Breaking News -- Animal Medical Center -- Closed to Exotics?

Just a short news flash: couple of our readers just called us to say the
Animal Medical Center is rather abruptly 'suspending' their Exotics Department. Mistress Chilli Chinchilla, an exotic herself, finds this news more than a bit troubling. There are a handful of other exotic veterinarians in New York City, most very good, but the Animal Medical Center was pretty much the only place to take your bird, ferret, or other outside-the-box beastie in an emergency.

At least one well-known exotic vet left a detailed message on their answering machine telling their clients they would not be there after January 2nd and urged patients to write 'letters of concern' to the hospital's current President and CEO, Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, who took over in July 2007. Dr. Klausner was previously the Dean of The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Klausner took the reigns from interim president Ms. Gleniss Schonholz who took over after the 2006 resignation of Dr. Guy Pidgeon.

A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed operations in the exotics department "are suspended" but indicated this decision was now 'up in the air' and "could change; was very likely to change in the next few days." When asked what preceded the shuffle, the spokesperson offered only that the decision was related to 'the appointment of the new President and CEO", referring to Dr. Klausner. In the meantime, however, people with exotic pets who had been or were to be treated at the hospital are still urged to 'bring them in."

The AMC has had it's share of troubles recently. Once the go-to specialized medical center for animals nationwide, the hospital has been grappling with the growing popularity of other large animal hospitals that have entered the New York area in the last several years, including the outer boroughs.

We'll keep you posted.