Ann Arbor area pet owners are getting more options for veterinary care.

One entrepreneur, Annie Staebler, recently started a mobile veterinary practice in the Ann Arbor area.

Meanwhile, a new veterinary clinic wants to move into two suites in The Courtyard Shops mall, located at 1723-1727 Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor.

The clinic applied for a special exception use project with the city’s planning department in June. The asking rental rate for the 2212-square-foot space is $24 per square foot, according to a real estate listing.

Jim Chaconas of Colliers International, an owner of The Courtyard Shops, said the clinic would be a great fit for the complex, which currently has one other vacancy where the Lucky Market closed.

“There are just not many vets around there so we are very excited to have them come in,” Chaconas said. “It’s good for the community and they’re great vets.”

City planner Chris Cheng said he anticipates the veterinary clinic receiving approval from the Planning Commission for the special exception use in July.

Other changes in The Courtyard Shops include the Village Corner signing a deal to move to the complex after the store closed last fall to make room for the 601 Forest development.

Meanwhile, Staebler said that after working in local clinics for almost six years, she realized there was an opportunity for a mobile practice in the area.

“I saw there was a need for a higher level of customer service in the veterinary clinic arena,” Staebler said. “I can provide that by going to people’s houses.”

Staebler's business endeavor comes at a time when pet industry expenditures are continuing to increase, according to data from the American Pet Products Association. This year, an estimated $50 billion will be spent on pet care, up from $28 billion in 2001.

Staebler said her business, the Ann Arbor Mobile Vet, can offer all the services of a typical veterinary clinic at an average-to-low price range, including providing medicine and lab diagnostic services.

“I’ve priced myself average to low by looking at the clinics in the area,” Staebler said. “I wanted to make this accessible to people.”

Staebler, who is married to former state legislative candidate Ned Staebler, said she serves mostly the Ann Arbor area but is happy to travel to other locations in Washtenaw County. Her main hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, but she said she also works nights and weekends.

Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.