Take A Sneak Peak At Basking Ridge Animal Hospital’s Renovations

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — As an animal lover Bernardsville local and owner of the Basking Ridge Animal Hospital, Dr. Erno Hollo prides himself on offering the best possible care for animals.

And with that he has invested two years and a lot of his savings to completely overhaul the hospital, located at 340 S Finley Avenue in Basking Ridge.

“The animal shelter was quite outdated and we had to do something,” Hollo said.

The original building was constructed in 1938 as a Carriage House. New construction began in December of 2015 and work is almost finished as of October 2017.

Combing the old with the new, Hollo designed the entire new shelter to replicate an old barn look with state-of-the-art and modernized equipment inside.

Some features include granite topped examining tables that electronically go up and down to accommodate pets with physical issues. A scale has been constructed into the floor to help animals feel more comfortable.

In the surgical area, high-tech equipment and lighting was installed to give surgeons a clearer look at areas they are working on.

The pet showers offer heated flooring and there is even a gym and lounge area for staff that work long hours. A very large generator was installed to power the entire facility during large natural disaster events.

Keeping with the historic look, real maplewood was used in the construction and the furniture is Colonial-styled.

Hollo repurposed wood from fallen trees following Hurricane Sandy to be milled down, sanded and used in the construction.

The new waiting room is still under construction and will feature a two-story silo built from reclaimed barn wood and a fireplace that includes bricks from Europe that date back to 1787. Looking closely at the bricks you can see animal prints fossilized in them.

A special feature is a private room with a rear entrance door that is used solely for the euthanization of animals. It provides a private area for owners to grieve and a way to exit the building privately. Right outside the doors is a serenity garden when owners can grieve in the sunlight and outdoors as well.

While the project awaits its final touches, Hollo is already running the business from the new building.

To learn more about the Basking Ridge Animal Hospital visit baskingridgeanimalhospital.com or Facebookor call 908-766-4211.

(Images by Alexis Tarrazi)

Image 1 - Vets working on a cat.

Image 2 - The old and new hospitals standing side by side.

Image 3 - State-of-the-art equipment for surgical procedures.

Image 4 by Basking Ridge Animal Hospital - Dr. Erno Hollo working on the fireplace.

Image 5 - Examination rooms with granite tops on tables.

Image 6 - Conference room made with reclaimed wood from Hurricane Sandy.

Image 7 and 8 - Fireplace in the new waiting room that incorporates bricks from Europe in the 1700s.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.