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Citrus Heights Messenger

Citrus Heights Pet Hospital Celebrates Grand Opening

Nov 21, 2023 02:00PM ● By Thomas J. Sullivan

Eric Brickson and Dr. Avery Brickson do the ceremonial ribbon cutting of the Citrus Heights Pet Hospital with Dr. Zoe Wichmann, medical staff and Citrus Heights Mayor Tim Schaefer and Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce PAC Chairman Ray Riehle. Photo by Thomas J. Sullivan


CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The Citrus Heights Pet Hospital, formerly located at 7404 Auburn Boulevard in Citrus Heights celebrated the completion of its move to the Greenfaire Village Center at the corner of Greenback Lane and Fair Oaks Boulevard with a formal ribbon cutting on Friday, November 17th.

Citrus Heights Mayor Tim Schaefer, together with members of the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce, veterinary practice staff and other local officials took time to recognize the history of one of the city’s oldest full-service animal hospitals as it moves on to a new chapter in business.

Citrus Heights Pet Hospital, founded in 1962, is a general, family practice with over 63 years in business thoughtfully caring for dogs and cats and providing basic wellness checks, and attending to their general, medical, surgical and dental needs. Patients are seen by appointment only. The practice does not and will not in the future provide emergency care, Brickson said.

“While we hold a limited number of same-day urgent care appointments for our existing patients, any patient with an emergent problem will not be seen by us, but instead will be referred to one of the many local emergency facilities,” Brickson said.

The veterinary practice is owned and operated by Dr. Averi Brickson and her husband Erik who serves as hospital administrator.

Brickson, who earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Iowa State University is the daughter of Dan and Irene Warshauer of Citrus Heights.

Dan is the choir director of Celtic Cross Presbyterian Church and is the inspiration for the practice’s business logo which he and Irene collaborated to design. Its background story is displayed in the main lobby.

Father of Doctor helped design logoDan Warshauer, father of Dr. Averi Brickson, is featured in the veterinarian practice’s business logo prominently now displayed in the lobby. Photo by Thomas J. Sullivan


The logo features the silhouette of Dan and his military service dog Lock n’ Load from a photograph taken on the top of a bunker, at the start of one of his guard duty shifts in Dak To during his tour of duty in Vietnam from 1968-69. Warshauer served as a U.S. Army chaplain’s assistant with 1st Brigade Headquarters, 4th Infantry Division.

“My husband Eric and I purchased the practice in 2010 from Dr. Dean Henricks and now care for some 15,000 active patients,” she said.

staff working at pet hospitalCH Pet Hospital medical staff and support include Eric Brickson, Dr. Dean Henricks, Dr. Avery Brickson, Dr. Zoe Wichman and Dr. Audrey Sloan. Photo by Thomas J. Sullivan


Citrus Heights Pet Hospital was opened by Dr. Frost, (no relation to the family of Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost). Dr. Frost then sold the practice to Dr. Dean Henricks in 1997 who grew it further.

The couple provided guests with a tour of the practice’s treatment areas and an opportunity to meet hospital staff. A public grand opening ceremony was held throughout the day on Sunday, November 19th with refreshments and a silent auction.

Interior of new pet clinic

Dr. Avery Brickson said the new Citrus Heights Pet Hospital facility has the capacity and design specifications to allow the clinic to fully maximize spacing such as the medical bay. Photo by Thomas J. Sullivan


“We actually still have clients who started with the practice in 1962 and who through the generations of pet families have continued with us ever since,” Dr. Brickson said.

The new veterinary space in Greenfaire Village Center is almost double the size of the practice’s former Auburn Boulevard facility.

“Having the opportunity to design and build it to our specifications allowed us to fully maximize the use of this new space,” she said.

“We love how much natural light comes into the new facility from windows on all four sides,” she said. “We also have advanced air handling to minimize stress for our pet patients, to minimize the chance of infectious disease transmission, and to maximize the movement of fresh, clean, temperature-controlled air throughout the building,” she said.

The finished interior features an intentionally chosen color palette with patients in mind. Natural, calming colors on the floors, cabinets, counters and walls, and art from local artists have been chosen for their non-stressful content.

The practice in its new location has the physical capacity to add three to four doctors and between nine to 12 support staff in the future, Brickson said. “It’s one of the most exciting aspects of our upcoming expansion,” she said.

“I’m proud of the great team of veterinarians and supporting staff we have at Citrus Heights Pet Hospital,” Brickson said. “We’re excited to welcome our pet patients and their parents to our new facility.”

Citrus Heights Pet Hospital has four full-time doctors, herself as owner/veterinarian, Dr. Zoe Wichman, associate veterinarian: Dr. Audrey Sloan, associate veterinarian; and Dr Tami Rosich, associate veterinarian. Dr. Dean Henricks, an associate veterinarian who originally sold the practice to the Bricksons, attended the ribbon cutting and continues to work part-time.

In its Auburn Boulevard facility, situated across from Sylvan Cemetery, veterinary staff had worked in approximately 2,500 square-feet of space which wasn’t designed for a modern style of practice and workload, Brickson explained.

“We’d been exploring opportunities to expand for years and when this property at Greenfaire Village came up for sale, we decided it was an ideal location to meet the needs of our rapidly expanding clientele,” she said.

“As general practitioners, we are family doctors, focusing on preventive care, wellness and public health,” she said. When patients require the next level of specialty care, Brickson said referrals are then placed to a robust community of boarded veterinary specialists in the greater Sacramento area.

The weblink: http://chpethospital.com/new-patient-center features online forms, helpful information, practice hours, and payment information.

Citrus Heights Pet Hospital is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 6 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and is closed on Sunday. Call (916) 725-2700 to schedule an appointment or email [email protected] for more information. The hospital offers a wide range of professional services including annual wellness exams, vaccinations, microchipping and spay and neutering services.