Animal Care Center

Reviews 4

HE

Heather Sather

We have taken our fur babies to Animal Care Center for 14 or 15 years, a couple of weeks before they actually opened. Dr. Pam made a house call to euthanize our elderly dog who had breast cancer. She was kind, compassionate, and stayed to look at our dog & kid photos, even though she was crazy busy getting her clinic ready. Since then, Dr. Pam and her staff have treated 2 additional family dogs and 3 cats. She saved the life of one cat who was shaken by the neck by a large pit bull, and the life of another who was bitten by a rattlesnake. Animal Care Center is unique in our experience in that the full team work together, consulting on cases. Dr. Pam, Dr. Verona, and Dr. Kara are constantly in teaching mode, educating not only their staff but fur baby parents as well. They are gentle with the animals, getting down on the floor to greet the animals, help them feel comfortable, and treat them there if necessary. Veterinary care is not inexpensive, but the Drs. do their best to keep costs at a minimum. I have the most experience with Dr. Pam, but am aware that her fellow vets follow the same practice. For example, they present multiple options for diagnostics and treatment. My little dog is 15 and starting to fail. Rather than expensive blood tests and MRIs, Dr. Pam suggested that we do minimal blood testing to identify major concerns and to weight him bi-weekly to determine his rate of decline. She and her team have always been forthright about our pets medical conditions, treatment options, and prognosis; yet present the information with kindness and compassion. Our dog sees Dr. Ali for chiropractic care, which is keeping him free of arthritis pain and extending his life. I am grateful to Dr. Pam for her innovative and open-minded perspective on holistic care. Dr. Verona offers acupuncture and naturopathic care as well as standard veterinary care. Canine rehab facilities are available (with patients coming from all over the country), as well as grooming. The communication among staff members is so good that on several occasions, the groomer has alerted our vet to the beginning of a skin problem, facilitating early (and less expensive) treatment. Our granddaughter brings her puppy from Idaho for veterinary care. Over the years, several of our pets have needed to go to the "Rainbow Bridge." The vets have handled euthanasia with kindness, compassion and professionalism. I have appreciated being told what to expect and being able to hold our fur babies as we said goodbye. ACC is a happy place. The energy is wonderful. Dr. Pam also runs Utah Dog Park, which is a high-attention, hands-on day care and boarding facility. Our dog is always happy to go there and be loved and spoiled (emotionally) by the staff. Im so happy to be a part of the Animal Care Center family. Try them. You will be happy too!

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JO

Jose Hernandez-Gil

I moved from Santa Fe, NM to SLC last February and as with any move, I had to find new doctors for my service dog, Boscoe, and our puppy, Gelsey. Both of them are Saint Bernards. I am very neurotic about my dogs especially considering that Boscoe is my service dog as well as a show dog. I demand the best care possible for both of them. I interviewed a number of veterinarians and their staff and was unhappy with all of them because they wound up manhandling either Boscoe or Gelsey. My dogs are very sweet and obedient and one merely needs to show them what you want them to do and they do it. I came across Dr Pam Nichols when I took Gelsey for day care at Utah Dog Park. Given my experience with previous vets here in SLC, I was very leery. That is until I saw Dr Pam with both Boscoe and Gelsey. My babies loved her and did everything she asked of them. Within a few minutes of meeting her, Boscoe was laying on the ground with her and Gelsey was all over her licking her. On top of that, I had fallen on Gelsey as a puppy and vets in Santa Fe told me she had developed OCD in both shoulders. Dr Pam examined Gelsey for five minutes and promptly told me my girl did not have OCD but something else. After further testing, it was discovered Dr Pam was right. Since then, if I have even the most remote problem with my dogs, one phone call and Dr Pam is answering my question literally within minutes! And the staff at Animal care Center is ABSOLUTELY amazing. Boscoe tore his cruciate and had to be operated on. He underwent rehab at ACC. He LOVES his rehab nurse, Tristina, and would do absolutely anything she asked of him. The staff has always been incredibly kind and sweet to B&G and both of them actually LIKE going to see their doctors there. Dr Verona did acupuncture on Boscoe and I saw IMMEDIATE results. Boscoe now walks completely normal, does not favor the operated knee, and is back to being a show dog. I am so immensely grateful to ACC! Thank you everyone!!!

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LE

Lexis Christensen

I have been very happy with this clinic in the past, but my most recent experience was appalling. I made an appointment for my cat to have a simple checkup exam and brought him in on time. They said it would take about 30 minutes max. They had us wait in a little room and said the staff would be right in. 35 minutes later, still no word. I went out and asked what was going on and they said they had had an emergency surgery that pushed everything back, but would be able to see my cat in about 20 minutes. I had another appointment I had to get to by that time, so I asked them to call my mom when he was done and she could go pick him up. An hour and a half later, my mom called me saying she still hadnt heard from them. So I called the clinic back, and they said they had started his paperwork and it would only be about 10 more minutes. Of course. So my mom arrived at the clinic and they told her they hadnt started anything yet, and then gave her the "only 10 more minutes" line. They also told her part of the reason for the wait was because I had made the appointment at the Salt Lake office instead of the Bountiful one so they were trying to fit him in. That was a complete lie. My confirmation text was for the Bountiful office. Interesting. After 20 MORE minutes of waiting, my mom just decided to take my cat and leave. So after over 2 and a half hours, my kitty didnt get to see the doctor and left COMPLETELY traumatized. I totally understand having an emergency surgery push back appointments. But they could at least show clients they value their time by rescheduling for another time or perhaps maybe even just being upfront about the situation? Dont tell people it will only be 10 minutes if you arent sure when it will be. And telling me and my mom two different things multiple times displays a total lack of respect. I have never seen a more unprofessional handling of an appointment. So disappointed.

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AN

annette everson

The Animal Care Center won me over when my Rottweiler, Daisy needed physical therapy a year and a half ago. Daisy loved going, and the doctors were so good to her. When she developed pneumonia a year ago at 10 years old, I had a difficult time getting an appointment with her regular vet, but Dr Kara took her right in that morning. When Daisy developed kidney failure her previous vet that had diagnosed the illness, told me over phone he couldnt see her for a few days even after I told him she had declined quickly. I called animal care center in tears and they told me to bring her right in. Dr Kara knew immediately that Daisys kidneys had quit and gently let me know it was her time to go. The staff, the doctors.., everyone was so supportive and so sweet to Daisy. It was the little things that mattered that day. dr Kara was interested in Daisys life, she listened to stories about when she was a puppy, silly antics while Daisy grew up. We talked about her life at the end and I will never forget how much comfort that gave me. I still miss my Daisy very much! But the memory of how sweet her send off was was really special. That day I asked them to transfer my poodles records from the previous vet hospital because my animals have a new vet. Just this morning the staff and the doctor allowed me to wait in the conference room while my 8 month old toy poodle got nurtured, because I was so nervous and worried about him having surgery. They gave me updates every few minutes until the surgery was over. They care as much for the over worrying pet parents as they do the animals. This hospital is ran by a loving, knowledgeable and professional group of people. i will never take my pets anywhere else.

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