Leeds Avenue Ramp Work Spares Animal Hospital

For a while, it was touch and go at .

There was a concern that the animal hospital-located on the 4900 block of Leeds Ave. for more than 50 years-may not survive the construction project to replace the entrance ramp to the inner loop of the beltway.

"We were so worried," said Danielle Suh, who along with her husband, Luke, are veterinarians and owners of the animal hospital.

An early design for the ramp leading from Southwestern Boulevard went directly over the animal hospital, posing a risk that services might be disrupted or the facility might be forced to close, according to State Highway Administration officials.

Pet owners were concerned that they might lose access to the only animal hospital between Catonsville and Glen Burnie.

A revised plan moved the ramp further to the west, cozied up against the edge of the widened beltway as planners envision for the future, SHA officials said.

"They avoided going directly through the building," Luke Suh said.

Danielle Suh said the new alignment of the ramp clears the animal hospital by 30-40 feet, and will necessitate the couple selling a sliver of the west side of their property for the construction.

The Suhs said that losing the strip of property was a small price for the ability to remain in their present location.

"We are determined to remain open here," Danielle Suh said. "We'll be open during the whole construction."

"I don't think it will have a big impact on the hospital," Luke Suh said. "We're going to continue to provide emergency service and clinical care here without interruption. We'll be fine."

Established in 1959, Arbutus Veterinary Hospital has been owned and operated by the Suhs for nine years. Since then, they have gained a loyal clientele of pet owners.

"We were big-time worried" about the ramp construction, said pet owner Jay Gilmore of Catonsville, who was bringing in his dog for care. "We were concerned because we didn't know what was going to happen."

Gilmore, who has been a client of the animal hospital for about seven years, said that his brother-in-law and family members in Catonsville also bring their animals to Arbutus Veterinary Hospital.

"They're great people," he said. "Good veterinarians, and they're more reasonably priced than other animal hospitals. I'm glad they won't have to close."