I don't usually give five stars, I reserve five star ratings for best in class, that's what "Whoohoo! As good as it gets!" means to me. There are no other veterinary clinics like this one, so it's both the best and worst in class. It's a sort of cross between an urgent care clinic, Korean War era M*A*S*H unit, the Cook County Hospital Emergency Room, but for animals. It's not really first come first serve, there's a pretty sophisticated triage system in spite of, or underneath the enveloping chaos and disorder. The vets, vet techs, and front desk staff are at once jaded, rushed, efficient, efficacious, overwhelmed, confident, busy, irritable, and loving every minute of it. They are adrenaline junkies. They don't take appointments, come in as soon as they open and bring a book, but if you have an urgent situation (please don't misuse the adjective, emergent), they may be your best bet. It's not a free clinic, but it's pretty clear it's a low profit shoestring budget operation. It's in a scary inner city neighborhood, but I like this. Those of us paying, help the operation take care of pets whose owners aren't going to be charged full price. It's clearly not a great business model but I admire that they are motivated by something other than profit. The equipment and building itself are far from new and state of the science, and yet there is something truly professional about this place. Here's how I found out about it.
I have too many cats in my house. All of them are taking advantage of my Buddhist nature. I didn't ask for a single one of them and none of them are doing anything about the squirrels that keep gnawing their way into my attic. Lazy bums. A couple of weeks ago this little tuxedo kitten was laying in the sun up on the berm on the south side of my house and I approached it to say hi. It didn't run from me but made alarmed and scared noises and crawled off in an odd way into my bushes. I wanted to check it out but when I approached the bushes it went in deeper out of my reach so I just talked to it for a while. It talked back to me in a frightened and plaintive voice so I left it alone. I returned much later at night, the temperature had dropped quite a bit and this poor wretch had managed to drag itself up to my front door, shivering and mewling in what turned out to be a desperate plea for help. It was dark and late, I put it in my vestibule to keep it separated from my feline room mates, space heater, water and food. It hungrily devoured the food, it was skin and bones only so it had been starving but it seemed something was wrong with its legs. The next morning in the light it was apparent this young little cat was severely injured. I called my regular vets at the Greenfield Vet Clinic and they were double booked all day. I think they would have still squeezed me in for one of my cats but this was a stray and by my description it wasn't long for this world. It was a stray so I didn't want to pay the high fees at the Lakeshore Veterinary Emergency Clinic, where again I would have taken one of my cats; YELP helped me find this place. I was pretty sure I was taking this cat in to be euthanized so no name, trying to not get attached, but this little creature was being just so brave and in spite of clearly being very hurt, was very grateful for a little warmth and kindness. We got moved to the front of the line and immediately seen by a vet who reminded me of the character Hawkeye Pierce in demeanor. This fast and immediate response gave me a sinking feeling that mixed oddly with the reassuring feeling I got from competent and sympathetic demeanor of this vet, another vet who came in to see, two vet techs and the front desk staff. After some rapid tests, x-rays and exam, it turned out she (found out she is female) had a shattered pelvis - her hips fractured in a complicated manner. I was warned that in trauma like this, it's not likely that all the major organs are intact....variables and possibilities were given to me in a straightforward manner. We were sent home with more potent painkiller than was needed if you get what I mean and I made her as comfortable as possible to see if she would survive to Monday when I had an appointment at Greenfield. Everyone who encountered this courageous little cat had a sincere interest in how this would turn out, though I think experienced enough to expect tragedy. But the kitten made it to Monday, at the Greenfield clinic my regular vet said this still unnamed little patient needed some very expensive specialty treatment, and there was only one place in town with thes sort of crack orthopedic surgeons she needed. You can turn to my review of the Lakeshore Veterinary hospital if you want to see how this cat's story turns out but to get back to the review of the St. Paul clinic, I think they are heroic. I hope I never have to come here again, but I am very grateful they are. read more