The Mecklenburg County Planning Commission approved a special exception permit to allow a veterinary dog and cat surgical clinic at a house on the north side of Highway 58.

Applicant Dr. Holly Gill, a veterinarian licensed in Virginia since 1983, told commissioners the facility will provide spay and neuter surgeries only, by appointment, and will not operate as a full‑service animal hospital. “It sounds like it's going to be a regular animal hospital, but that really not what my intentions are. It's gonna be a surgical, a surgical service,” she said. Dr. Gill said she expects to operate three days a week from about 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and estimated she can do “at most, I can do 6, maybe 7 cats a day.”

Dr. Gill said the structure is configured with a bedroom for surgical prep and a converted bedroom functioning as a surgery suite; she said the facility is licensed by the Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine. She also said Southern Animal Care is a registered 501(c)(3) and that most patients will be prearranged appointments: owners drop off pets and return to pick them up by phone call when recovery is complete. Dr. Gill said she would be the sole surgeon and that parking on site should accommodate four to five cars.

A commissioner moved to approve the special exception, noting the use would not be detrimental to public welfare and that the structure would be required to meet building‑code standards; the motion passed by voice vote. Staff and the motion language emphasized that structures shall meet required building codes and that any state licensing requirements remain the responsibility of the clinic operator.

Next steps: the operator must obtain any required building and occupancy permits and maintain compliance with the Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine licensing rules.