Southern Haven Vet Clinic — Local services in Lufkin

Her license is under Probated Suspension until November 2026.

Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners complaint No. 21-415.

A follow up to the Owner's reply:

I don't recall using any curse words during my phone conversations, but I admit that my crusty old Navy Chief side can surface at times, so it wouldn't be unheard of. However, at the end of the day, they are just words. When I spoke with Catherine, I was firm in expressing my disappointment that Dr. Parker cancelled and rescheduled our 2:00 pm appointment for the next day, rather than pushing it later the same day. When I called back as requested, Kourtney immediately took a hostile position and was not courteous or compassionate in any way. It's important for customer service representatives to handle distraught clients with care and empathy. A little bedside manner goes a long way.

Regarding Dr. Parker's license suspension, it's not hard to believe that your friend may not have been completely honest with you about the situation. However, it's important to note that one cannot shift or delegate the management of controlled substances. The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners found enough evidence to issue a punitive action against her. Whether or not she chose to fight the allegations is irrelevant. It's simply the reality of the situation.

Their response lacked any kindness or consideration. If they had been willing to find a mutually agreeable solution, we wouldn't be having this conversation. It was their unwillingness to work with us that led to us discovering Dr. Parker's disciplinary action.

This situation is a clear illustration of the law of unintended consequence. They created this problem, and now they have to deal with the fallout.

I would like to express my extreme disappointment with the services provided by this clinic.

As a family, we made the difficult decision to say goodbye to our beloved Pyrenees, who was in the early stages of dementia. We wanted to make sure he was comfortable and surrounded by his loved ones during his final moments. The clinic agreed to perform the house call and prescribed a light sedative to ensure our dog wasn't nervous or scared. I went into the office the day before the appointment to pay, sign forms, and pick up the prescription.

We kept our kids home from school and took off work to prepare for the scheduled appointment, which was supposed to take place between 1:30 and 2:30 PM. However, 30 minutes before the appointment and 45 minutes after we gave our dog the medication prescribed, we received a text message saying that they had fallen behind and they would need to reschedule for the following day, they were sorry for the inconvenience. The office is less than a mile from our home. No offer to push the appointment later, she couldn’t be bothered to give us the 30 minutes she committed to, and took payment for.

This was a devastating experience for my family, as we had mentally prepared ourselves for our dog's final moments. The lack of professionalism and disregard for our situation is unacceptable. I cannot recommend Southern Haven Vet Clinic based on this experience.

Furthermore, I discovered (sadly, after the fact) her license is under probated suspension. Here are several concerning findings of fact from a complaint to her licensure board related to services provided by Emily Parker D.V.M of Lufkin Texas, who holds Texas veterinary license #12594. These findings include

The provision of prescriptions for staff under the names of their pets, Allowing a non-licensed person to perform surgeries on animals, Allowing non-licensed employees to perform examinations, administer rabies vaccines and induce anesthesia without appropriate supervision at the clinic, Significant variances in the controlled substances inventory, Controlled substance storage that did not meet the standard required by state and federal law, Patient records that did not include exam notes or medical reasons for...

This is a former customer. If you will not approve my dogs medicine for Cushings Disease you will refund me $55.50 for her last appointment. That appointment was intended to continue her Trilostane medication approvals which YOU approved. You can’t just not approve my dogs meds for a disease your vet diagnosed because you don’t like my attitude, which is because of the incompetent staff at Southern Haven. I expect a refund for $55.50 and I hope you enjoy the fact that my dog will now suffer because you have hurt feelings.

I also find it ironic that you changed online pharmacies

Dr.Emily’s staff is incompetent. I can’t tell you how many times I have called during business hours only to get an answering machine. When I order medicine that was prescribed by Dr Emily the staff has only approved partial orders and when that happens I lose my discount for bundling. Now, since I have complained, they have blocked my number and won’t approve medicine for my dog’s Cushing’s Disease. Even worse they never told me. So when I went to purchase meds they declined it because they didn’t like my attitude. My attitude is all about the clinic screwing up my orders for meds or not being able to fill them for a condition that Vet diagnosed. It just sucks. I spent a lot of money in that place. But I guess me expecting good customer service and not getting it makes them not give a damn about your loved pet anymore. So now my dog will die a slow death from Cushing’s Disease because Dr Emily Parker’s staff doesn’t like that I am unhappy with their customer service. I will never go back there ever again.

I also witnessed a staff member dragging a dog across the floor with a lead by the neck to get it into the room where they board the large dogs. I’m not just saying that because I’m upset I actually witnessed it. So think twice about this...

Does this look like how a dogs ear should look after having a hematoma repaired on her ear? The fact my dog was suffering 2 weeks with the plate cutting her ear is ridiculous, I took her straight to another vet and the vet his self even full of animals came looked and pretty much instantly took her to take care of it, have used this vet since she was a puppy and is now close to 10 but I guess it’s all about the money now she never came in room discussed exactly what was going on only a vague description of the horrible bs that they did to my dogs ear, not only that but she is jumpy and acts like your going to hit her now and she never has done that until now, but after going straight to another vet and them personally coming out and making it a priority because her ear was barely on there cut is deep and before we even got to other vet it was spread wide open and dug obviously in pain, I have had 2 other dogs in the past with similar issue and doc Salas years ago fixed it right up dogs never hurt or suffered wish he still ran his, I hate to make bad reviews I would rather praise businesses but when you let a dog leave like this and another vet has to fix the problem after we just paid a high amount it’s not acceptable, along with the fact the vet never came and talked to us just the young girl, if you want your dog taken care of and not abused or hurt like this use another vet she went from a happy playful dog to won’t barely eat only wants to lay in bed and ear is mutilated and looks horrible, you can try to explain it in a reply but there is no real reason for it along with my dog acts like...