County planners endorse permit for ‘end-of-life’ veterinary clinic

FAYETTEVILLE — Washington County planners on Thursday endorsed a permit for an “end-of-life” veterinary services business that has been operating for five years from a home in the Wedington Woods area west of Fayetteville.

The Planning Board voted unanimously to approve the request from Sandie Wood for a conditional use permit for Kindness in Motion at 15570 Quail Road. Wood said she was in the process of expanding her business through the addition of an office building when she learned she would need a conditional use permit. The Quorum Court must also approve the permit.

According to information from the County’s Planning Department, the applicant is requesting a CUP to build an office space on her property for a “house call” veterinary service. The 2.2 acre parcel is located within Wedington Woods Unit VII subdivision on the southern side of Quail Road, which is also County Road 2150, approximately 0.1 mile from Redbud Road.

The business will be housed in a 16-foot by 40-foot office building with an existing small gravel driveway that has three parking spaces. There will be four total employees, with one being a part-time position, and hours of operation will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

According to the planning staff report, the business will provide routine veterinary care with a primary focus on end-of-life care including palliation, hospice, euthanasia, pet aquamation and other services. The aquamation process is scientifically know as Alkaline Hydrolysis or Biocremation and uses a combination of mild water

flow, temperature, and alkalinity to accelerate the breakdown of organic materials. The pet remains are dried and processed for return to the owner. There is currently no law, legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis (aquamation) in the State of Arkansas.

Any treatments performed at the proposed building location will be non-invasive that could include acupuncture or simple injections, according to the staff report. The proposed office space is not intended to be a full service clinic, mainly a home base for mobile operations, and a place people can pick up medications when they forget to order them in time from the business’ online pharmacy or have their pet receive a pain medication injection.

In her application for the permit, Wood said the business would not negatively impact the surrounding residential neighborhood.

“As a hospice veterinarian, my medicine supports public morals, comfort and welfare by protecting the quality of life and health of aged animals, and by providing emotional support and end of life counseling to pet owners,” Wood wrote. “Practically, this permit will allow me to safely store medications, supplies, and equipment in a secure location while following all OSHA guidelines as well as safety standards regarding sharps storage and disposal. Our employees are provided with resources, safety training and safety equipment in order to work safely in cases of pandemics and to provide a safe working environment from animals, vehicle use etc.”

“Our aquamation processes do require the onsite storage of chemicals, namely KOH (potassium hydroxide) and NaOH (sodium hydroxide), commonly known as lye and commonly used to produce soap,” Wood said in her application. “This chemical aids in the alkaline hydrolysis process. This process produces a liquid by-product which is safely and legally disposed of off-site by a certified septic company. This process is beneficial to public health as it breaks down euthanasia solution and other medications to produce a safe bone product which can be returned to the client as “ashes”. This method is known to be one of the best in regards to animal body disposal as it completely neutralizes even prion diseases (mad cow disease) which is a public health hazard. Staff are trained extensively and monitored for safety practices on the use, handling, and disposal of on-site chemicals. The chemicals are stored in a locked and secured outdoor shed in small quantities.”

Wood said the business will not generate much noise or traffic and only “a slight odor.”

“Given that customer visits will remain relatively infrequent and that senior pets tend to be the most quiet demographic of pets, it is unlikely that neighbors will notice the business use proposed due to noise, smell, or activity from animals or vehicles,” Wood wrote in her application. “Employee traffic will be relatively low as well, as there are a small number of employees and they will not be partaking in loud or strenuous activities outside once they’ve arrived. The aquamation process does produce a slight odor, but it is not a foul odor. It has been described as smelling like freshly baked Frito chips. The release of this odor occurs approximately every two to three days for about one hour. Our intention is to keep our land in a peaceful wooded state.”

The Planning Department received comments in opposition to the permit from seven neighbors. The neighbors said they are concerned about the effect of the business on the values of their homes, about increasing traffic in a residential area and possible hazards from the chemical processes used in the aquamation.

Serina Tustin spoke for a group of the neighbors opposed to the permit. She said the group is concerned that the expansion is already underway without a permit and that allowing a commercial operation could set a precedent for allowing other businesses in the area. She said the neighbors are concerned that the chemicals used at the business could affect groundwater, ponds and wells in the area.

One neighbor, Laura Helton, said she has lived across the street from Wood for five years and had no objections to the permit.