an online form. Confirm the after-hours plan before you need it, because that's not a detail to figure out at midnight.

Booking and paperwork

Appointments run through the PetDesk mobile app, which the clinic uses for scheduling and pet-health records, or by phone. New clients can knock out the paperwork ahead of time; the clinic posts its new-client form, medical release, and other forms online. It also links to two online pharmacies (Covetrus and VetsFirstChoice) for refills shipped to your door.

No prices are published, so call for estimates before a big procedure.

At a glance

Where: 12870 Highway 9, downtown Boulder Creek
Phone: 831-338-7205
Hours: Monday and Wednesday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Sunday
Booking: the PetDesk app, or by phone
Services: wellness care, dental, surgery, in-house lab and imaging, laser therapy, grooming, exotics, boarding and travel certificates

The two evening nights and the Saturday hours help if you work over the hill. Hours change, so confirm before you drive over.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do they see exotic pets?

Yes, exotic pet care is on the clinic's published services list. Call ahead to confirm they treat your specific animal.

Can they handle emergencies?

The clinic says it's fully staffed and equipped for emergency veterinary services during open hours. Call 831-338-7205 first so they can prepare for your arrival.

How do I book an appointment?

Through the PetDesk mobile app or by phone. New-client forms are posted on the clinic's website so you can fill them out before your first visit.

Do they do dental work?

Yes, teeth cleaning and dental services including dental X-rays are on the services list.

Is there boarding?

Pet boarding appears on the clinic's published services. Call to confirm availability and which animals they board.