The Hermiston Veterinary Clinic is expanding in an attempt to better serve its customers.

The clinic, which has been located at 1995 S. Highway 395 since 1978, is adding 1,600 square feet to its building. The construction began in June and is expected to be completed sometime in the next four to six months.

The expansion will increase the number of examination rooms in the clinic from three to five. It will also increase the size of the reception area, add a retail room to the clinic and allow the room currently used for offices to be transformed into a lounge once the offices are relocated to the new part of the building. The clinic is also expanding the size of its parking lot as part of the project.

David Rademacher, who owns the clinic along with Creigh Lincoln and Thomas Pitzer, said the expansion will allow the clinic to treat customers in a more timely manner.

“We pride ourselves on people not waiting long. People’s time is valuable, so we want to get them in and out quicker,” Rademacher said. “That’s the biggest reason we wanted to expand.”

Rademacher said customers haven’t complained about having to wait, but they have noticed how busy the lobby at the reception area gets at times.

“We haven’t had complaints, but people have said, ‘Boy, you’re busy,” Rademacher said.

The clinic currently employs five veterinarians, which poses a problem at times, considering there are only three exam rooms.

“We’ll have more to do,” Rademacher said. “It’ll keep me busier versus having to wait for an exam room.”

The safety of the animals the clinic treats was also taken into consideration.

“With a bigger reception area, the animals won’t be right next to each other when they’re waiting,” Rademacher said.

Rademacher, who’s worked at the clinic since 1984, said he was one of the biggest advocates for the expansion, which is something they’ve been eager to do for several years but werent able to until the price of construction was recently knocked down.

Hopefully its done in four months, but Ill say six because I dont want to get myself too excited yet, Rademacher said.