Barre Animal Hospital to close in October with retirement of Dr. Susan Neno

Photo by Tom Rivers

BARRE – Dr. Susan Neno has announced she will be retiring in October and will be closing the Barre Animal Hospital.

Dr. Neno, 63, said she has tried to find a successor the past five years but has been unable to convince another vet to take on the solo practice.

“I’m going to miss this,” she said at the animal hospital on Friday. “This has been my life.”

Dr. Neno has been a vet for 35 years. She said the profession takes a toll on the body – and the emotions. She said euthanizing beloved family pets is heart-wrenching for her and the staff.

The Barre Animal Hospital was established more than 50 years ago by Dr. Ron Harling at 15445 E. Lee Rd. Dr. Neno became the owner in 2007, after working alongside Dr. Harling for a few years.

For many years she was on call 24-7. About two years ago she closed the office on Saturdays, and then a year ago also closed on Fridays. But even the Monday through Thursday schedule is very demanding.

She is grateful for the career at the Barre Animal Hospital, working with 1,400 active clients and 8,000 to 10,000 dogs and cats. In her earlier years as a vet, she treated snakes, turtles, gerbils, pigs, iguanas and other pets. But she said she sees those species fairly infrequently to stay well versed and well stocked on their medications.

Dr. Neno grew up in Lansing near Ithaca. After going to the local community college and then Binghamton University, she earned her veterinary degree at Cornell.

She wanted to stay on in more of an advisory role for a new owner, but vets are drawn to larger offices with more set hours and bigger paychecks.

“I’m sad to be leaving,” she said. “I’m heartbroken. The one-doctor practices are a thing of the past.”

Retiring in October will give her more time with her husband and family. She looks forward to going on a vacation trip.

She praised her staff, including vet tech Geoff who has been at the Barre Animal Hospital since 1999. Becky, Gail and Diane also are instrumental to the Barre Animal Hospital.

“The four of them are phenomenal,” Dr. Neno said. “They are the glue to the practice.”

She urged people to do yearly checkups at the vet for their pets. That way the vaccines can be updated, and the vet can do an exam and may be able to detect a mass or heart murmur before it is a serious threat.

Dr. Neno wrote a message to the community that has been printed this weekend in The Lake Country Pennysaver and Westside News.

After careful consideration, it has been decided that the Barre Animal Hospital will be closing its doors after many decades of serving the community.

The practice was established by Dr. Harling in the early 1970’s. Over the years, the clinic has had the opportunity to care for countless animals and to build lasting relationships with their owners. Deep appreciation is extended to the community for its trust and support over the years, as many of you have become friends and even like family to myself and the staff.

Please understand that this decision was not made lightly. Several years were spent trying to transition the practice, including offering it for sale. After thoughtful reflection, it has become clear that closing the practice is the appropriate next step.

The anticipated closing date is October 2026.  Please reach out to us by email to have your records transferred to your new veterinary clinic.  The email address is: barreanimal@yahoo.com.

With sincere gratitude,

Dr. Susan Neno