Aroostook County Gains Its First After-Hours Veterinary Clinic

For years, pet owners in Aroostook County, Maine, have faced significant challenges accessing emergency veterinary care, often requiring lengthy drives south. A new clinic, Aroostook Animal Emergency Services, aims to address this critical require, becoming the northernmost after-hours veterinary practice in the state.

Addressing a Critical Gap in Care

Previously, the nearest emergency veterinary practice was Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary Clinic in Holden, Maine, located more than two and a half hours from central Aroostook County and nearly four hours from parts of the St. John Valley. This distance created a financial burden for pet owners and prolonged the suffering of animals awaiting treatment, with some unfortunately succumbing to their injuries during the journey.

Aroostook Animal Emergency Services Opens its Doors

Aroostook Animal Emergency Services, launched in February 2026, is the result of a vision by veterinarians Anne and Mark Tareila. They described their launch as “fulfilling a call from God.” The practice is located at 64 Main St. In Mars Hill.

Hours of Operation and Services

Currently, the clinic operates from 4 p.m. To midnight on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, and from noon to midnight on Saturdays. Dr. Anne Tareila is the sole full-time veterinarian, supported by two full-time and several part-time veterinary technicians. The clinic aims to expand its hours to 24/7 coverage on weekends and evenings in the future.

Aroostook Animal Emergency Services provides a range of emergency veterinary services, including treatment for:

• Lacerations and wounds
• Injuries from porcupine quills
• Intestinal obstructions (e.g., foreign body ingestion)
• Dog fight injuries
• Respiratory distress
• Nausea
• Poisoning

The clinic is equipped with four exam rooms, two surgery tables, an isolation room for infectious diseases, and the capacity to hospitalize animals. It also features an on-site pharmacy, diagnostic capabilities, and X-ray and ultrasound services. While primarily focused on dogs and cats, the clinic will treat other small animals, such as sugar gliders and rats, on a case-by-case basis. Large animal and farm animal care are not currently offered due to location constraints.

Part of a Growing Network

Aroostook Animal Emergency Services is the seventh emergency veterinary clinic in Maine, according to the Maine Veterinary Medical Association. Most of these clinics are located in the southern part of the state, with Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary Clinic in Holden being the only other emergency practice in Penobscot County. Prior to opening her practice, Dr. Tareila worked shifts at Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary Clinic, noting that a significant portion of their patients—between one-third and one-half—originated from Aroostook County.

Relieving the Burden on Existing Practices

The Tareilas hope their new clinic will alleviate the strain on the five existing veterinary practices in Aroostook County, which currently offer on-call services for emergencies. Mark Tareila explained that providing on-call coverage requires veterinarians to sacrifice personal time and commitments.

Positive Early Response

In its first month of operation, the clinic has treated an average of one animal per hour, totaling six to nine animals per day. Pet owners have expressed their gratitude for the availability of local emergency care.

The 5,000-square-foot building, previously used as an office for Ascent Global Logistics, a grocery store, and a bowling alley, has been renovated to accommodate the veterinary practice. The Tareilas plan to rent out a 2,000-square-foot section of the building to another business.