TLDR: Find a great vet on Fear Free site, run from this place. Its a nightmare…read more
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This is a new veterinarian Victoria (Tori) S. Piccone, the daughter of the original veterinarian you see rated here with the great reviews, Marc Piccone. The practice manager is her mother Joy Lee, the ex-wife of Marc Piccone.
Tori gets the unwarranted benefit of her father's great reviews.
Our first (and last) appointment here, new in town, my large sweet CCPDT ( Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers®) trained rescue dog was due for Rabies and Bordetella. They didn't know what a "happy visit" was, that should have been my first clue. No chance to familiarize the dog before the appointment. I prepared him to wear a muzzle with peanut butter. It was a mess getting in to the small waiting room, dogs outside barking, people standing for a long time at the desk with their dog, and the open door to the adjacent windowless kennel area. (pic) Only one other client in the room with her new rescue puppy. After a wait about half an hour with my dog wearing the muzzle and me replenishing the peanut butter. I was uncomfortable but my dog was OK.
We hustled into the exam room no one introduced themselves, there was no discussion, they didn't have his records ready. Meghan Andrews scolded me for consoling my dog when he tried to remove the muzzle a bit, "Don't reward him for bad behavior!"
I have been to several veterinarians with this big dog, working together with them. Its always a team effort for everyone's comfort and safety. My dog is trained for veterinary visits, and the muzzle. I did as I was told.
"Tori" said he was a specific breed. "Yes, that is what we originally thought, but I had his DNA tested and he's a mix, none of that specific breed." She repeated, "It says on his record he is this breed!" But... ok.
Tori - said we could do more shots today. I asked if that was advisable (its not) she said it was. I said let's just do the two and see how it goes, it may be too much today. The words were not out of my mouth she was already on the 3rd shot and my dog growled. That stopped the fourth shot- Good Dog!
They had already been brusque and I was increasingly uncomfortable, I just wanted to get my dog and get out of there when they launched into ordering me to have my dog euthanized. They said he was going to kill me, that most vets won't do "behavioral euthanization" but she will.
They hadn't done an exam, hadn't looked in his ears, hadn't spoken to me except to scold and contradict me, they weren't interested in his training.
Joy came in and shouted to Tori across the room they have 2 more dogs waiting to be euthanized and something else I didn't hear because I was so horrified they were shouting about euthanizing dogs. Were those the dogs I heard barking outside? Every vet I have ever visited has had consideration for the people putting their beloved animals down.
Back to me and my dog needing to die. Has he ever growled at me? Well yes, once. I forget the term they kept using, something like "aggressive dangerous" dog I was just appalled. They said, "we can see you are afraid of him". I said, "I'm afraid of you". This went on for at least 10 minutes, as if they were going to get me to put him down immediately. He is 3 years old.
I asked if they recommended a trainer. She said she doesn't have any trainers who would take such an "aggressive dangerous" dog, then wrote down two names on a piece of paper without contact info and did not give it to me.
I asked for the rabies tag and certification, they said I had to go back to the desk to get it but that the dog can't go back to the desk so I should put him in the car to wait. (Isn't that illegal?)
Joy took my credit card to the desk. I waited with my dog in this terrible situation as they continued to pressure me to put my dog down.
They said I should have him in a crate in the car at all times in case I have an accident and the emergency people shouldn't have to deal with a dog that could bite them. Tori says she has her dogs in a crate in her car because they are "bite trained". This means she trained her dogs to attack.
Finally Joy comes back with my card but no receipt no rabies tag or certificate. If I don't go leave my dog in my car and come back in and stand around her desk with these poor barking dogs that are going to be put down and wait for her to organize my dog's rabies tag and certificate and what immunizations she gave him I'll have to come back another day to get them. I chose to leave with my dog.
This vet and her staff are woefully behind the times and need to get Fear Free certified.
Their correct web site is: https://www.amblervet.com/
Best advice, don't go there at all. Do yourself and your animal a big favor, go to the Fear Free site and find a great vet near you, if you need a trainer, get one from CCPDT.
