As published in North & West Melbourne News – Summer 2021. Issue 195

Lort Smith Animal Hospital celebrates its 85th birthday this year. This isn’t the only milestone for the iconic institution.

As Australia’s largest and busiest not-for-profit animal hospital, the organisation is bursting at the seams at its original site in Villiers Street in North Melbourne.

With more than one million animals treated and countless people assisted since we began in 1936, Lort Smith has embarked on an exciting new chapter in its history. In mid-December we will be opening a second site in Campbellfield.

Lort Smith Campbellfield will be a brand-new, purpose-built facility providing high-quality, affordable veterinary care to Melbourne’s outer northern suburbs.

It’s at 25-35 Berwick Road in Campbellfield, just off the Hume Highway. It’s easy to get to and there’s plenty of on-site parking.

The veterinary practice will be open six days a week and will provide many routine services. These include health checks, vaccinations and behaviour advice as well as day surgery procedures such as desexing and dental and soft tissue surgery.

Specialised services such as accident and emergency, critical care, and overnight care will not be provided at the new Campbellfield facility. However, they will continue to be available at the animal hospital in Villiers Street, as well as routine veterinary services.

Lort Smith’s trademark focus is on nurturing the human-animal bond and our services are highly regarded for our unique legacy of compassion for pets and for members of the community.

Alongside the new veterinary clinic at Campbellfield will be a custom-built animal shelter that will become the new home of Lort Smith’s animal adoptions. It will provide a stress-free environment and significantly improved amenities for animals while they are waiting to be rehomed.

The site will also host Lort Smith’s community-based services that include our volunteer and community outreach programs such as our renowned pet therapy that has been running for 32 years.

Lort Smith Campbellfield offers local animal lovers the chance to come together at the onsite community dog park.