After decades of serving the needs of pet owners in the region, Tenney, Fritz and Combs Animal Hospital in Peterborough has closed its doors.

The closure is part of a broader change to veterinary medicine in town, as the acquisition of the longtime Peterborough practice by Dr. David McGrath, founder of Northeast Veterinary Partners, also includes Animal Care Clinic-Monadnock.

Laurie Lacharite, Regional Operations Manager for Northeast Veterinary Partners, said that Derek Fritz and Nancy Moore of Tenney, Fritz and Combs and Chuck DeVinne, founder of Animal Care Clinic-Monadnock, approached McGrath separately with the idea of selling in recent months and that the partnership to essentially merge the Peterborough practices happened very quickly over the last month or so. The take over became official last Wednesday.

While Fritz and Moore have retired, DeVinne will continue to practice at Animal Care Clinic-Monadnock.

“He still wants to stay on and focus on being a veterinarian,” Lacharite said of DeVinne.

Lacharite said it has become increasingly harder for small veterinary practices to operate alone and many had a difficult time navigating the last year.

“COVID has been really hard on veterinary practices,” she said.

Lacharite said Fritz and Moore had reached out to some clients to inform them of their decision and the acquisition, but were unable to get to everyone before operations ceased last week, citing how quickly it came together. She said a letter is going out to around 2,000 clients that had used the practice in the last five years.

In the letter to clients, Fritz and Moore said “We have strived to carry on the legacy of the founders of the practice, Dr.Forrest Tenney, Dr. Donald Fritz (Dr. Derek Fritz’s father) and Dr. John Combs. We want to sincerely thank all of our friends, family, valued clients, dedicated staff and community for their support throughout the years and allowing us the privilege of caring for your beloved pets. Words could never express our gratitude for your support, loyalty and trust over the years and we are honored to have been able to be part of your lives.”

The letter continued by saying, “We have always prided ourselves to do what’s not only best for our patients, but also our clients by providing the highest quality veterinary care, specific to each patient’s need, listening to our client concerns and providing our best advice while respecting our client’s decisions. Together, we have built a very special and compassionate veterinary community.”

In the letter, Fritz and Moore made it clear having a plan in place for clients and their animals was critical.

“During this exciting and changing times in our lives, it was extremely important to us that our clients and patients continue to receive the highest quality veterinary care you all so much deserve, which is why we made the decision to partner with Dr. David McGrath, Founder of Northeast Veterinary Partners,” Fritz and Moore said.

Lacharite said McGrath is a Tufts University graduate and also a member of the Tufts University Advisory Board. He was a practicing veterinarian for over 15 years and is now focusing on bringing small animal veterinary practices together.

“He really focuses on helping owners on the verge of retiring,” Lacharite said. She said that Northeast Veterinary Partners now owns a total of 10 clinics, consisting of practices around New England and one in California.

“Dr. McGrath shares in our belief that each veterinary practice is different and needs to understand and focus on the specific needs of the local clientele and we are pleased to be able to do just that,” the letter reads. “Dr. McGrath has also partnered with Dr. Charles DeVinne of the Animal Care Clinic-Monadnock which will allow our clients to continue receiving outstanding veterinary care, within their local, small town community.”

All of Tenney, Fritz and Combs’s client and patient medical records will be transitioned over to the Animal Care Clinic-Monadnock. Clients are asked to reach out to the Animal Care Clinic at (603) 924-9033 with any questions.

“The clients shouldn’t notice any difference at all,” Lacharite said. “We try really hard to keep things the same.”

Currently, Animal Care Clinic has two veterinarians on staff, DeVinne and Lori Baldwin, who joined the practice earlier this year. Lacharite said the staff at Animal Care Clinic will remain in place and the possibility of expanding the staff exists.

“We did talk about hiring another veterinarian to meet the needs of the community,”  Lacharite said.

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