New owner takes control at Carson City veterinary practice

Vowing to keep the hometown vet promise that has been at the core of the Lone Mountain Veterinary Hospital since first opening in 1995, Dr. Katie Roberts became the official owner of veterinary practice on Valentine’s Day, taking over from Margie Quirk who has been the owner since 2009.

In the 28 years since the practice opened, there have been only three owners: Dr. John Margolin, Quirk and Roberts. It was Margolin who set the philosophy of “practicing high-quality medicine with the feel of a hometown hospital” which continues to be the philosophy.

Quirk became a partner in 2006 and full owner in 2009. She never wavered from Margolin’s vision, and Roberts vows to do the same.

“This pet hospital, the vets, and the support staff are already awesome and there is no need to change the philosophy that has worked all these years,” Roberts said.

It was always Margolin’s philosophy not to sell his practice to larger veterinary corporations so he would be able to maintain control while providing personalized service to his clients and their pets.

The hospital building and the kennels function today exactly as Margolin envisioned when he bought what was then a vacant rural acre in 1994, designing the building to look as though it had been a home remodeled into an old-fashioned veterinary hospital.

“In 1994, the road in front of the vacant lot (now East College Parkway) was known as Graves Lane and although it was considered remote at the time, I felt it was the right location because the U.S. Census Bureau projected growth to take place in Carson City and there was the promise of the freeway bypass,” Margolin said. He turned out to be a visionary.

As Quirk grew the business even further, she hired more veterinarians to assist in the growing practice. Roberts began in September 2009 and has been the lead veterinarian since 2013. She knows what it takes to run a full-service practice that includes boarding, grooming, exotic pet care and more.

For Quirk, the passing of the reins is bittersweet, for working with animals has always been her passion. She was a vocal champion for building the Carson City Animal Shelter and believes in working with and patronizing local businesses first and foremost for any supplies and services needed. She also has been a civic leader and when called upon, has always willingly served as any good “hometown” veterinary hospital owner would be expected to do.

“Margie has done more for this practice that I could ever have done, and she has kept the spirit of the place,” Margolin said.

Quirk recently suffered a major fall while riding her beloved horses (“my fault, not theirs”) and the subsequent health problems associated with the fall hastened her decision to sell although she anticipates about a six-month part-time transition before fully retiring.

“I am ready to release control and wind down after many years of being solely responsible for this 24/7 business which kept me up many nights,” she said.

Roberts will be joined by her husband, Jason, who will serve as hospital manager overseeing a staff of 23 including three veterinarians and three licensed vet technicians.

A 2003 graduate of Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, she has two daughters ages 15 and 17 now attending Carson High.

“Lone Mountain Veterinary Hospital is awesome already, and I will not be making any changes in philosophy,” she said.

For information, go to www.lonemountainvet.com or call 775-883-3136.