The Drake Center for Veterinary Care

Reviews 6

A

A Private User

The first time I took one of our dogs to the Drake Center I was impressed with the nice building and the automated nature of their service. It was flashy, and I felt like I was getting good service. After more than a year though, I now see things differently. The Drake Center is in it just for the money, not for the wellness or health of our pets. This I am ABSOLUTELY sure of. First of all, they charge seven (7) times the RETAIL pharmacy price for medications. After falling into that trap a few times, I finally wised up and asked for a script to take to the pharmacy. I saved lots of money. Then when I went back, they realized that I would no longer use them for filling prescriptions, so they intentionally prescribed a new medication for my dog that could only be filled bythem or a pet pharmacy (there are no pet pharmacies anywhere near us!). So, I tried to get it filled on the Internet but Drake Center wouldnt even fax the online pet pharmacy the prescription because it "wasnt their policy to do so." Basically, they wouldnt help me get a prescription filled somewhere else, forcing me to pay their exorbitant charge to have it filled. They knew my dog was in a bind, and they took advantage of us. To me, this is totally unconscionable. I will never use them again, and I strongly recommend that nobody use these people. Its obvious that their overhead is so high to keep the lights on there that they arent in it for the right reasons. Try it out, if you dont believe me. You will see for yourself that these people will do everything they can to upsell you at every opportunity.

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Phil Reilly

The first thing we did after we brought our 6 month old Australian Labradoodle to California from Denver was to check with friends to get their recommendations. Then we went to the best kennel in the area to get its recommendation. Then we went to Drake...recommended by them all. That was two years ago. Drake is caring, the front office staff acts like they love their jobs...they are smooth and complete pros. The techs are really great in that they make certain they confirm all the data for before the doctor comes in for the examination. Now the doctors are not in any hurry to give you their view...they are patient, explain things, their records are electronic so they easily check history. The thing is, they have what I would call a "well dog" program designed to keep your dog well...and it works. And you know, they remember our dogs name every time we walk in! We did not shop on a price basis, so I do not have that comparison...but I do not shop our dentist or our General Practice doctor for price. My guess is that apples and apples, Drake is no more expensive that most other good program. In any case I am happy with the value, the professional skills, and the caring approach. Thanks Drake...our dog is happy and so are we.

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Michelle Morioka Lewis

We have lived in north county for almost 24 years and have always turned to The Drake Center when our dogs needed veterinary assistance. In the past year weve taken Hayley, our 2 year old rescue dog, for updated shots and treatment of stomach issues. The staff and doctors have always (always!) been so courteous, kind and understanding! We recently found out that the Center boards a limited number of pets and, since we were suddenly in a bind, decided to have Hayley stay there for a few days. While she was there, they treated her (with our permission) for yet another upset stomach and were very attentive to her needs. They checked on her often, played with her and even sent photos and texts during the day! They could tell that Hayley wanted to be with people so they obliged as much as possible. They actually customized her stay to make sure she was comfortable and it was a relief knowing she had been treated for her ailment and was so well cared for. We visited the Center a couple of days after returning home and she was excited to see the staff! We would recommend The Drake Center to anyone looking for a caring veterinary staff. They really do care!

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Susan Pepper

I am not surprised at the number of 5 star reviews given for The Drake Center. The entire staff is kind and knowledgeable. Just as we want to have the best doctors, dentists, and pediatricians for our family, we want the best care for our pets as well. We have been taking our dog to Drake for over 10 years and I must say that our experience with them is by far the most rewarding. From the front desk staff to the doctors and the assistants, we can only wish we felt as confident in our physicians as we feel at Drake. Every team member takes the time to listen and resolve any problem our dog has had. They offer more than one solution in many cases, and respect our decisions. They share their knowledge and speak in terms we can understand. Not to mention the obvious love of animals each and every one of the staff sincerely display. To the person who gave them the one star review- I was relieved to hear that if a pet can be saved, they will support treatment instead of euthanizing the dog. As far as their fees go, overall, Drake Center is worth every dollar spent.

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Susan Mitschke

I brought my dog in, 16 yo, to be put down. she was unable to walk with out weaving, very un steady gait, crying when I picked her up etc. she had been on meds for 2 yrs for RA. the best for me was to bring her in first thing in the morning. the vet told me I am the first person who woke up in the morning and decided to put my dog down. this was not an easy decision since I had had her for 14 yrs. this made me feel like a bad mom. the vet also wanted to try a tx plan instead, and she was relucent to put my dog down. the vet said she is a advocate for animals and we need to try other things first, forget what is best for my dog or for me. she was not concerned for the quality of life for the animal. they made me pay for on OV which I wish I had just walked out and not paid. never again will I take an animal there. no compassion what so ever!

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Jacqueline Cowan

We recently moved to La Costa and had to find a new Veterinarian for our dog, Emma. I am so happy we found the Drake Center! The staff is so friendly and the doctors genuinely care about the pets. Our dog, who is a rescue dog with a little bit of separation anxiety when we go out of town, ran away when the cleaning lady opened the door while we were on vacation in Mexico. Fortunately, our neighbor found Emma and took her to the animal shelter where she would be safe. In order to get her out of the shelter, our dog sitter had to have the updated medical records. The Drake Center was promptly faxed the records to the shelter and followed up with a phone call to make sure the shelter received the records so Emma could go home. We are so grateful for such animal lovers! I would definitely recommend the Drake Center.

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