The Grimes Brief
Grimes has three vet clinics in town, all locally owned by their own description and all on weekday schedules, so book ahead if you need a Saturday.
Not in Grimes. Beaverdale Veterinary Clinic is in the Beaverdale neighborhood of Des Moines, and unlike the three Grimes clinics it posts Saturday-morning hours. It was formerly Riordan Pet Hospital, and its site carries the line “Quality Veterinary Care Since 1951.” Services listed: exams, vaccines and preventatives, spay and neuter, microchipping, dental cleaning, and Hill's and Royal Canin prescription diets. 4529 Douglas Ave., Des Moines, IA 50310 · (515) 276-3602 · Mon to Fri, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat, 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.; closed Sunday. beaverdalevetclinic.com
None of the Grimes clinics is open overnight, so after hours you will drive to one of three 24-hour emergency hospitals in the metro. Save all three numbers now; St. Francis points its own clients to BluePearl and VEG after hours.
Yes. Every dog and cat over six months old needs a City of Grimes license, and it has to be renewed every year. It is a city ordinance, so the rule is the same on the Polk and Dallas County sides of town.
The city gives two practical reasons beyond the rule itself: a license helps it reunite lost pets with owners, and the head count tells it whether Grimes needs more pet amenities, such as a dog park. Grimes does not have a public off-leash dog park yet; our dog parks guide lists the pass-only parks in neighboring towns.
Call the Polk County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line, 515-286-3333. The Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for Grimes under contract, and that is the police number on the city's own directory. Then work the list:
Before it ever happens: keep the city license tag on the collar, since the city says licensing helps it reunite lost pets, and ask your vet about a microchip (Beaverdale lists microchipping among its services).
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa, which describes itself as Iowa's largest nonprofit animal shelter, adopts out dogs, cats and more from ARL Main, 5452 NE 22nd St., Des Moines. It also places pets through partner stores, including Pet Supplies Plus at 4371 Merle Hay Rd. in Des Moines. If you adopt from a shelter or rescue, remember the St. Francis free-first-exam offer above.
The Grimes Brief is free every Monday morning, made only for Grimes.
Yes. Grimes has three vet clinics: Grimes Plaza Veterinary Clinic (200 SE Gateway Dr., Suite 102, 515-986-0911), Prairie View Animal Hospital (1830 SE Princeton Dr., Suite A, 515-986-2841), and St. Francis Veterinary Care (101 NE Circle Dr., 515-304-5277). All three keep weekday hours, and none lists weekend hours.
Yes. Every dog and cat over six months old must have a City of Grimes license, renewed every year. Bring a rabies vaccination certificate to City Hall, 101 NE Harvey St., and pay the $5 fee. The rabies vaccination cannot expire within six months of the license date.
The metro has three 24-hour emergency animal hospitals: VEG Des Moines at 6840 EP True Pkwy. in West Des Moines (515-259-6473), BluePearl Pet Hospital at 4631 Merle Hay Rd. in Des Moines (515-727-4872), and Iowa Veterinary Specialties at 6110 Creston Ave. in Des Moines (515-280-3100). Call on the way so they can get ready.
Call the Polk County Sheriff's Office, which handles law enforcement for Grimes, at its non-emergency number 515-286-3333. Then check IowaPetAlert.com, where the Animal Rescue League of Iowa posts strays that reach its shelters, and call the ARL at 515-262-9503.
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