Rusty Ridge Animal Center

10/14/2026

It’s always TREAT or MORE TREAT at Rusty!

Thankful for amazing clients that have been keeping us very well fed with all the sweets, and we couldn’t be more thankful for how much you think of us!

The only spooky thing about this Halloween season is the winter bod prep we’ve got going on after all these treats…

Keep the love comin’, we’ll deal with the consequences in January! 🤣🍩

10/13/2026

Well…that was a Monday!

Claws to the wall from open to past closed 😮‍💨

The whole crew is wiped, so here’s a beautiful Bully baby 💙

10/06/2026

We’re incredibly excited to introduce the newest member of our veterinary team — Dr. Mel!

Dr. Mel has a special interest in animal behavior and exotic companion medicine, making her a fantastic addition to our crew. Her love for exotics includes caring for some of the more unusual members of the family — including guinea pigs, lizards, birds, rabbits, ferrets, and other pocket pets!

And when she’s not helping animals, you’ll probably find Dr. Mel trying to keep up with her three Beagles - which, as we all know, is basically a full-time job in itself

Outside the hospital, Dr. Mel loves photography and capturing the beauty of nature, spending time baking, and enjoying her wonderfully eclectic taste in music

Honestly, we think that last one makes her a perfect fit - because around here, taking great care of animals and rocking out with the crew is a Rusty Ridge standard

We’re thrilled to have her on board and can’t wait for you and your pets to meet her!

Welcome to Rusty Ridge, Dr. Mel! ❤️

10/06/2026

As excitement builds, we are looking for Groomers to join the team at Morris Hometown Vets - Family owned and operated!

Located in Morris, IL

☑️ Brand new facility buildout

☑️ Smaller-part-time or single groomer

☑️ Comfortable with Cats & Dogs

☑️ By Appointment Only

If interested please reach out!

Email: [email protected]

10/03/2026

Some goodbyes are harder than words can ever explain

Especially when they’re the ones who have been with us from the very beginning - back when we were working out of our pickup truck

We remember the happy memories. The endless love. And that familiar greeting as they skipped those eight steps just to give us their welcome hugs - drooly kisses and all

We’re always asked, “Why can’t they live forever?”

It’s because we’re meant to cherish every single waking moment of the unconditional love only they can give. So today, give your furry family member an extra hug. Hold them a little longer. Tell them you love them

Because one day, those little paws will leave footprints on our hearts that never fade 💙🌈🌉

10/02/2026

If you’ve been following us for a while, you know we LOVE a good orthopedic case. And this week was basically TPLO-palooza, with several pups and their families trusting our orthopedic team with their torn cranial cruciate ligaments (“ACLs”)

When someone says, “My dog had CrCL surgery,” that could mean several completely different procedures, with very different techniques, biomechanics, recovery expectations, and outcomes

There is no universal “CrCL surgery”

Every knee is different. Every patient is different. Age, size, activity level, degree of instability, meniscal injury, conformation, orthopedic health, and a whole lot of other factors can influence which procedure makes the most sense

At Rusty Ridge, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to orthopedic surgery. We believe in understanding WHY a particular procedure is being recommended and making the decision based on the individual patient

So when comparing CrCL surgeries, stay informed and ask questions! “Cruciate surgery” can mean very different things depending on the procedure.

And if you’re not sure which option is right for your dog, we’re happy to help you understand the choices

Another busy week of fixing knees, getting dogs back on their feet, and doing what we love 💪💙

10/01/2026

You guessed it… ANOTHER foreign body surgery!

This happy Golden decided that regular old lip care just wasn’t enough. She took her self-care routine to the next level and apparently thought, “Why stop at lip balm when I can eat the whole towel?”

Thankfully, Dr. Joe and the crew were ready to get down to business and remove the unwanted “snacks” from her intestines. After a successful surgery and a little recovery time, she’s back home living her BEST life!

Another foreign body, another successful save, and another reminder that these pups will apparently eat anything that isn’t nailed down - but we’ll be there when it comes time to get it out!

09/29/2026

How ALL of us felt after staying up late watching Da Bears take down ol’ Philly last night

No cheesesteaks around these parts - just Chicago style dogs, a little extra Italian beef dipped with giardiniera, and a seasoned QB from Texas to start the week off right

Now somebody pass the coffee…🐻⬇️

🤠

09/29/2026

Today was Dr. Mel’s first day with us, and we decided to break her in the Rusty Ridge way… with another exploratory surgery!

This little patient had a bit of a “bone to pick” Buffalo Wild wings - and we found out exactly why! During surgery, we removed fragmented bones before they could cause any more damage

You’ll be seeing Dr. Mel around the hospital alongside Dr. Joe & Dr. Zollars as she gets into the flow of things. So don’t be shy — say hello and give her a very warm Rusty Ridge welcome!

09/26/2026

We’re always proud to support the schools and the amazing work they do for our community!

Our school pets are such an important part of helping students learn compassion, responsibility, and the special bond we share with animals

We’re grateful for the opportunity to help care for them - supporting our community means supporting the people, and the animals, that make it such a special place to call home 💙

Huge shoutout to Rusty Ridge Animal Center for taking such great care of the Minooka FFA classroom pets!