PrintAug. 14--NORWICH -- When Lona Baker began a part-time job during high school as a receptionist at All Friends Animal Hospital, she never envisioned she would grow up to own the veterinary practice.
Baker and two partners -- also veteran All Friends staffers -- recently purchased the hospital business and its building and grounds at 420 New London Turnpike from founder Dr. Christopher Melgey, who retired and moved to Florida. Melgey founded the hospital in 1995.
Baker, 29, a Norwich native and 1999 graduate of Norwich Free Academy, said it might be unusual for a non-veterinarian to own an animal hospital, but she believes the partnership, under the name LON LLC, has "all the bases covered." She has been hospital administrator since 2002.
Baker has a degree in business. Partner Dr. Melissa deBlok has been a veterinarian at All Friends for the past two years and will serve as the medical director. Veterinary technician Tara Bolles started working at the hospital two weeks before Baker first accepted that part-time receptionist job in 1998. Bolles will be the patient coordinator.
"It's a business, but we're doing what we all love to do," said Bolles, who grew up in Preston. "It's a good venture."
Baker has a bachelor's degree in business from Eastern Connecticut State University. When she decided to pursue a business degree, she thought she was going to "go corporate."
But when she graduated from college, Melgey hired her as hospital administrator, and she stayed. During the past three years, Melgey started slowing down his schedule and talking about retiring. He gradually turned more of the daily operations to Baker, who then started thinking that she would like to take over when Melgey retired.
Melgey apparently had similar thoughts. Eighteen months ago, he asked her if she was interested in buying the practice.
"I said, 'Absolutely!'" Baker recalled.
Baker declined to reveal the full purchase price for the business. Norwich land records showed that LON LLC paid $650,000 for the building and land in a transaction recorded on July 31.
The hospital has four full-time veterinarians and about a dozen support staff. About 20 patients come to the hospital each morning and another 30 each afternoon. It does about five surgeries per day, Baker said.
"This business wouldn't be what it is without this staff," Baker said. "They've made this transition smooth. People are going to see the same smiling faces here."
In addition to the regular patient load, All Friends over the years has offered its services to Norwich and surrounding towns during animal emergencies -- such as the effort to rescue dozens of cats in the aftermath of the Peachtree Apartments fire in 2008 in Norwich. Baker said Melgey was committed to community involvement, and the new partnership will continue that legacy. She would like to expand the hospital's community animal welfare efforts.
"I love the busyness of the place," Baker said, "but I never want to see the clients feel like they are just a number. Our core values will stay the same, and we're going to build off that. It's a family atmosphere."
c.bessette@theday.com
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