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New Animal Hospital In Apollo Beach

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By LOIS KINDLE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 2, 2008

APOLLO BEACH - Leslie Sierra has always loved animals. Even as a child she felt drawn to care for them.

"I've always seen them as little angels," the 28-year-old veterinarian said. "That's how I've always seen them. I think they serve a purpose in people's lives. Their love is unconditional."

Barring the unexpected, Sierra will open an animal hospital in Apollo Beach on Jan. 22. The 1,865-square-foot facility will have a reception area, two exam rooms, surgery and isolation rooms, large treatment area and a wall of cages for hospitalized animals.

The vet will provide full-service medical care, including dental care, for dogs, cats and small pocket pets - hedgehogs, ferrets and the like - and offer maintenance care - beak, claw and wing trimming - for birds. She will also offer digital X-rays and microchips.

Opening Sierra Animal Hospital is a dream come true, she said.

"I wanted the freedom to practice medicine my own way, to hire my own staff and to be involved in the management side of the business," Sierra said.

Up until recently, Sierra worked at several animal clinics. Those included Florida Veterinary Services in Tampa; Banfield, The Pet Hospital, inside PetSmart in Brandon; the Animal Emergency Clinic in Brandon; and Big Bend Animal Hospital in Riverview.

In fact, she still does an occasional shift at the emergency clinic and plans to continue. Sierra said she wants to keep her hand in the triage side of veterinary medicine, which she finds rewarding.

She also wants to keep her practice relatively small and focused.

"For me, it's not about the money; it's about having more job satisfaction," she said.

"I want to offer my own brand of service," Sierra said. "Having the additional time allows me to develop my relationship with the animal and its owner and to hear the pet's full history."

She has hired Julia Zelaya as her receptionist, Jason Downey as her veterinary assistant and Brandy Lewis as manager. Downey and Lewis worked with Sierra in the past.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Sierra came to the United States when she was 19 to go to the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicinein Tuskegee, Ala. She graduated in 2003.

The Apollo Beach resident is single and has a basset hound named Bandito and two cats, Schau and Alanis. She practices yoga, plays the piano and enjoys spending time with her parents and brother Javier, who live in Puerto Rico. Her brother Miguel lives in Brandon.

Sierra said she's looking forward to opening day.

"Most days, my work is very rewarding," she said. "It gives me purpose in life."

SIERRA ANIMAL HOSPITAL

WHAT: A full-service clinic for dogs, cats and pocket pets
WHERE: 5475 U.S. 41 N.

OPENING: Jan. 22

APPOINTMENTS: Accepted Jan. 15

HOURS: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

INFORMATION: (813) 672-9717

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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