Snow Removal for Veterinary Clinics

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

What makes a vet clinic site different

A vet clinic has the same basic needs as any small commercial site: an open lot, clear entrances and safe walkways. But the people arriving are often distracted. They may be carrying a cat in a carrier, holding back a large dog on a leash, or helping an older or injured animal out of the back seat. Hands are full, attention is split, and that is exactly when an icy patch causes a fall.

Many clinics also have emergency or early surgical drop-off times, staff arriving before the public, and deliveries of supplies. Thames Valley Snow serves veterinary clinics in London, so these are details we build into the plan for each site.

Cleared before opening, every time

The single most important term for a clinic is the time the lot must be open. That time drives the crew’s route and is one of the factors in how a commercial site is priced. If staff arrive an hour before the first appointment, the contract should reflect when staff arrive, not when the front desk opens. Tell your contractor about any early drop-off times or days with extended hours.

Walkways and the spot by the car door

Plowing the lot is only half the job. Sidewalks, entrances and any ramp should be hand-cleared and salted on every visit. Pay attention to the strip between the parking spaces nearest the door and the walkway. That is where owners stop, open a rear door and lift an animal out, so it should not be left as a ridge of packed snow. Ask your contractor to treat the closest row of spaces and the curb cut as part of the walkway.

Salt, paws and what tracks inside

Pet owners notice what is under their animals’ feet. Talk with your contractor about the de-icing products used near your entrance and how much is applied. Over-application does not improve safety much and ends up tracked into the waiting room. A good approach is to clear down to pavement first so less material is needed, then apply enough to prevent refreeze. Mats inside the entrance help keep floors dry as well. Our salting and ice control page explains how we approach ice on walkways.

Piling, drainage and records

Small clinic lots fill up quickly. Snow should be piled away from the door, away from catch basins and out of the drive aisle, so melt does not run across the walkway and refreeze overnight. Every visit should be photographed with a timestamp. For a business that sees the public all day, those records are useful if a client ever reports a fall, and they let the practice manager check service without walking the lot in the dark.

Questions to ask before you sign

When you compare snow contractors for a clinic, a few direct questions will tell you whether they understand a site that serves the public with animals in tow.

• What time will the lot and walkways be finished on a normal weekday, and on a heavy snow day?
• Are sidewalks, steps and the ramp hand-cleared and salted on every visit, or only on request?
• Where will snow be piled on our lot, and how will you keep it off the walkway and drains?
• Will we receive timestamped photos of each visit?
• Can you provide a certificate of insurance and name our practice as additional insured?
• Is the agreement a written contract, and can billing be monthly?

Clear answers to these questions, in writing, are a better guide than a low number on a quote.

Get a written quote for your site

We measure clinic sites from City of London maps and aerial imagery and offer fixed seasonal, per-visit, or seasonal pricing with an event cap. Every site gets a written contract, and we carry $2,000,000 commercial general liability. Request a measured price through our quote form, or call or text (548) 888-8702. A written quote usually comes back within 2 business days.

What's included… and what's extra

Commercial snow service is priced per site from paved area, walkway length and opening time. A typical contract includes plowing at the agreed trigger depth, clearing before opening, hand-cleared entrances, sidewalks and ramps, and a timestamped photo log of every visit.

Common extras are quoted separately so you only pay for what the site needs: salting and de-icing per event, extra sidewalk or ramp coverage, after-hours or priority service, and snow relocation when piles run out of room. See commercial snow removal or request a site quote by calling or texting (548) 888-8702.