SCVC is a very small, no-frills clinic, best for general care. Dr. Hardesty, Betsy and Fonzene have big hearts and love animals to be sure. Pets with complex medical histories are probably better handled elsewhere. read more

Horrible vet. The admin people were nice but the vet was extremely rude after our dog bit him after he manhandled her by the scruff. Our dog is very nervous about new people and we did drug her before bringing her but after she tried to bite everything the vet said to my wife was extremely judgmental and rude down to questioning the medication we gave, which was prescribed by other vets that never had an issue. Guess he's just bad at his job. If you aren't cut out for caring for animals that aren't perfectly friendly then why are you in this job? Also, it's fucking filthy. Vet also suggested that we hit our dog. read more

Love Dr.Hardesty, Betsy, and Fonzene. They take such exceptional care of my dogs and have for years.

This clinic is one where you will find people who care about you & taking excellent care of your pets. Dr. Hardesty, Betsy & Fonzene are such loving caring people!!! We have gone to this clinic for 27 years & it is not fancy but the time and care you receive are phenomenal !!!! read more

Don't let the appearance steer you away. They took fantastic care of my dog and I've never felt like a vet really cared about my animals until I came here. Dr. hardesty will be real with you about what is necessary and what's not and they don't upcharge out the wazoo like other places. I used to go to a fancy vet but would choose Dr. Hardesty any day of the week because of the care he provides. read more

Not the prettiest or freshest smelling clinics but certainly the most caring and affordable. Which in my opinion is wayyyyy more important to me. My pet family and I have been with SCVC for well over 15 years. It's always a relief to know I can go in with the slightest concern and not pay a million dollars for peace of mind. They always call me back, give me unlimited time while I am there, give it to me straight and the Doc and Betsey have always been correct in their diagnosis. I can't recall the other woman's name but she is also wonderfully informed. Love them as they have love all my pets. read more

I definitely recommend Dr. Hardesty!! As we all look for a Vet to care for our fur babies, we look for someone that is compassionate and truly cares about your baby/babies. Dr. Hardesty has been our Vet for a few years now and we just love him!! He is amazing with our pets and is very caring! The place may not seem like a fancy Vet office like some of the others, they have been around for a very long time. I was skeptical at first, but once I gave them a chance I knew I would be going there as long as I lived in the Austin area. The prices are great and like I said before, Dr. Hardesty is a very caring and loving doctor. He truly cares about my babies! I recently had to take my dog in for a hematoma on his ear. He was seen and was told the cost and to my amazement it was 99% much cheaper then the first time he got one on his other ear and the quote we got from another Vet! I have to also add that Betsey and Arlene are amazing, caring and very sweet! Like I said I know the building and the inside doesn't look appealing to most, but if you can look past that you will find a Vet and staff that really does care about your pet/pets as they do. My advice to those not so happy at not being able to get in right away! Make sure you have a back up plan. As with all other Vet offices they too can't always get you in when you want. We need to find a back up just in case. You never know when emergencies arise and sometimes these Vets are completely booked and have no appointments when we need one. Thank you Dr. Hardesty and your staff for always caring for our fur babies! We really do appreciate all you!! read more

South Congress Veterinary Clinic - Veterinarians Near Me - Austin, Texas

They are fantastic and incredibly knowledgeable. They have helped me with my senior pets and my puppy. Their prices for surgeries, dental and medication beat practically all others, even Emancipet. They are so pleasant and love their pets. There is no unnecessary testing or price gouging. read more

South Congress Veterinary Clinic - Chevy, Luna and Snowball - Veterinarians Near Me - Austin, Texas

Dr Bruce and Betsy are an Austin institution. Nothing foo foo about this clinic. Its all about your pets health not a designer decorated waiting room with stylish furniture and a cappuccino machine. Great people and great vet care. read more

This place is rundown and dirty! I understand an old building, but they seriously need to sanitize. The way this place looks def makes you want to never leave your pet there for surgery or teeth cleaning, etc. We will not be coming back. The sign says you have to wear a mask..what a joke..they aren't too concerned about keeping this place clean..Vet was nice but how hard is it to fix it up a little bit. Get some decent chairs at goodwill that aren't all stained and gross. read more

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South Congress veterinary clinic has been serving our pets for over 20 years and we absolutely adore the staff.

The clinic was dirty and smelled bad. The vet used a rectal thermometer wiped it off with gauze and put it back in the drawer where he got it. Meanwhile they required masks while in the building. Weird. I was not impressed and will not return. read more

Great services and fair prices! Staff was friendly and immediately put my dog at ease, you can tell they really care about the animals they treat. Will definitely be coming back here for any future veterinary needs read more

The whole clinic reeks of animal urine. Thank GOD for the mandatory face mask requirement. One of our kittens was very anxious and it was showing. He didn't make any effort to get familiar with our girl before pulling her out of her carrier. He didn't talk us through anything he was doing. He stuck a thermometer in her rear without any warning to her or us so of course she wasn't sitting still and he accidentally got scratched. He said "it's clear she's agitated" I would be too if you stuck something up my a** no warning. We initially went in bc we were having issues with fleas. He didn't even look at her before deciding she didn't have any. He tells us what shots she needs. When I asked the price he couldn't even tell us. He didn't draw the medicine in front of us so I have no idea what he was actually going to give her. That was my last straw we picked our girls up and left. They didn't even bother to ask us why we were leaving. FIREHOUSE VET is where we are taking our business as should anyone else looking to come here. DO NOT!!! read more

This vets office is a wonderful place to bring your pets for loving health care! Dr. Hardisty and Betsy are the warmest, most caring animal caretakers and so professional. They really care about your animals and are happy to answer any questions you have! I've been bringing my dog and cats here for years, especially for teeth cleaning. Their prices are very reasonable and they always remember my pets and treat them gently and lovingly. Highly recommend! If you're looking for a brand new building, go elsewhere. If you're looking for a professional, loving and excellent medical care and reasonable pricing, come here. They are the best! read more

South Congress Veterinary Clinic - Blueberry is happy with her health care! - Veterinarians Near Me - Austin, Texas

I have taken my two my pups to South Congress Vet over the past year. Betsy, the vet tech is so nice and personable, she even returned my phone call on a holiday when the office was closed. Both my senior dogs have gotten their teeth cleaned there. I am always worried about anesthesia, but they do the required blood work before they put the dogs under. The price alone is amazing on keeping up with good dental hygiene for dogs. The only thing is I wish this place was just a little cleaner, it does have a strong odor when you walk in. But it is totally worth it when you think about the price and care you will be receiving . read more

Shoutout to Dr. Hardesty and Betsy. They took such good care of my cat Juno when she needed surgery to remove a mass on her underside. Not only are the services they render affordable, but the "realness", compassion, and caring they exude is unlike any veterinary office in the Austin area. Y'all are AMAZING read more

South Congress Veterinary Clinic - Juno a few hours post-surgery - Veterinarians Near Me - Austin, Texas

I am so grateful to have stubbled upon South Congress Vet. I checked other places around town and they were extremely expensive and required an appointment before the actual spay surgery which is just extra money for the exam fee. Here, I dropped her off on Friday morning, picked her up that afternoon and they were so extremely affordable. She is doing so great and the staff were wonderful. Soooooo happy to have a no non-sense place to ease my nerves and perform this routine surgery. Thank you read more

South Congress Veterinary Clinic - Super clean, beautiful incision site - Veterinarians Near Me - Austin, Texas

Didn't listen to me and got mad at me because he misread the information I sent and was passive agressive. Completely wasted my time. Stay away from this run down place. They don't return your messages either read more

I have been coming here for the past 3 years when I first got my puppies! My girl recently birthed her own little of puppies and so of course, we brought the whole litter in a box to the vet! I love that the entire staff remembers us every time we come in, including all 8 puppies. Thanks South Congress Veterinary Clinic for keeping the prices reasonable AND for being awesome! read more

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If you have pups and have not friended yelper Tara M. yet, you should. She is a bundle of energy completely devoted to our four legged friends and is a leader on what to do and where to go with fur babies. For a while, I noticed she would walk Boxers at South Congress Vet Clinic and always seemed to enjoy herself. I wanted some of what she was getting from these sweet pup babies. So I joined her. The dogs are amazing and no matter what they have endured, how they look or their age, I always love them. Some may have sores, or cut up ears, or their ribs show because they are malnourished, but each one is happy, loveable and just wants a bit of human kindness. I will never forget my first dog walking experience. "Lois Lane" was found in a dumpster with her little puppies, all of them dead. Yet after our walk when I knelt down to hug her, this sweet girl had enough spirit to lick my face. Another amazing part of my adventure with South Congress Vet Clinic, is knowing that the rescue dogs are housed here through donations, Austin Boxer Rescue and the tremendous kindess of the clinic. Which brings me to Betsy, "vet tech animal lover keeper of the flame sweetheart". She gets to know each pup when it arrives and can report to the walkers their dispositions, health and other special needs. (If Yelp allowed the "heart" symbol, it would go right here.) read more

South Congress Veterinary Clinic - Tara walking a fur baby! - Veterinarians Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I am very happy with the service we received today. We took our 1 year old chi/terrier mix in to have her hernia examined. The ladies at the desk were extremely welcoming and sweet to us. Our pup is very anxious and felt pretty comfortable here compared to her old vet. Anyway, the vet was very thorough during the examination and explained everything in an very clean manor. Tito would like to say "thank you!" read more

South Congress Veterinary Clinic - Veterinarians Near Me - Austin, Texas

The quite old building was dear Dr. Stallworth's where he practiced well into his 80's. Dr Hardesty and Betsy deliver the same folksy care with skill and expertise. You can go elsewhere and pay big prices and you won't get half the atmosphere of love and caring that they both exhibit here. We brought many patients to Dr. Stallworth years ago, and now gleefully return to this wonderful clinic. It is Old Austin at its best and Dr. Hardesty is an amazing surgeon. His work reminds me of plastic surgery, his incisions heal so seamlessly. My Dickens has had an invisible castration and a similarly invisible cancer removal. As long as these two are working and I am still standing, they have my business. Just call first! DMB read more

Dr. Hardesty & Betsy are amazing. We've been taking our dogs there for years & it's clear they really care about the animals. The building may not be very fancy, but the quality care for our dogs over the years will make me customers forever. read more

Wonderful vet and staff. An appointment was needed. Each time the best of care was received by my beloved four-legged companions, and they are very affordable and deliver excellent care. I highly recommend Dr. Hardesty, Betsey and Arlene. I hope Dr. Hardesty does not retire soon, because he will be greatly missed. I have observed him to be a delightful, compassionate, human being, as well as an excellent veterinarian. I love the way his staff handles the animals so tenderly. read more

Wonderful, honest, nice practice. No pressure to pay for unnecessary services like some other veterinarians. I will definitely be bringing my other dog back here. read more

Go here if you're tired of your vet trying to give your pets a bunch of unnecessary medicine just to line their pockets. It's not the ritz carlton but they care about animals and know what they're doing. I will never take my dog anywhere else. read more

I love them. have been with them for years, decades. They are like family and love my pets like family. Id be LOST with out Betsy. she is an angel.Even adopted a cat that needed a home who is my light there. Yup. they are the best read more

I'm a no nonsense guy. I don't believe in glitz or glamour. My dogs are no different. They never bathe themselves, they chew on filthy tennis balls, and they occasionally roll in the carcasses of dead animals. They don't give a d@mn about the paintings on the walls at the vet. What my my dogs and I (and my wallet) do care about is expertise, honesty, and compassion. I've been bringing my dogs here since I arrived in Austin 2 years ago. Dr. Hardesty is one of those mythical vets that has your pet and your wallet's best interest in mind, not the sale of his services. My bill is always less than I think it will be and I've never been guilted into expensive "well, we can try this" services. His receptionists are also the biggest dog lovers I've ever seen...kisses, petting, baby talk, the whole nine yards. That said, the office is not the cleanest vet you'll ever go to. But again, my dog ate a dirty dish rag the other day, so I know he doesn't care. read more

REAL ANIMAL LOVERS; REAL PEOPLE AND REASONABLE PRICES! When my cat started vomiting up a clear, foamy liquid a few days ago, and then lost her appetite and became very lethargic, I felt like vomiting myself, as I knew it would probably cost me a small fortune to get a diagnosis. Why is it that my pets always seem to get sick with some mysterious illness just when I can least afford to take them to the vet?! Sigh... I have taken my five cats and two dogs to numerous vets in Austin, and I have discovered that most vets just love, love, love to do as many tests and procedures as possible before actually treating an animal. Most of the time all of this seems totally unnecessary, and is an attempt to screw as much money as possible out of unsuspecting, upset owners. This realization was a huge shock to me, coming as I do from Europe where veterinary medicine doesn't have such a corporate, big business mentality. I had learned to become very skeptical and distrustful of most vets until (finally!) I stumbled across Dr. Bruce Hardesty and all of his amazing staff at South Congress Veterinary Clinic. I've taken a few of my pets (and a couple of strays) there so far, and I've always had a very positive experience. It was, however, Dr. Hardesty's treatment of my cat yesterday, which really sold me on the place, and his services. When a cat starts to vomit, there could be any number of things wrong with it, and most vets would have suggested an x-ray and a blood panel, and various other expensive procedures, without even attempting to come up with a diagnosis. Dr. Hardesty, on the other hand, did what very few vets do these days, which is listen to my account of the cat's symptoms, and use his expertise and experience to diagnose an intestinal bacterial infection. Finally! Someone who knows how to practise real veterinary medicine instead of just relying on a barrage of useless tests! My cat was given subcutaneous fluids (she was mildly dehydrated from all the puking); a vitamin injection; a shot of antibiotics and also some more antibiotics to take home. All of this came to just $106 compared to the hundreds I would have shelled out elsewhere. Dr. Hardesty also advised me that I should bring the cat back on Monday morning if she was not substantially better. It's now Sunday afternoon, and my cat is practically back to normal. Her appetite has returned, and she seems much more lively and happy! Thank you, Dr. Hardesty! If my cat experiences a similar illness in the future, that will be the time for expensive tests, but in the meantime I'm glad to have found a vet who is in the business of caring about animals instead of his bank balance! PS/ This goes out to all of those people who have complained about the supposedly unsanitary, "smelly" condition of the clinic. As one previous reviewer pointed out, this is a bloody vet clinic not a beauty salon! If you want a more upmarket waiting area, and "state of the art" equipment take your pets to "Austin Vet Care" on Lamar, opposite Central Market. Enjoy reclining on their IKEA sofa and watching their plasma TV as much as you can because their exorbitant, rip-off prices will ensure you'll never be able to afford such items for your own home! read more

After taking 'Squeaks' to ATA for his senior feline dental exam and cleaning (I wish I could take him to Urban Dentistry) they recommended that I have one of his teeth extracted due inflamed gums around a tooth. Seeing how he reacted to being put under anesthesia - I was in no rush to go put him through that again any time soon. Over a year later, I decided it was time to finally get that thing looked at - as well as hopefully find out why he had lost a lot of hair on his belly. I called numerous places. Prices for dental cleanings (with extractions) and exams (with bloodwork) ranged quite widely. South Congress Vet Clinic's estimate was surprisingly the cheapest, running about 1/2 the cost of most of the vets and 1/4 the cost of Austin Urban Vet ($450 for a cat's dental cleaning?! My own teeth don't cost that much to take care of!) More importantly, SoCo Vet Clinic was the only place that suggested that I bring my cat in free of charge (without an appointment) to see if an extraction was even necessary. I did. It wasn't. Excellent! I love how honest they were. The woman who does the cleanings said that because the tooth was still in great condition, they'd essentially have to bust it into pieces, cut the gum, and pull it out. Since he preferred dry food over wet, it indicated that it wasn't bothering him enough to justify such an invasive procedure and anesthesia. I agree. I scheduled a routine exam with the doctor for a later time anyways, mostly out of concern of the belly baldness. That was today. I expected to pay $35, but after a brief physical exam and some explanations from the doctor - I was told that they weren't going to charge anything for the 2nd visit. What? Nice. As far as complaints about cleanliness go - this place does indeed smell like animals, but not horribly. It was definitely worse at the end of the day Saturday than on Tuesday morning right after they've cleaned. Yes, some doors could use a paint job from dogs scratching away at them - but you know what? I'd prefer not to get a $300 vet bill and some honesty over a pretty paint job. I'll be bringing the kitteh back for his next routine appointment. read more

Took my dog to South Congress Vet this morning. There is no excuse for the level of filth this place has. A smell of pets in a vets office is typical but the amount of pure grime on every surface was repulsive. I'm was so thankful I had canceled his teeth cleaning because I would not have felt comfortable letting them use tools on my dog. The tech used a disgusting thermometer that was laying in a drawer full of hair and dust. The exam room had blood & dirt on the walls and floor. I didn't even want to set him on the table. I left has soon as we got his heart worm medicine. I have taken pets to veterinary clinics my whole life and this was the most unsanitary one I have ever seen. I understand you may be looking for a good deal but do not sacrifice your dogs health for a cheap visit to this place. read more

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This doctor does not care about your pets' health. DO NOT TAKE YOUR ANIMALS HERE. I took my kitty, Dora, in to see him last week, as she was having trouble breathing and acting weird. He dismissed her as "allergic and constipated", and sent her back home. She threw up a few hours later and I took her to another vet. She was experiencing CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE and was immediately put in an oxygen tank and given diuretics to drain her LUNGS as they were FILLED WITH FLUID, and later diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (genetic heart disease). :( Dora would have died had I trusted South Congress Vet and not sought a second opinion. Read the reviews. This doctor doesn't care about your pet. PLEASE take your furry friend ANYWHERE ELSE. read more

Wow talk about service!!! Outstanding employees to Dr Hardesty and his assistant . Reina was very comfortable with the staff .your awesome Thank you South Congress veterinary clinic!!!! read more

Got my two dogs' teeth cleaned today. I was nervous because the building was old but that does not reflect the care they received while inside. Very sweet workers that are thorough. Got 15% off the teeth cleaning and the total was less than $300 for both boys! Best price in town and they took good care of the boys who were happy when I picked them up. No shaking or nervousness for my two tiny Yorkies who did well with anesthesia. Did not opt for the blood work but if you're worried it is very affordable. Awesome place! I will be coming back! read more

South Congress Veterinary Clinic - Rambo and Kane got their teeth cleaned! Great price bc got 15% off Monday's. Betsy was sweet and carried Kane out to my car. - Veterinarians Near Me - Austin, Texas

These guys are awesome-- they take great care of your pet and are upfront and honest! Come here if you're looking for a place that cares.

I have been on a quest for a knowledgeable, affordable vet, and thought I might have found the one. Dr. Hardesty clearly loves animals, as does his assistant Betsy. I've taken my kitties to them off and on since last fall. Since February, though, they've stopped answering the phone or returning my messages. I tried just showing up to talk to someone, and there was a sign on the door that they'd be closed for a week. Super frustrating. I read reviews complaining about pungent animal smell and peeling paint, which I figured weren't that big a deal, and it still smelled better than my vet's office in Chicago. However, the floor in the exam room was disgusting, with blood and other who-knows-what in smears here and there, and hair everywhere. I wondered how often it got cleaned, and how sanitary that could possibly be...? The last time I took my kitty there, Dr. Hardesty suggested that instead of trying a treatment, we just live with her chronic diarrhea. She has lost so much weight, that makes no sense to me. When he ran some blood work for her, her blood sugar came back extremely low. He was not alarmed, though, indicating that it was common for samples to be somewhat mishandled and for blood sugar in particular to be unreliable. Mind-boggling that he would not care, as pancreatitis is one of the things we were trying to rule out. In addition, they sold me a probiotic that had expired the previous year, and I can't get anyone to return my calls to schedule an appointment, much less talk to me about a refund. Their prices are very reasonable, so despite all the issues, while I was unemployed this vet became my first option. An office visit is about $10 below average. They quoted me the lowest prices for yearly shots. Even medicine is just above half the cost of elsewhere. Blood work was significantly cheaper for the same lab company, though somehow it got botched. If you need a return visit for something that wasn't resolved, they only charge half an office visit cost. I have seriously gotten out of there with a total bill under $35. I'm not sure in this case that better prices mean anything. What peace of mind comes from unreliable lab tests? How useful is cheap medicine that may be expired? Office visits are cheaper, but what is the point if they can't figure out the problem? I'm sad to write this review, because Dr. Hardesty and Betsy are both so nice, but the quality and consistency of care is so low, we can't go back. read more

South Congress Vet is for people who love their Pets and want to maintain their health, but are not looking to get their pockets emptied by overpriced services and "upselling". I've tried several vets on the Northside of Austin for my four animals and all of them cleaned out my bank account, until I found South Congress Vet Clinic. Is this a "Pet Spa" with freshly painted walls, cozy seating, and a Dog Treat Menu? NO. What it is an affordable pet clinic where they care about treating animals and understand that owners have other financial obligations besides expensive teeth cleaning, lab testing, and shots for their pets. I read the reviews on here and expected the place to have a stenchy smell when I walked in; that was NOT the case. It merely smelled like dog/cat--and I have a very sensitive nose! The staff was EXTREMELY friendly, the receptionist even walked outside and waved her arms around so that I could locate the building when I was lost on South Congress. It is an older building, but it's not like I was spending the night there, I was there to get help for my pet. My cat came in injured from being attacked by a neighbor's cat. They gave her antibiotics, a shot, treated her wounds, and did an exam on her since we were first time customers. During the exam the Doctor cleaned her ears and removed some tartar from her teeth. The total was $80. I'm positive it could have easily been 40-50% more at another Vet Office. I will be going to South Congress Veterinary Clinic from now on! read more

For once, I'm so happy Yelp helped me find this place. (Not so lucky with mechanics grr). The staff are so friendly and baby-talked my scaredy cat out of her crate. Both the nurse and vet were amazing with her and answered all my questions with patience. So despite what another clinic told me, URI is not lifelong and uncurable. Thank the lord. They did not try to push unnecessary treatments or shots. They asked if I needed the feline leukemia shot, I had no idea if I needed it... "So she is an inside cat? - ok no need" they say. Great! In the past, I think other places just went ahead and did it and charged me for it, knowing that I am not knowing (the usual customer). The nice vet took the time to explain a lot of cat health mysteries to me. Thank you. The final bill was $36 for the check-up (no wait!), and $16 per vaccination. Another score for me. FYI, before my appt I called another South clinic to get a rate, and they quoted me $175 for the check-up and shots. No. Thank you. read more

For "End of Life" Services (putting our dog to sleep) this place is the BEST. I haven't used them for anything else. But, my experience with them today was phenomenally good. Betsy was an absolute angel as she came to our house and put Toby to rest inside our garden labyrinth (she was so open to doing it wherever we wanted, it was all so effortless!) She didn't miss a beat and was as genuinely joyful as could be--WE LOVE BETSY! I seriously could not have asked for a better person to have been the last caretaker for Toby. Ok, on another note, I was not impressed with their offices at all. In fact, we went in to get them to do the services there at the office but were so "whatever" about the office that we backed out. Then my boyfriend asked them whether they did at home services, and we took a chance because Betsy seemed so sweet and nice. So, I recommend this place, I hope that our impression about their office was because we just had caught them at an off moment (it was early in the morning, i think they weren't "open" yet.) Betsy is amazing for at home care--a perfect 10 with how she took care of our Toby and made his leaving this earth so much easier than I could have expected. It was almost magical. The price was right too -- $35 for end of life services at our house! I gave her a little extra even though she told me not to. I insisted, and I might just be sending her flowers too... read more