Since our previous review where I expressed difficulty getting my two pups accepted for care, CCVH stepped up to assist my husband and I with getting them set up as patients. My dogs are now in their care, and we've had several excellent appointments that were promptly available so we had no need to look for care from vets in other communities. We're now very pleased with Covington Creek Vet Hospital for the great care and service they've provided to us since enrolling our beloved Lab Phineas and French Pointer Ziva. Nice folks work there, which is very much appreciated. read more

Gotta wait over 2 months to get your pet seen here, so if your pet is critically ill and in need of urgent assistance don't even bother they'll just tell you to drive over 2 hours away to Santa Rosa. This town not having someone who can immediately help an in distress pet is actually ridiculous. I think the hospital should be taken out of the name if they aren't willing to even look at your pet and help. read more

The other negative reviews definitely make sense. Camping up in Ft Bragg and our pup wouldn't stop scratching in her ear. Was hoping to have them take a quick look just to see if it was something serious, like a tick, or perhaps all was well, allergy, and we could just have her checked out once home. Arrived 30 minutes before they opened and was told by a team member, as she was setting up, that because I was not a current client that there was nothing they could do. I asked whether the vet could take a peek in her ear really quick, I'd pay whatever for the 5 minute peek. AgaIn was told there was nothing they could do. Coming from a family of Vets, I assure you they'd all have taken a few quick minutes to take a peek. Sad that peeking outside the box was such a stretch for them. read more

Still the best, most professional Vet ... EVER! (I only wish he'd treat humans). I'm overdue a review update. Since the first review, our dog has returned for boarding and dental work. Boarding: The kennel area is spotlessly clean and the attendant takes the dogs out to a run for some exercise daily. What is most assuring is that if there is ANY medical issue, the vet is literally next door. Plus Covington Creek provides proper nutrition and care. I don't presume to know what my dog thinks, but she was happy when dropped off and just as happy when we returned and I know by the staff's reactions that she was loved and well taken care of. Dental: The teeth problems were of our own making - our dog loved to chew on hard bones which wore down her teeth and resulted in some decay issues. Dr. Chaves advised us to provide carrots as crunchy treats, but the damage was done. We returned for two extraction treatments this past Spring and our dog is now on the road to better oral hygiene. Dr. Chaves showed us how to brush her teeth (especially the hard to reach back molars) with an enzymatic vanilla mint toothpaste. This is now a daily evening routine that our dog REALLY enjoys (and no more "dog breath" at night). read more

The few negative reviews here don't understand the vet situation here in Fort Bragg. Due to the retirement/relocation etc. of a few local vets no vets that I know of are taking new patients. If you want to help, encourage a vet to move to this beautiful dog-friendly place. Dr. Chaves is a great vet who goes above and beyond. He deserves to be honored and praised, not trashed. read more

My dog now looks forward to going to vet check-ups. The staff is very helpful and friendly. I found Dr. Chaves to be very straight-forward and informative. I felt like I learned more about my pet in his office compared to past vet experiences. I look forward to the visits, under good circumstances, of course. read more

Dr. Chavez has been amazing. I recently went through a very traumatic experience with my senior dog who suddenly passed away, i am completely unsatisfied with the unresponsiveness from our previous vet. I feel there is no compassion there and have no intent on ever entering their clinic again. I was skeptical to take my 4 month old puppy to Covington Creek however Dr. Chavez and the staff showed my that I made the right choice. It's obvious they care for our fur babies and I completely trust Dr. Chavez with my baby. He takes his time and he answers your questions and doesn't make you feel rushed. read more

Covington Creek Veterinary Hospital - Veterinarians Near Me - Fort Bragg, California

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Couldn't ask for better care! Dr Chaves is an excellent diagnostician and takes the time to thuroughly examine your pet from nose to tail. read more

When you call you get an answering machine telling you they are not taking new clients and come across rude.

Thank you! I have had a lot of pets...which means I have interacted with many vets. Dr Chaves is truly one of a kind and the best of the bunch. His gentle touch puts my pets at ease while he gently and expertly pokes and prods looking for the problem. Just today, we took our dog Henry in for a very bad allergic reaction. Henry wouldn't let us touch him at home! However, once we got to Dr Chaves, he was relaxed and let the doctor give him a full exam...even letting him touch his itchy parts! I am convinced Dr Chaves is an animal whisper. His staff...Caroline, Summer and Joe are equally intuitive with each of my dogs and cats. Thanks to the entire Covington Creek Hospital staff for taking such good care of the furry side of the family. I recommend this hospital to anyone needing expert and compassionate care for their fur children. I trust Dr Chaves and his staff completely. read more

Dr. Chaves, the staff and the atmosphere was so amazing. This was the first visit to this veterinary clinic and it won't be our last. Dr. Chaves was the only vet here in town to get down on the ground to do a physical on my big girl Keisha. That speaks a lot about his passion for doing this work. My girl Keisha has a torn ligament cruciate it has been been to live with it. So him understand why I couldn't do the surgery tomorrow or yesterday was key. The organization I am working with to help her with her surgery has given me hope by going to see Dr. Chaves. He gave me great advice.. like stop feeding my dog extra snacks ‍ and what to look for while we wait for the funds. Thank you to all the staff that was there on our visit. The women that were there were so helpful and I wish I had remembered the young lady I was talking to because she has such a warm heart and I felt it when I walked in with my big girl. We will be back. And praying that next time it will be to see how she is doing after surgery. Thank you all!!!! read more

Just moved into the area and my guys old dog Freddy was in pain and having a hard time breathing. We knew it was time for him to go to doggie heaven. I was really concerned being new to the area without a vet for our dogs. Especially because they are all older and have issues. So, I turned to Yelp. I found a couple of places but with so many good reviews I couldn't pass up Covington Creek. I called first thing in the morning and to my surprise I was actually speaking to the doctor. I explained the situation and he was very understanding. He made us an appointment for 4pm and asked us to fax over the records from Freddy's original vet. When we arrived I went in ahead and left my guy and Freddy to have some time alone in the car. While I was filling out the paperwork I asked what kind of options that had for the body. As we we got to talking she mentioned she had some paw print sample kits that we could use if we wanted. I was so thrilled to be able to get a little keepsake for my guy. When it was time to see the doctor he was very kind, went through the records, and did an exam on Fred. He agreed that it was time. He explained the process and got everything prepped. Having to put a beloved pet down is one of the worst things a person has to go through, and I'm really happy that Covington and Dr. Colin Chaves were available to help us. When Freddy was gone Dr. Chaves got the paw print for us to take home when we left. Thanks again, and we'll make you are primary vet when we are in town. read more

The maintenance fella here at my apartment recommended Covington Creek Veterinarian when I needed a Vet, I had a short time before, just moved to Fort Bragg and knew no one. I first met Dr. Colin when my Golden Retriever needed maintenance care, ie; just a checkup and shots and check for heartworms. (tested positive) I was so impressed by him. He had gotten down on the floor with Lanee (she's loven it!) and I liked him a lot just for that alone! He checked out Lanee from head to end of tail. Lanee also had a cyst on her left side and he told me it should be removed. He said he would call me in regards to her treatment on the Heartworm issue. While he was checking her out somewhere in my conversation, I made some kind of wise crack in hopes of getting him to smile. He didn't! (He may have been in deep thought!) Not once the whole time I was there did he crack a smile.. I thought it was strange! Maybe he has zero personality. NOT!!!!! :) On my way out, I was paying my most reasonable and surprisingly low bill, and asked the girls if Dr. Colin ever smiled? They said yes that he does smile. A few giggles from all three of us and that is when I decided he was my and Lanee's Vet from then on.. I became VERY determined to make this very serious non-smiling Vet SMILE! Dr. Colin called me the very next day as promised and suggested a treatment that I flat could not afford, his second suggestion was giving her antibiotics for a full year everyday along with Heartworm preventative. That ended up being more reasonable for me to handle even if I ended up spending more long term. IT WORKED!! I made the appointment for the surgery and ended up being about three months down the road. He quoted me $600.00 Needless to say I was flabbergasted!! This cyst got worse and opened up and had pus running out.I doctored the wound squeezing yuck out. Pretty yucky! STIIINKKK!!!!!! When it came time for the surgery, I asked him if I could stay and observe the surgery. He told me absolutely. I was elated. He also told me that no one ever asks if they can stay and watch, and that I was the second person to ever ask. People just never ask. The surgery was performed with Caroline assisting and Summer when needed. I had the added benefit of meeting Dr. Colin's Dad that happened to be there from the east coast on a visit. ((He took pictures for me and sent them to me)) What a nice guy! :) The surgery went off with no complications. Instead of putting Lanee in a kennel to recover, Dr. Colin laid a blanket down next to me and Lanee recovered right there. Dr. Colin told me that animals recover better when their human is there with them. Much calmer and not stressed. YES, Dr. Colin did smile, FINALLY! LOTS! So glad I found him. He and his staff are all awesome. read more

Covington Creek Veterinary Hospital - Preparing Lanee by shaving hair for surgery. She's flat loving the attention.  I'm sitting in my motorized chair watching. Kris Morris - Veterinarians Near Me - Fort Bragg, California

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I wish I had a doctor for myself who would be as knowledgeable, thoughtful, caring, and generous with their time as Dr. Chaves. He has been our vet since he first started in Fort Bragg, and has cared for four of our dogs in those years. He has diagnosed issues that might well have been missed by other vets, and has seen us --with compassion and understanding-- through the passing of two of our beloved pets. We consider our dogs to be very fortunate to be his patients! read more

All of our pets love it at Covington Creek! Not only do they see Dr. Chaves, but they also board there. Dr. Chaves and his staff have always been great with all of our pets. We have had emergencies and they jumped on helping. They have also made it possible for us to keep our elderly pet here at home, diagnosing her and giving us the meds to keep her comfortable. I cannot say enough about the Dr. Chaves and his staff!!! As for the boarding, our dogs LOVE to go to the "doggie hotel and spa" for their OWN vacations!!! read more

I have a hard time boarding my dog due to her health issues, and Covington was extremely understanding of my concerns and took great care of my girl! I even got pictures during the week which helped to ease my mind while I was gone. The reservation process was a little disorganized, and in the future I think I will make sure to communicate better with the staff! read more

My dearest friend adopted a rescue puppy mill dog; forced to breed and live in a cage. It has been just over a month or so and she had a thorough check-up and shots the week we picked her up from Shasta County. She is so sweet and a beauty now that she has had care and attention, when they liberated her she was severely matted and over-grown. This is her first dog and we have been in the throws of potty training at 4 years old and getting her food and rountine right and building trust. We enlisted the help of a local trainer and she is really progressing our next step has been to secure a Veterinary and groomer relationship. Last Sunday she suddenly fell to the floor and could not walk, I yelled for my friend and for 30 min she had two episodes of shaking and impaired walking we were terrified and a nervous wreck. I ran next door and the owner said to call her vet who covers two offices in Ft.. Bragg and Mendociono but unfortunately she herself was out and there were no covering Dr.'s. Both of us were frantically making calls and it seemed no one was covering the region and a 3 hour drive to Santa Rosa would be dangerous given our physical/mental state and impending darkness. The trainer told me about Covington Creek and that the Dr. there was really good. I called immediately and the message said if it were an emergency you should leave a message and that you should be a patient. I explained the dire situation and said we would totally become dedicated clients we needed this service and being there for us would surely secure that relationship. Well, Dr. Chaves did call me back, but not to help at all, it was to actually scold me and gloat! That he would of helped us and is 24/7 and available if only we had become clients before, he kept going on and on making his point while I was shocked and devastated by his cruelty and insensitivity. If we were is a larger town or if we had established a relationship with another Vet or there were any other local options at all, for this emergency I would understand but he knew what kind of trouble we facing and said go to Sant Rosa or not, your choice. Could you turn away this sweet girl or any other precious pet that did nothing but be sick and in need of help? I guess this Dr. did not take the hippocratic oath. The sweet girl https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/covington-creek-veterinary-hospital-fort-bragg?select=AWLnGV4cLgSnHZTtkKxvlg read more

Covington Creek Veterinary Hospital - our sweet girl who needed help - Veterinarians Near Me - Fort Bragg, California

We were traveling through Fort Bragg on a road trip up the coast when our 13 year old Black Lab needed medical attention. We Yelped this veterinary hospital and based on other reviews we gave them a call. They were able to see us within an hour of calling. Dr. Colin Chaves was very gentle and calming with our dog and did a very thorough exam. He talked to us about all of our dogs issues of aging . He then did a quick out-patient procedure that got us back on the road for less than $100. .Our vet at home charged us $700 with overnight surgery for a very similar problem 1 year earlier. The entire staff was caring and personable and helped deal with our travel crisis with caring and concern. We wish they were our Vet clinic in the Bay Area. read more

Kind, caring vet who took the time to examine and diagnose my poor dog who was a victim of a careless and dangerous diagnosis by another local vet -- who I shall not name. Highly recommended, despite his reserved and professional demeanor (which some folks obviously find distasteful.) Best in the area. read more

I have been going to Covington Creek for years with my pets and of course with any ownership change I was at first concerned if I would still like it the way I did before. I am happy to say that I think the new vet & the staff (new and old) are wonderful. We had to put our cat down and I was really relieved by the care and consideration we were treated with during that time. They even sent us a card with grieving information which I felt was very kind and helpful since my husband and I are helping our children grieve this loss. read more

Really good knowledge of the chemistry of the medicines he prescribes. Warm and compassionate to the animals, always. Very brilliant and courteous to clients. Has never hurt our pets as a means of establishing diagnosis or providing care. That's a big win in my book, and our old dog feels comfortable and happy when we take her there! He's a kind vet, yet so brilliant. As well, their prices are very reasonable, almost low. Trivial but fun - the facility and its location are beautiful! Makes going there more enjoyable. You're also going to love his staff -- smart and funny. read more

My dog started limping over the weekend. There were no openings at our regular vet so we called Covington Creek. Luckily they had cancellations and we're able to get us in quick. The check up was thorough and the Dr. was kind and personable. After the great care we received today we will be making this our primary vet for our furbabes. read more

These people are angels disguised as veterinary staff! My pets are my life, and they treat them with every bit as much concern and tenderness as I do. Dr. Colin is not only personable and a good communicator, but one of the few experts I've met that never flinches at answering all of my questions with the extended level of detail that is my only comfort when taking care of an ailing pet. His wife Niki is similarly amazing as his office manager, always answering e-mails within the hour and making the entire office happy and uplifting. The rest of the staff are kind and attentive, to the point where you're sad to see the appointment end. Covington Creek is the exception to all of the stereotypes of the Mendocino Coast being a place where nobody with a marketable skill would set up shop. I hope they live to be 100 so I never have to find another vet. read more

HARD SELL! Dr. leaves the room for young girl to make ridiculous expensive treatment plan presentation. Just like car salesman, leaving you to "talk to manager" Pure hustle. read more

I love Covington creek! Dr.Colin is fantastic, he and his staff know my dogs well and are always willing to go the extra mile. I really appreciate that. The office is clean and bright with big windows in the exam rooms which give it a more open and healthy feeling. It doesn't have that sour 'vet' smell I have experienced at other offices, and my dogs are never afraid to go to the vet, instead they arrive with wagging tails, ready for a treat and a visit with their friend Dr.Colin. I can't recommend Covington creek enough. If you are looking for a new vet, give them a call, you won't be disappointed. read more

When you love your animals, having a vet that you have complete confidence in means a lot. I feel so fortunate to have Dr. Chaves and his kind and caring staff nearby. When I took my Chihuahua, Pearl, in for an ear exam, Dr. Chaves also noticed that Pearl has a heart murmur and knee joints that pop in and out. Since my dog is unable to tell me what's wrong, it's comforting having a such a skilled, focused vet to oversee her healthcare. I highly recommend Dr. Chaves, his excellent staff and Covington Creek Veterinary Hospital. Sparky and Pearl will be back! read more

Great team! Dr. Chaves, Caroline, Summer and Joe are great. Our Ruby, a golden retriever, stays at the kennel and when issues arise they are always there for us. Yes, Doctor is quiet to humans, but he communicates to the animals VERY well. Thanks for being there for us. read more

The care and compassion that the staff display is extraordinary. My thanks to you all. Nancy Milano read more

WOW!!! I just wish I could have taken this place with me when I moved. My relationship with this hospital was too short!!! Although...the few times I was there were very enjoyable!!! Friendly, knowledgeable staff was also very personable and the process was efficient, professional and fairly priced!!! My dogs were both very comfortable the whole time as well!!! We would also like to give a special thank you and recognition to CAROLINE...3 or 4 months after we moved I called and talked to her and she AMAZINGLY remembered us and our dogs(names and description) just by hearing my name over the phone!!! As I said...we were only there a few times!!! Thank you ALL and We will MISS YOU!!! read more

I previously stated..."He also seems to stay in the back more, with far less communication with the pet owners that Dr. Jordan. The shop still appears clean, and the help is effective......" That means what it says. I have heard that this Dr is competent, but at the time I was going there, he was either shy, or had no time for speaking to pet owners. I wish him well. I HAVE moved to another area, but the comments I left were from personal experience with this Dr, while I still was a 'local.' He failed to impress me as a personality. Maybe he's a great vet-I don't know. But my prior comments about him staying pretty scarce around the office-that was the way it was then. I don't know about now. I hope it has improved. And MORE than one employee mentioned to me that he was 'different' than the exited Dr Jordan. I'll bump him up to 4 stars after some discussion with a long time employee of the hospital whom I trust. read more

Dr. Chaves really takes the time to evaluate the situation. I have a 4 lb chihuahua puppy. He understood her needs as a tiny dog and he understood my concerns about the puppy. Many vets, including the other local ones, don't "get it" when it comes to small animals. He does! We switched to Convington Creek and will continue to go there as long as he is there. Yes, we are local Mendo folks. read more

I first met Dr. Colin Chaves on an emergency visit; our old pug was very ill. Chaves immediately addressed the pain issue, something our usual vet had neglected. He was much more knowledgeable about the pancreatitis our dog was enduring, and was able to help us give our beloved pet several months of quality life before the dog passed away. We have lived in the area for 35 years, and have done business with every vet around, Colin Chaves is the best of the bunch by far, His compassion and caring went beyond the usual. If he doesn't know something, he quickly dives into research. When his office couldn't provide the equipment necessary, he directed us to the proper Bay Area hospital, and worked closely with specialists there. He works harder, communicates better, and is the most compassionate vet we have ever dealt with, in 40 years of pet ownership. Whoever wrote an unfavorable review surely has some problem other than the services provided by Covington Creek Vet Hospital. The facility is spotless, and the staff as wonderful as the vet they work for. The Chouteau family Fort Bragg read more

We visit Mendocino every year, we have for over 15 years. This visit, we brought our new furry rescue pup with us. We noticed after a few days that he had fleas. We use a prescription strength flea med on him monthly, but here in Mendo, that's not enough. I called our vet and they weren't very informative on what to do to take care of the fleas. I called a local groomer and she said not to do a flea dip but recommended a pill for our dog to take. She also suggested I call a local vet, so I did, and called Village Vet in Mendo & they were incredibly rude and unhelpful. Now for my 5star review on Convington Creek Vet Hosp. I called & explained my situation. With kindness I was told about an over the counter flea med pill & where to purchase it; I believe I spoke to Summer-She also explained how my dog should take the pill, how often and what to bath him with. They are not my vet, but took the time to help me. I purchased the pill for my dog and within hours, no fleas. Thank you CCVH! read more

Dr. Colin Chaves is a wonderful vet, the treasured caretaker of our dogs Murphy and Moxie! There are not enough words to express our gratitude for Dr. Chaves' kindness and compassion during our dog Moxie's fatal illness. Dr. Chaves diagnosed Moxie with megaesophagus, a deterioration of the esophagus that has no cure. Although the diagnosis was devastating, (how would we get Moxie proper nutrition and water if his esophagus was slowly deteriorating?!), Dr. Chaves helped us to understand everything that we could do to manage Moxie's condition and improve the quality of his final 6 months. We will be forever thankful to Dr. Chaves and his staff for their caring, compassion and expertise during this difficult journey. Dr. Chaves' genuine devotion to his profession creates a welcoming and safe place for both animals and their people. What a priceless addition to our community! The Fogarty Family Mendocino read more

I had drafted a complaint for the licensure board after Dr. Chaves refused to assess and treat our dog who was in crisis this summer. Our dogs supportive care lasted for weeks and the entire experience was very traumatic. I attempted to cut and paste the complaint here, but it exceeds the character limit for reviews. I decided a candid Yelp would be more effective. I have all the vet paperwork, cell phone records and a witness that provide evidence of what we went through on 8/5/17 with Summer (the receptionist) and Dr. Chaves. Despite our dogs declining condition and multiple requests to assess our dog and treat her for dehydration, we were forced to take our dog to Pet Care in Santa Rosa (during the heatwave) for emergency care (during normal business hours). Dr. Chaves was on site (peeking out in the lobby to see who was there) and refused to see our dog because they were 'busy' with other emergencies (the entire time we were there, the only patient was a post-op dog who was wagging his tail and walking through the lobby). No other vets were open and he was the doctor on-call according to the other vet we called. If you are on the north coast and you require emergency need care for your pet, drive to Santa Rosa and go to Pet Care at 2425 Mendocino Avenue! It took 2 hours and 6 minutes (it would normally take about 1 hour and 20 minutes) to get there from Covington Creek. It is unprofessional, unethical and inhumane to refuse to assess a dog in crisis: the emergency vet was appalled when we told her what transpired. Go elsewhere. read more

I loved Covington Creek Vet before the ownership change. Dr. Jordan was the best Vet ever! The new Vet doesn't have very good bedside manner and, well, when dealing with your beloved pet, that is something that is important to me. I have also heard horrible stories about how they treat their employees. I changed over to Village Veterinary in Mendocino and i really love it. The Doctors are very caring while also being very educated. read more

Well, Niki's response just proves my point. We are glad they were able to "squeeze" her in, but there was absolutely no other clients in the clinic from the time we got there until the time we left. And from her response, the squeezing clearly was not "kindly", nor was the rude way we were treated, and the cold way Kara was treated. read more

I came across Dr. Chaves when I was vacationing in Mendocino County and my dog was attacked by another dog. Dr. Chaves was the closest and most available vet to where I was. He was extremely caring and swift with his care and emergency surgery. My dog was naturally very fearful due to abuse earlier in his life before I rescued him from the pound and he was even worse with the massive throat trauma we arrived with. Dr. Chaves realized that my dog was far calmer with me in the room and allowed me to stay with him during the entire surgery and treatment. I had to take my dog to another hospital three hours away that had 24 hour care after Dr. Chaves saved my dog's life. At the second hospital I was not allowed to stay with my dog and he bit or tried to bite everyone he came in contact with because of my absence. Several days later when I was able to transport my dog back to the part of the state we live in, I took him to my own veterinarian. After reviewing the x-rays and records, my vet told me that he was very impressed with Dr. Chaves knowledge and skill and that I could not have gotten better care for my dog. I would recommend Dr. Chaves and his wonderful staff to anyone. His actions and consideration for my dog's physical and emotional well being were by far the best emergency vet service I have every received. read more

We have a second home in Fort Bragg. My husband and I were visiting over Memorial Day weekend, when our nearly 15 year old Cattle dog mix began having respiratory problems in the middle of the night. She had been diagnosed with a spindle cell tumor on her muzzle several months earlier, and I assume she was having breakthrough pain despite being on pain medication. Long story short, we knew it was time to let her go. We called Covington Creek and Dr. Chaves agreed to meet us at the office (it was 5:30 in the morning). i need to emphasize that we are not regular patients at this vet hospital. He examined her, looked her directly in the eye, and agreed it was time. I always stay with my pets and Dr. Chaves allowed us to take over his waiting area. He gave her a sedative and she fell asleep in my lap, before the final injection. She went more peacefully than any of my other animals. Dr. Chaves was very respectful of our grief and treated her remains with kindness. We were allowed all the time we needed to say our goodbyes. Even the receptionist expressed sincere caring when we came to pick up her ashes, which also came with a sympathy card signed by the entire office staff (most of whom we hadn't met). I can't speak highly enough of my experiences dealing with this vet hospital and I wouldn't hesitate to use them again. read more