The Animal Care Center of Carters Creek

Since 2011, the Animal Care Center of Carters Creek has been providing state-of-the-art medical care for the dogs and cats of Columbia, Spring Hill, and other nearby locales. Located on Spring Meade Blvd. in Columbia—just south of Spring Hill High School—the center was co-founded in 2011 by Dr. Kelly Hemmert & Dr. Hunter Corley, two of the three veterinarians on staff.    

Before moving to Tennessee, Hemmert and Corley had another clinic in Tupelo, Mississippi, but dreamed of living and working in Maury County.  “We always loved this area and visited frequently, and bought farmland just a few miles away (from the clinic) with the intent of building a practice here,” offers Dr. Corley.  Fast forward ten years or so, and Hemmert and Corley have a thriving practice in a fast-growing area, supported by a third—and soon-to-be fourth—vet, not to mention a support team that includes technicians and receptionists, as well as kennel staffers.  “We are a full-service practice,” explains Dr. Corley, offering everything from routine checkups to diagnostics & surgery, along with wellness care & vaccinations, nutrition & weight management, dermatology and the treatment of allergies, plus boarding & grooming and day boarding.  As for the philosophy of the practice, Dr. Corley describes it as a “mom & pop type of veterinary hospital,” one that stands in sharp contrast to corporate-owned clinics.      

“Good customer service is a big thing we try to do here. At some clinics, if a longtime client has a pet that gets sick and they don’t have an appointment, they have to wait until the next available appointment. We really try to say, ‘No, you have been faithful to us, and we’ve been seeing your pet, so we’ll try to work you in if you need to be seen.’ I think that makes a world of difference to clients,” says Dr. Corley.  As for general recommendations for dog & cat owners, Dr. Corley notes that “preventative medicine plays a big part in keeping your pet healthy. If we can pick up on a disease process earlier, then we have better outcomes, and it’s more cost-effective,” he says, hence the importance of getting recommended vaccines and tests.  He also stresses the importance of staying ahead of common age-related issues.  

 “We are seeing a lot of pets with joint disease and arthritis as they age, and we have had a lot of good success with therapies and treatments. I talk to clients when I first see signs; that is the time to intervene by using joint supplements and anti-inflammatories and physical therapies to help keep that flexion and muscle mass,” he adds.  The clinic’s vets—including Dr. Jessica Larson—have also been successful in treating allergies.  

 “We have newer medications that do a really good job of controlling allergies,” says Dr. Corley. “The treatment of allergies has come a long way; whereas it used to be steroids and antihistamines, we now have newer therapies that don’t have the same side effects.”  All that said, Dr. Corley says he’s really enjoying living and working in Maury County, calling the area a “really good combination of town and country.”  As for the most rewarding part of his job, Dr. Corley loves being able to help patients who “don’t have a voice,” as he puts it.  

“You have a dog or a cat with a health issue, and they can’t tell you what the problem is, but through the skills that you have acquired, you can read the clinical signs and hopefully get a diagnosis and a treatment that saves or extends that pet’s life and give the client a good feeling,” he says.  That’s especially gratifying these days, as he and his colleagues are seeing more and more of a younger generation of clients who don’t have children—where their pets are a big part of the family.   “When you can give them more time and save that connection that they have made with their pets, it’s really rewarding,” he concludes. “We have been really blessed with a lot of good clients and a lot of pets that we have seen throughout the years.”    

 CONTACT: The Animal Care Center of Carters Creek 2690 Spring Meade Blvd. Columbia, TN 38401 931-489-9333 yourpetsnewvet.com