ROCHESTER — Veterinarian said Dr. Natalie Lucca expects to start seeing clients in April with his new one
Homeward Bound Animal Clinic in former Rochester Meadow Lakes Golf Course clubhouse.
Lucca, who grew up in Rochester, has been busy in recent months renovating the clubhouse building at 50 45th Ave. SW on the grounds of the golf course, which closed in 2012.
When asked this week if he was about to open Homeward Bound, he answered with an enthusiastic “Heck, yeah.”
Her team of three staff is setting up a booking system with the goal of seeing the animals on April 8. Homeward Bound will host an open house on April 12 with a ribbon cutting.
The new clinic will offer care for dogs, cats and more exotic pets. Lucca includes reptiles, amphibians, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters and sugar gliders on the list of exotics.
Lucca has been caring for animals locally as a veterinarian since 2016 at Northern Valley Animal Clinic and before that at Banfield Pet Hospital. He is also one of the veterinarians who work with animals in
Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo in Byron.
Her approach focuses on “fearless” care for animals.
”Fearless is about being at the animal level to break down the barriers of fear of going to a new place or getting treatment. It’s about reducing stress and making the experience more enjoyable for the animals,” he explained.
Did the clinic turn out as he imagined in the Fall of 2023?
“It’s beautiful. It’s beautiful. Everything is beautiful. Everything is on schedule. There are still some final details to finish at the end, but we’ll get there,” said Lucca.
This is the latest project in the former clubhouse building. In 2017, it had a run as a members-only cigar establishment called the Corona Club in the Meadows.
In other action on the course grounds, Med City Electric
also recently moved its operation to a nearby building at 70 45th Ave. SW.
