VCA Rancho San Diego Animal Hospital — Attraction in Rancho San Diego

I have been taking my rats to the Rancho San Diego Animal hospital since August 2017. In my first visit to a vet with a rat, they said that I should do x-rays as part of the diagnosis process. She had no broken bones or injured limbs / ribs / bones of any kind. The reason for the x-rays were to see if there were tumors on the inside. If there were tumors, they suggest operating on a rat. The cost for the x-rays were around $200-400. The cost for surgery is thousands of dollars. I spent $600 in one month on my rat for her to die a horrible death a month later. To be clear, I am a disabled Afghanistan veteran and these rats are my companion pets. The hospital also charges an exam fee no matter how close my return visits are to each other. The initial exam fee is $59. If the exam is for the exact same thing, then the fee is $39. But if you state any different symptoms, they charge you a $59 fee again. California law requires an exam fee. The hospital sets the fee price. Not California law.

In Spring 2019, I brought in four of my rats over several months. I paid over $1500 dollars in treatment. All four rats died within two months of each other. I brought two rats in to be put to sleep in July 2019. The tumors on their bodies were large and visible. Bulging from under the fur. They clearly needed to be put to sleep. California law requires an exam is conducted before putting them to sleep. The law only requires an exam is conducted. It does not set the price. The hospital sets the price. I was charged a full $59 (first rat exam fee) and $39 (for the second rat) exam fee. No exam was conducted.

Fast forward to January 2020. Ahead of an appointment to take in my last rat for a follow-up exam, I was notified that it would be a $59 exam fee and not a $39 exam fee. I expressed my disapproval of the hospital's policies over a series of emails. The emails did not contain any insults, swear words, threats, or any abusive language of any kind. I stated that the hospital was covering up their wrongdoing by hiding behind California law. The morning of my appointment, the hospital administrator called me. I'm not sure what the purpose of his call was. He lectured me for the first five minutes of the call. I listened calmly. I interrupted him to inform him that I was a disabled Afghanistan veteran and it was my right to express my disapproval while at the same time seeking services from the business. He raised his voice several times, at which point I raised my voice to speak over him. I did not use swear words, insults, or threats of any kind. I informed him that I would be seeking a lawyer and the BBB for his discrimination against a disabled Afghanistan veteran. He refused service to me and my pet because I disagreed with his policies. He began to laugh loudly at me during the call. He said my critiques of his business were bullshit. He then called me a liar. When he laughed at me, I asked him if he thought this was funny. He answered yes. He laughed at me when I said I would report him to the BBB. He laughed at me when I said I would seek legal representation and bring a lawsuit against him. He continued to laugh at me in an obnoxious manner throughout the remainder of the call until I ended it. The laughing was an intimidation and bullying tactic. The hospital administrator humiliated me by laughing in my face over the phone. I believe he acted intentionally.

Below are my emails that I sent disapproving of the hospital's policies. The hospital administrator treated me as described above based on these emails. It was out of line and inappropriate.

I reported the hospital administrator and the vet...

Dr. Hare is exceptional. If this review was just about him, it would be one of the highest ratings I have ever given. He was wonderful with our beloved doggy. He was gentle, positive, patient in examination, and meticulous and thorough in explanation. Wonderful. But this is a review about the Rancho San Diego Animal Hospital, and the rating reflects that.

To that effect: this is the most disappointed I have felt about a for profit business, that markets itself as a loving environment for pets.

The Dr. was clear in communicating his recommendations during and after the examination. He left the room, saying he would discuss the specifics with the hospital manager and come back with pricing. After a minute, Allison came into the room with a sheet of paper including pricing for things that the Dr. Had specifically, unequivocally, were communicated to us as not necessary. The price was over 2 thousand dollars. Pricing did not reflect what the Dr had communicated to us. Allison explained to us that we should pay, in the best interest of our dog. This pulled at my heart strings. I don’t often cry, but I was unable to remain composed when confronted with this turn around in expectations. The office manager had decided, based on policy, that the Dr’s recommendations would not be what the office manager offered. The office manager decided to offer the absolute most expensive option, when the Dr. made it clear that our beloved dog was a good candidate for a different option, presumably much less expensive. The office manager, the only decider, never set a foot in front of us. Allison was left to try to explain the long list. One conversation with the office manager, who never saw our pet, was the nail in the coffin. How few moments it took for profit to be placed above the real best interest of our pet! As we were leaving, we were handed a pamphlet that detailed financing. Of course. Disappointing. Disappointing. Very sad.

I wish the absolute best to the Dr. I would suggest a different line of work to the office manager; do you really want to be someone who, coldly, callously, makes decisions that overrides the Dr’s recommendation so that the Hospital makes more profit? I would suggest the office manager stops sending in non decision makers, like Allison, to try to explain why they made a decision that was not in the best interest of the pet.

To any who would take their animal to this hospital, I would suggest you think very deeply about your decision. Your pet deserves honesty and integrity. Your pet deserves better than setting aside Dr’s recommendations, so that the office manager can have the final say in the care and treatment...

I am writing a review in hopes of saving others from the troubles that we encountered with VCA Rancho San Diego Animal Hospital. We were being relocated to Naples, Italy for my husband's job. We were told that an international certificate was needed for our 2 dogs. Our regular vet was not able to issue international pet certificates, and thus referred us to VCA Ranch San Diego.

Upon calling the staff, they told us that they would be able to see our pets and get our required international pet certificate needed for travel to Italy.

We went in and paid well over $500 dollars, $99 for the office visit per pet in addition to the $160 that we were charged per dog for the certificate.

After the exam clearing both pets, the documents were sent in digitally and we were assured that everything would be in order to get the certificates. That night the vet emailed us saying upon further research, Italy does not accept digital certifications and that it would be sent via paper. Then the next day we were called saying that the USDA denied the certificate due to errors in the submission. We were never informed about any of these requirements prior to the appointment, nor during the appointment, and instead assured that everything was in order. When going to a certified veterinarian you would assume that they knew the process and requirements needed, which they clearly did not. Instead we were never issued the international pet certificates and were left with a large debt and trouble being able to transport our pets to our duty site.

We were also informed from others traveling to Italy that most vets usually only charge one fee for the international health certificate if up to two pets are being added to the same certificate (which is how it was submitted). We were charged $160 per pet, even though they were both on the same certificate. In addition, we never even received the USDA international pet certificate that was submitted by VCA, therefore making our visit and money spent pointless. I emailed them regarding our concerns and never heard a response which speaks to their customer service.

Please save your time and money and go to a clinic that is knowledgable about the...