12/14/2025
This isnāt a goodbye, Minooka - itās a new chapter in our story together
From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank this community for growing with us, trusting us, and allowing us to care for your pets that are now part of our family. Every wagging tail, every gentle purr, every nervous first visit that ended in kisses and cuddles. Youāve been the heartbeat of Rusty Ridge from the very beginning.
Weāve always promised to provide for your pets as if they were our own, and that promise will never change - not today, not ever. We poured our energy, our savings, and our hope into our Minooka hospital and weāve ultimately reached a point where compromising the level and quality of your pet's healthcare is just not an option.
We never wanted to leave Minooka. Truly. This community has become our home. But the reality we faced ā inconsistent heating and air conditioning, leaking ceilings, sewage backups, broken fencing, deliberate acts of vandalism, and landlord hostility directed toward our team ā made it harder and harder to provide the clean, welcoming environment your pets deserve. We worked tirelessly to ensure your pets were always treated with the same gold standard of Rusty Ridge services, even as the conditions around us declined. Despite years of requesting basic repairs, hoping things would turn around, our pleas were met with silence. The rent kept rising, even as the place we tried so hard to make our home became harder to hold together. It broke our hearts. It frustrated us. And in the end, it left us with no choice but to move.
Still, through every challenge, your love and support kept us going. You reminded us why we do what we do. This isnāt just a job for us. Itās a calling. Itās family.
To our incredible Minooka neighbors who welcomed us with open arms and stood by us through it all - thank you. Youāve become family to us, and you will always have a place in our hearts (and at our new clinic ā just a short golf-cart ride north!)
Now, we turn the page to something brighter ā our brand-new, ground-up facility in Shorewood Towne Center!
This isnāt just a new building ā itās a fresh beginning. A space built with love, care, and the freedom to finally call it our true home.
Yes, the road here has been steep, and challenges and stress were greater than we couldāve ever imaginedā¦ but no amount of debt or chaos can outweigh the joy of creating a safe, warm, hospitable space for our patients and community.
Even with this beautiful new space, our mortgage payments will actually be less than what we were paying in rent. And around here, when our costs go down, we pass those savings right back to the most important people in our world ā our clients. Because we understand what it means to struggle.
While big corporate clinics raise prices quarter after quarter - even as they enjoy massive supplier discounts - weāre choosing a different path. We may not get those big corporate breaks, but we believe our community matters more than squeezing out a higher margin. Weāll always do our best to keep care accessible, fair, and as affordable as possible for the families who trust us. We live here too. Members of the community, raising families, caring for pets, and trying to make a difference right alongside you.
As we step into this new chapter at the Rusty Ridge Animal Center of Shorewood, our hearts are full of gratitude, hope, and excitement for whatās to come!
From our family to yours ā thank you for letting us be part of your family.
Hereās to brighter days, healthier pets, and a future filled with love
Welcome to the new Rusty Ridge Animal Center of Shorewood ā where compassion, community, and care will always come first!
ā¤ļø
Dr. Joe & the Rusty Ridge Crew
