The Center for Animal Wellness — Local services in Denver

My initial experience with the vet and nurses was great. Unfortunately my last experience with the center was not as great as my initial experience. I was trying to schedule a vaccination for my puppy. She always gets so shaky when we go to vet. She starts shaking when we even turn the street. As I know her too well and don’t want her to go through the distress of it all, I have always accompanied her at each vet visit. She calms down when I’m around talking to her. All of the animal hospitals that I’ve been very sensitive about this and they tried to accommodate my request to be with her during the visit. And I’m aware she would be fine but why make her go through the distress where it could be avoided. Looking at the response below tells me they’re fine having the dogs go through distress - “even the most anxious dogs are fine” Either the animal hospitals came up to the car to do the vaccination or check up or had me come in with her and took care of her in the waiting area since it’s a very quick procedure . They also stated on their websites or when we made the appointments that curbside drop offs and pick ups were mandated. They bent the rules without violating the “mask” protocols as they listened to my concern and “heard” me. When I mentioned about my concern to the center for animal wellness, they didn’t care they said due to Covid, they couldn’t allow me in despite the fact they already had my vaccine records to be able to go in with her for a regular vet appointment. So actually I could go in for a vet appointment but couldn’t go in with her for a quick vaccination. Most important thing for me when it comes to my fur baby's health is to receive empathy or care about her. Unfortunately, no empathy was shown. When I mentioned I wished the center was more empathetic towards these kind of requests and to cancel my appointment , I received a blunt response back saying “your appointment is canceled “. No apologies or trying to accommodate or no further follow up after I mentioned in my email I wished they were more empathetic. There was nothing else written in their response other than my appointment was canceled. That’s why it was a blunt answer. This broke my trust in them. If they don’t show empathy or care for a small request like this, they wouldn’t show care for a bigger request. I took her to somewhere else where they approached me with kindness and empathy. For reviewers’ information, I took her to Goodheart. I always write positive reviews as I believe in supporting the businesses. This time, since it’s related to the health and care of my fur baby, I wanted to write it out so others who feel like me would be aware and take their babies...

All you need to know about this clinic is in their responses to negative reviews. Notice that EVERY negative review has a response and EVERY negative review response from “the owner” is aggressively hostile and accusatory of the reviewer. All the while, “the owner” unnecessarily airs their business’ and client’s personal laundry to the public.

The management at this clinic choose to treat their professional google presence as a personal Facebook page. You can expect them to behave similarly in person. They do not take kindly to opinions that differ from theirs and they are willing to act like petulant children in response to any "constructive feedback" left on their review page.

No respectable business would take the time to directly respond to each bad review as if it were a personal insult. The ego, hubris, and narcissism of those in management of this clinic are in full display in their responses to their negative reviews. The fact that they feel the need to publicly humiliate the clients who rightfully complain about their experience really shows you the level of compassion and care that is practiced at this facility.

This veterinary clinic practices veterinary medicine and if you have money and they have time they will take (an overpriced amount of) your money to provide basic veterinary care for your pet. I wouldn’t expect much more than that. I wouldn’t voice any complaints or you can expect to be told “sometimes relationships - both professional and personal - do not work out.”

You know what else did not work out? The current management’s business decisions. That’s why if you check the Secretary of State of Colorado you can see that the local ownership of the company was transferred to the Foreign Limited Liability Company, Southern Veterinary Partners (SVP), back on 11/29/22. Before “the owner” responds that the choice was “business or profit motivated” here is a direct copy and paste from the SVP’s “Who Are We” section on their website - “If you are looking to sell your veterinary hospital, exit strategies for veterinary practice ownership … we invite you to join SVP!” - If management was making sound business decisions, why would one need to relinquish ownership to a group that specializes in exit strategies?

0 stars if I could, do...

This vet let me down at my most recent appointment and I won’t be returning. With previously great care at my most recent appointment I was met with Dr Bleakley and her demeaning attitude, rushed demeanor, and salty presence. Was charged for things I felt I was never consulted on and unfortunately ruined this vet for me. Beware of Dr. Bleakley if you are scheduling with them.

Refrain from using your recap to accuse my accuracy and and appropriateness of this response, written “from the owner”, solidifies my point that you weren’t in the exam room nor in control or your rampant staff and how their action make me feel as an owner.

Added Clarification: Prior to my late arrival I communicated with your front desk who assured me that my tardiness wasn’t reason to reschedule my appointment. Never was it disclosed that the care provided would be rushed. I was actually assured of the opposite since my preference and purpose of my original call was to reschedule due to my late arrival. Upon check out added to my bill was a late fee not disclosed while discussing repercussions of my late arrival.

My other pup also seen by this vet has received ear cytology’s which has never been charged for. Unfortunately setting a standard of free care is convoluted since Dr. Bleakley did ask to do an ear swab but never referenced price or that I would be charged for the service.

Scam like and shady practices to nickel and dime your already above average cost of vet services. The Owners Recap was missing valuable information pertinent to anyone making a decision on choosing care from this provider.

In the photos added to this review I have included some invoices I have from completed services and an estimate for an anticipated Spay. You can see for yourself their above average pricing and you can even see the ear cytology with a $0 price invoiced on one and $41 another time. Your inconsistent pricing strategies, whether to oversight or discretion, is confusing for owners. Pick a...