A former mobile spay and neuter clinic has put on the brakes and opened a clinic in the McGee's Crossroads area. Carolina Crossing Veterinary Clinic (formerly Carolina Mobile Spay-Neuter Clinic) opened at the end of March, but many of its customers don't know the clinic has made the transition, according to clinic owner and veterinarian Dr. Dawn Flood.

Flood, a vet of 14 years, operated the mobile clinic from 2002 until January of this year, traveling throughout Wake, Johnston, Lee and Harnett counties to service clients and their pets. The mobile vet would park in front of AgriSupply on Highway 70 to bring their services to Garner residents. But the clinic was limited by the small space and only offered spay and neuter services.

"I would have customers telling me their pets were sick, or asking me to check their dental health," said Flood. "I decided it was time to settle down in one location. We can do things here that we couldn't on the mobile unit."

Carolina Crossing now offers all routine care for cats and dogs, including vaccinations, heartworm testing and prevention, dental cleaning, declawing and flea and tick control. But Flood's specialty is spaying and neutering. She has performed over 50,000 spay and neuter surgeries in her career and prides herself on offering affordable spay and neuter packages, a cause that has been close to her heart ever since she developed an interest in shelter medicine.

"They put so many animals to sleep in shelters every day," she said. "Especially now, when a lot of people can't even afford to feed or keep their animals, the shelters are experiencing a very high turnover rate. We're just trying to save lives."

The clinic has spay and neuter packages starting at $80. These packages vary according to animal (cat or dog) and size and include pre-surgical exam, anesthesia, surgical procedure, post-op care, vaccines, and more.

"I want to continue to help people by keeping the basic services affordable, especially in this economy with so many people out of work," said Flood. "We offer that high level of service but still keep it affordable."

Carolina Crossing also accepts vouchers from the SPCA, Friends of Animals, Operation Catnip and more. For more information on vouchers, visit the clinic’s web site at www.carolinacrossingvet.com.

Along with Flood, there is also a part-time vet on staff, three veterinary assistants and two office staff members.

The staff is all involved with animals in their personal lives as well, whether through pets, hobbies or side businesses. In her spare time, Flood trains German Shepherds for Schutzhund, a sport where the dogs undergo training for police-type work and search and rescue.

Flood is also invested in business. She and her husband own Dogwood Crossing, the newly constructed business center along Highway 210 that houses Carolina Crossing and a spa center.

The clinic currently takes up 3,000 square feet with room to expand if Flood decides to add extensive grooming or kennel services in the future. There are also other spaces available for lease in the 19,500-square-foot facility. Flood chose the location for its accessibility to surrounding towns.

"This is such a growing area, and it's in the middle of everything," said Flood. "It’s right on the border between the counties and ten minutes from everywhere - Garner, Smithfield, Fuquay-Varina, Benson."

The community is also encouraged to be on the lookout for a grand opening event at the end of the summer.

Carolina Crossing is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are preferred.

The clinic is located at 11760 NC 210, Suite 110, in the McGee's Crossroads area. For more information, call 919-934-7729 or visit carolinacrossingvet.co