One of the only overnight veterinary clinics in Middle Georgia has closed its doors temporarily.

A sign hangs on the door of the Animal Emergency Care in Macon notifying anyone coming to the after hours clinic that for the time being it’s closed.

"It's tragic to think that if somebody has one of their babies that's sick or injured, life or death situation, emergency it was always nice to know you had a place you could go to," former Macon Animal Shelter director and dog lover Van VanDeWalker said.

VanDeWalker took one of his dogs to the hospital four years ago but now if an emergency happens he will have to drive more than 60 miles to Fayetteville.

"That's a long way to go with your nerves all jagged and you’re on edge."

The clinic has been in business for 22 years but its doors have been shut temporarily since last month. Manager Holly Spires said two veterinarians resigned in early December after the clinic was facing financial troubles. Now, she is in search of a vet and trying to find ways to get cash and save the business. Spires held a yard sale on Saturday in front of the clinic to raise funds in order to pay some of the bills.

While the clinic is closed at the moment, chairman of non-profit animal welfare organization Central Georgia C.A.R.E.S, Patti Jones, offers advice on what pet owners may want to do now.

"Find out from your veterinarian what is his or her policy for after hours emergency care,” she said. “They (pet owner and veterinarian) should have some sort of agreement on what they should do in an event of an emergency after hours."

However, for VanDeWalker and many other pet owners all they can do is wait and see if the hospital re-opens its doors.

"It was just a nice comforting thing to have in this, in this community," he said.

The manager at the clinic previously told WGXA she was going to have another yard sale on Sunday but never showed up as planned and wrote in a text: "It would probably be in the best interest of the clinic that I don’t do anymore interviews.”

Some pet owners said they want the hospital to have a new veterinarian and they hope it opens again soon.