Firehouse 183, an animal health center and hospital, opened its doors to the public Dec. 5 near Anderson Mill Road and US 183 in Northwest Austin. The 2,300-square-foot facility at 13616 N. US 183, Ste. C, Austin, includes separate areas for cats and dogs, spacious exam rooms, treatment areas with glass windows, an X-ray room, and a dental cleaning area.

“We are a fear-free [facility], which means we want the pet to have a positive experience,” Firehouse 183 Manager Phoebe Valdez said.

Customers can identify the hospital by a life-size elephant sculpture outside in the front of the facility. Firehouse adopted a real elephant, Kamili, in Nairobi, Kenya, and the sculpture commemorates that, Valdez said.