Bonners Ferry Veterinary Clinic changes hands
For the last 42 years, pets and their people have headed to Bonners Ferry Veterinary Clinic for essential services and top-notch care.
And, while there is a new owner with the sale of the practice, longstanding — and now former — owners Dr. Roland Hall and his wife, Linda, and new owner, Dr. Sierra Temple, say the care and compassion will remain the same.
The Halls have owned and operated the veterinary clinic since its inception. With retirement on their minds, the Halls have sold the clinic, effective Nov. 1, the Halls welcomed Dr. Sierra Temple as the clinic’s new owner.
Born and raised in Boundary County, Dr. Temple said she is excited to be taking over the clinic and to serve the community where she grew up.
BFVC and many staff members the clinic are not new to her as Temple began her journey to becoming a veterinarian at this very clinic. She began working there when she was 16 years old.
“I mowed the grass. I cleaned up after surgery. Then slowly over time began to answer the phone and did reception work,” she said about working at the clinic as a teenager. “I helped in the rooms and was kind of able to do most of the positions there, except what the licensed techs do.”
When it came time for her senior project, her work at the clinic prompted an initial career goal.
“Then senior project time came, and I was like, I think I want to become a veterinary technician,” she said.
Temple explained that in the veterinary field, a technician is the equivalent of a nurse. After high school, she went on to attend school at North Idaho College, University of Idaho and finally Washington State University, where she earned her veterinary degree.
Temple said that her first goal at BFVC is to get comfortable being a veterinarian and to navigate being a business owner, “and to do it as gracefully as possible.”
There has been a lot of concern and rumors about the practice having been sold. Temple addressed this by assuring the community that she does not plan on changing anything initially and if there are changes made in the future, they will be made slowly over time. “The plan is to maintain something that is already working,” said Temple.
Additionally, Dr. Hall is staying on for two years to help with the transition.
In a statement about the change in ownership, the Halls quoted Ecclesiastes 3:1: "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven."
The pair said that as the owners of the Bonners Ferry Veterinary Clinic for the past 42 years, they wanted their loyal clinic customers to know they have their heartfelt gratitude for giving them the privilege of serving them, their families, pets, and farm animals.
“Your faith in our practice enabled us to grow from an 800-square-foot, one-man practice to the four-doctor, thriving business it is today,” the pair said in a statement. “God has blessed us with a beautiful place to raise and educate our sons Aaron and Adam, who have now gone on to have lovely families of their own, and successful careers.”
They said they are honored to have given back to Boundary County by contributing to the organizations that needed our help.
Although Linda Hall retired after 42 years of teaching, the last two years working as practice manager made it possible for improvements for this sale.
The pair said they are “proud to leave BFVC in the capable hands of a local, homegrown veterinarian, and we ask everyone for their support for her.”
While they no longer own the clinic, the Halls said Bonners Ferry will always be their home.
“We look forward to spending less time working, and more time enjoying life, especially with our three grandchildren, Theo, Natasha, and Charley, who love our time together with them, and always have fun on their visits to ‘Grammy's Mountain.’ Thank you and we love you all.”
Dr. Roland Hall, his wife Linda and Dr. Sierra Temple.