Residents will now have a 24-hour emergency care center for their animal friends as a new hospital officially opened its doors Monday.

The MSPCA-Angell hospital, at 293 Second Ave., is a branch of the MSPCA-Angell in Boston and will offer internal medicine, surgery and cardiology along with around-the-clock emergency care. MSPCA-Angell is a nonprofit organization founded in 1868 that provides a wide variety of animal care services.

Carter Luke, MSPCA-Angell president, said he is excited to be in Waltham and has wanted to come to the MetroWest area for about four years. When he heard Vetcision, a veterinary center formerly at the location, was closing its doors last year, plans immediately began developing.

"Waltham was on our radar as a place we were really interested in," Luke said. After hearing about Vetcision�s closing, "we looked at the building, we talked to the owner and negotiated a lease."

The facility was in need of some cleaning up, Luke said, but already had an animal hospital layout, making the transition smooth. Clients and veterinarians in and around Waltham will have access to clinicians with specialties in 15 different fields, along with all the technology available in Boston.

Luke says a large part of their Boston clientele already comes from the MetroWest area. Dr. Ann Marie Manning, Angell�s chief of staff, says the new operations in Waltham will make it easier on clients coming from outside Boston.

"We�ve heard from many clients and referring veterinarians who want the same level of care they have always received in Boston to be more conveniently available," Manning said.

MSPCA-Angell West is creating 35 veterinary and animal welfare-related jobs for the area and nearly a third have already been filled. There will be no boarding services available at MSPCA-Angell West, but some pets will be kept overnight for medical purposes, Luke said.

The 24-hour emergency and critical care is one facet of services that Luke thinks will benefit pet owners, adding that in Boston they treat 60,000 cases a year, about a quarter of which come in as emergencies. Manning echoed Luke�s opinion, saying pet owners never know when they might need care.

"No matter the emergency or time of day, whether a family dog has been struck by a car or a pet cat has ingested a poisonous substance, the emergency room in Waltham will be open," Manning said.

Adoption services will not be provided, Luke said, but they will work with anyone to help them find the appropriate place to bring an unwanted pet. They will not be receiving drop-offs, but Luke did say they would work with organizations like the Cat Connection in Waltham to figure out options for people moving forward.

Outside of animal care, Angell provides services in animal advocacy and law enforcement. Investigators are scattered around the state dealing with owners who don�t treat their pets well, Luke said, and the Waltham location will serve as a centralized satellite headquarters. The facility will also offer specialized services like avian and exotic medicine beginning in March.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is tentatively scheduled for the end of March and Luke says moving forward, the organization will be receptive to the needs of the MetroWest community.

"We�re looking to get a handle of what the needs are of the pets and pet owners in the area," Luke said. "We�re in MetroWest because we have so many friends and pets, so we�re going to start by operating the high-quality facility and then play it by ear."