The new Okinawa Veterinary Treatment facility officially opened Wednesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The renovation was three years in planning and construction and cost just over $2 million. (Matt Orr/Stars and Stripes)
The new Okinawa Veterinary Treatment facility officially opened Wednesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The renovation was three years in planning and construction and cost just over $2 million. (Matt Orr/Stars and Stripes)
Holley Workman, left, and Theresa Amlong, middle, are shown one of the seven new surgery rooms by Kim Carter, a civilian veterinary technician during an open house in April to allow the public to see the new facility before it officially opened. A dummy training dog was set up to show visitors an example of a surgery using new equipment purchased as part of the newly renovated Okinawa Veterinary Treatment Facility. (Matt Orr/Stars and Stripes)
The 3rd Marine Expeditionary Band was on hand at the official opening of the new Okinawa Veterinary Treatment Facility Wednesday. They presented Maj. Kent Vince, Chief, Okinawa Branch, Japan District Veterinary Command with a plaque thanking the staff for taking care of the bands mascot, SSgt. Chopper IV. (Matt Orr/Stars and Stripes)
Maj. Kent Vince, Chief, Okinawa Branch, Japan District Veterinary Command, second from left, explains some of the new equipment and benefits of the newly renovated Okinawa Veterinary Treatment Facility to Brig. Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach, 18th Wing Commander, Kadena Air Base, right, during an open house in April to allow the public to see the new facility before it officially opened Wednesday. (Matt Orr/Stars and Stripes)
KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — The newly renovated Okinawa Veterinary Treatment Facility officially opened its doors Wednesday.
The $2 million project was three years in the making and expanded the facility from 4,032-square-feet to 6,432-square-feet.
Within the building’s confines are seven exam rooms and three surgery suites.
“The Okinawa Veterinary Treatment Facility is a state of the art hospital that is fit to provide care to the military working dogs that serve our nation,” Army Maj. Kent Vince, who was instrumental in seeing the project through from start to finish, said during an opening ceremony Wednesday.
Although the primary mission of the facility is to serve the military working dogs on Okinawa, the facility is also used by status of forces agreement personnel and military retiree pet owners and tracks approximately 9,000 veterinary records.
“This facility would not be here if not for the dedication of Maj. Vince,” Lt. Col. Margery Hanfelt, commander of the Japan District Veterinary Command, said during the ceremony. “He never lost sight of the mission and never gave up.”
