O C E A N   V E T E R I N A R Y

Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or a god --Sir Francis Bacon

Ocean Veterinary Clinic, Lakewood, New Jersey

explored & photographed by: Shady

On the side of Route 9, in Lakewood, lies a neglected old veterinary clinic...

Ocean County Veterinary Clinic- as this building was once called- now stands empty... slowly falling into a state of decay and disrepair. Thick, dark woods cradle the property on three sides, and a there is a cracked concrete lot out back that still boasts a rickety old basketball hoop. The place was deadly quiet as I explored the grounds, and sunlight made strange shifting shadows crawl over the forgotten building complex.

One of the most interesting things at the clinic is the cage compound at the back of the building... it's just this big maze of interlocking chainlink cages and corridors. There is a very chilling and forbidding atmosphere clinging to the cages... despite being open on all sides to the air and sunlight, the interior of the cage compound is gloomy and dank. There was a broken gate on one side where I could just squeeze through into the cage area... but the way further in was blocked by debris and locked, rusty chainlink gates... so I couldn't really get all the way inside. But standing just inside the first corridor, I could practically feel the clammy presence of death; these must have been holding pens for some of the animals treated here, I can only assume that some of them also died back here. There is a heavy, doomed feeling within these cages; even the very trees seems to forbid entrance as they stretch their thorny limbs across the entry gate...

This place looks like it was once landscaped really nicely; now the landscape is taking over... covering windows and crisscrossing over doorways. There are nests all over the roof, and the roots of the trees around the place have begun to push their way through the concrete, creating spiderweb fissures across it. There's also another old abandoned structure in the woods next to the clinic, it looks like a little house, but I think it was part of the complex. When I got home and looked at my pictures, I spotted something kind of eerie- a creepy face- in the pic above, left. My hubby later picked it out too, when he looked at them. We both thought it was pretty spooky looking. Most likely a reflection or a trick of the light... who knows?? But it's creepy anyway. Does anyone else see it?

These great old-fashioned lights are scattered all around the place... some are leaning precariously, some still stand tall among the creeping weeds and brush. They are still quite lovely amidst all the wildness and neglect. The uneven, rocky parking lot is slowly disappearing under drifts of dead leaves and pine needles.

The red bricks and columns of the building are almost charming, were it not for the jagged broken windows and the weeds that skirt the structure. Big scraggly trees are growing wildly around the lot, insulating it from busy Route 9, which runs in front of it. The feeling of old death and loneliness clouding the place are sad and disturbing. I enjoyed shooting these pics as I always do, but was relieved to be finished and leave this mournful place behind.

Virtual Scoob Katia always send us the most interesting background info! Here, she shares the story of Ocean Veterinary, "Hi, Shady (again!)... This old, abandoned animal clinic was once one of the few in the area...although (reputedly!) not one of the best. A lot of animals were warehoused through the clinic and, supposedly, this clinic had some sort of contract (official or simply understood) with animal control in the area. There was a rumor at one time of dead dogs and cats in the dumpster...I heard that one years ago. There were a lot of complaints about bad care...then, one day, the clinic closed. Strange, in this area, where everyone--virtually everyone--has pets and there just aren't enough vets! But the story is, the clinic just dried up. Now, here's the part you'll love (or feel a little sad about, depending upon how you interpret it!)...it was rumored there were reported sounds of whimpering coming from the building and around the kennels outside-- that could not be credited to any living creature upon police investigation. There are often animals sitting--just sitting-- near the front door or on the lot (I have seen this myself--weird!) Well, as you know, anything can be explained away...but when you are all alone with it, you still feel that prickle and chill...you know what I mean! That's the story!" :-)

Another visitor, Marc, writes,"Shady, Just a quick note.... Just checked out the Ocean Vet. Image. Yup..another face! Now you have me going back through old photos I have taken to see if there are any hidden faces!"

And Z tells us, "At first glance your photos of the clinic did not seem strange at all, but looking through the chain link toward the doorway gives you a feeling that the good doctor will soon come walking out to check on his poor little patients in the pen area. Too late to save the poor cat who looks out at you from the window in the front view of the clinic"

Do you have any background information or stories to tell about this lonely site?

Another Route 9 Roadside Find! For even more, check out Trippin' On 9

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