This is the revision of my previous review for Founders Veterinary Clinic. I have been bringing my pets here since 2005, and although some aspects in the past were not ideal for me, switching vets was never an option. Dr. Zempo has consistently provided excellent care for my dogs, and I appreciate her dedication. Her conservative approach to treatment is reassuring, as I never have to worry about my pets being overmedicated. Although, I feel she could be overly cautious at times. She has performed all of my dogs' surgeries except twice, requiring a referral to an Orthopedic and Uro specialist. I completely trust Dr. Zempo when it comes to surgical intervention. I also want to commend Sandra, who always answers my questions, which I find very helpful. She is also the only one who could cut one of my dog's nails. Although same-day appointments can occasionally be quite challenging, which is understandable given their other scheduled clients, Sandra and Emily have tried their best to accommodate me in some urgent matters. I truly value the care they provide and feel confident in their expertise. Overall, my experience at Founders Veterinary Clinic has been positive, and I am grateful for their dedication and compassion toward my pets. That said, I assure you that their service is highly recommended! read more

Founders Veterinary Clinic - Veterinarians Near Me - Brea, California

It was time for an annual visit for my two year old dog. The Wellness package is $299 and includes Rabies, Distemper, Bordetella and/or Parvo vaccines, blood test, and stool test. My dog was current on her vaccines so she didn't need any of the vaccines. I paid extra for her heart worm test. I have to say Dr Zempo cares so much about the animal that she takes her time carefully examining the animal. Then she spends time with you answering any questions about food and nutrition, daily care, and anything else you have questions about. Unlike other Vets, they are always in a hurry. My dog was very comfortable with Dr Zempo. She loves her Vet!!! They took her picture and put it in s refrigerator magnet with a reminder for me for her next appointment. So cute! Greatly appreciated! read more

Very unprofessional. She lets her personal opinions dictate her practice and made unfounded claims on my dogs records.

Dr Zempo and her staff are really great! I have never truly found a veterinary practice that I trusted. Throughout the years, I've taken all my furkids to several various Vets just because each one has different specialties that I prefer over others. But since coming to Founder's, I can finally say that I've found a place that I'm truly comfortable with and trust. I have 2 cats and 2 dogs and so far have taken 3 of them here. All 3 have gotten their wellness exams and my 2 dogs have gotten their non-anesthesia dental here as well. Dr Zempo and her staff have been really great with my 2 dogs and cat. I appreciate Dr Zempo understanding my concerns and not immediately push treatments, medicines, or unnecessary vaccines. She's really knowledgeable and accurately assesses blood work, not just based on numbers alone but also takes their individual history into account. The office is really clean and during this pandemic, they have followed all protocols closely. Anyway, I can't say enough great things about Founder's. I just wished I had considered them a long time ago. read more

Took my pup here for the first time upon bringing him home. I was looking for a veterinarian close to my home, and Founders was the closest, so I contacted them for an appointment. First impression was that, for a veterinary clinic, the front desk staff appeared to be very cold and unfriendly. To them, I would say: a smile can go a long way...I recommend it! Dr. Zenpo was knowledgeable and provided recommendations; however, she too, like the front desk staff, gave an authoritarian vibe making me feel as if I needed to be a drill sergeant with my new pup. Overall, the few visits I had with them got the job done, but I was never fully satisfied with their service. I ended up finding another local veterinary clinic (not naming names), and the services my pup received here were like night and day compared to the services at Founders. So if you are looking for a vet for the sake of having one, consider Founders. If you are considering a vet that treats your pets and you like family, look elsewhere. read more

Great vet office. The doctor was great with Luna. Answered all my questions. Their front office followed up the next day to see how Luna was doing. read more

Staff is super friendly and, most importantly, caring. Our pup got neutered and the vet was patient answering all our questions and concerns. After surgery went great, thanks Founders. read more

Founders Veterinary Clinic - Veterinarians Near Me - Brea, California

Dr Zempo's office is the best. We have been coming for 13 years to have our cat treated annually. We loved it when the grooming was done for cats along with Founders Veterinary Clinic. We make sure that we brush our cats teeth so that she has a good report when the dentistry service comes to her office. Her staff are the greatest. When we go on trips or when I want to show appreciation, I surprise the team with some goodies. They never miss a beat and they all sign a card to thank us for our generosity each time. Yes, there may be some bad reviews but in the 13 years, we have never had a complain. In fact, they go beyond by submitting our expenses to our pet insurance. They could easily say here is the itemized information, go and send to your insurance. They don't, they take initiative to go an extra mile. read more

I am upgrading my previous post because I realize that the groomer - as I see it - is a separate entity. If you read my previous review I went on about not taking my dog to the groomer. It had nothing to do with the vets or the front desk. Thank you. read more

Founders Veterinary Clinic - This is the lip that was cut. I wiped it off but it kept bleeding a while. - Veterinarians Near Me - Brea, California

Dr Zempo and team are always so helpful. They show kindness when caring for our animals and explain all procedures clearly. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. read more

READ BEFORE COMING HERE**** We found a kitten and brought it here back in beginning of December 2022 to see if it was microchipped which he was not so we went ahead and had them run tests to make sure he was healthy and they said everything was good so we scheduled to have a rabies shot and get him neutered for a couple weeks later. Brought him in morning for surgery and I get a call maybe 2-3 hours later that something happened and the kitten DIED under anesthesia and they weren't sure what happened besides he MIGHT of had and underlying condition but they weren't too sure but "we are so sorry" and they wanted to know what I wanted to do about his remains... all in the same phone call with out even giving me a moment to process or think about what just happened. I was 8 almost 9 months pregnant when I found this kitten and explained to them when I brought him in that I wanted to give him a good home and make sure he was healthy and had enough time to take care of him after his surgery before I went in labor. Being someone who is extremely loving and passion towards animals this caused me a tremendous amount of stress and I actually wound up having high blood pressure I'm guessing caused by this. I asked them if they were still going to charge me for the neuter and they said no and we will even go ahead and do a autopsy because we want to find out what happen. They call me only a few hours later... (which is suspicious on how quick they were able to run an autopsy and report back to me) and said he had thickening around his heart and blood in his abdomen. Which makes absolutely no sense because I brought him in and they listened to his heart and lungs and got a good look at his body and said he was HEALTHY. Things like that don't just develop that quick. Also they recommended we waited to introduce him to our other cat and we did and two days after the kitten died my other cat started vomiting and seemed very Ill and I called them and told them his symptoms and they said to bring him in but I only had one travel crate and they still had it from when I brought the kitten in so I give them a heads up call an hour before I was going to come get it and they say they need to clean and disinfect it so my cat doesn't get exposed to the kittens germs.... ?? So I get there and they hand me a LOANER crate saying they still haven't had a chance to clean mine but go get my cat and bring him back in this one. I got in my car and instantly realized something is seriously weird is going on here at this place and i don't trust them and I chose to never come back. I decided to try to ride it out with my other cat and he wound up being fine almost a week later because I was so traumatized and scared to take him into another vet and they wind up killing him too. BUT they did tell me they will give me his ashes for free if I wanted them and wind up calling me a month later and leaving a voice mail telling me they were ready. Very heart breaking that they clearly don't know what they are doing enough to the point that they completely missed something that should of been so obvious to find. I feel really bad having to post this review because the vet and staff was relatively nice but I feel that others should be warned that some sort of negligence or something is going on here. read more

We have been coming to a Founders for over a year now and we have nothing but great experiences! My older dog is a rescue and has never been fond of anyone touching his paws but when he got injured and ruptured his paw they were able to clean, laser and wrap his paw all without anesthesia! Which saved me money! We've always been treated kindly by staff and will continue to put our trust in this office. read more

I appreciate the staff and the vet's input, support and professional advice. However, both staff and Dr. Zempo were really cold and I always left feeling like a scolded kid. There is a way in delivering information and a friendly demeanor would most definitely boost morale and bring in more clients. Dr and staff always had a flat affect and seem to give attitude. Ended up taking my pups to a more friendlier and more helpful clinic. read more

From where I hail, Santa Cruz, California, I have become accustomed to a very high standard of veterinary care for my cats. Here in Southern California, I have been unable to duplicate this standard until I discovered Founders Veterinary Clinic. Dr. Zempo is compassionate and knowledgeable, but better still, quietly brilliant in assessing the medical needs of her patients. It has been my experience that she is more thoughtful, and therefore more efficacious and knowledgeable than specialty vets to whom I have taken with my beloved cat recently afflicted with an acute medical issue. The staff is also top notch, professional, efficient and kind. I unreservedly recommend this veterinary practice. read more

Dr. Zempo is the best vet in our books! We live in Chino Hills & we prefer to drive down the canyon to bring our 3 furbabies to her because of her genuine care. read more

For as long as I have pets I will only ever take them to this clinic and to these vets. My Labrador was a bit unusual as he was very aggressive when it came to doctors. But the staff here always knew how to handle him and respected his boundaries for the past 11 years. They were always honest with us and when we found the giant mass in his body, we knew we didn't want to see him suffering. I want to thank the staff and the doctor for being so kind to my Link and for being so compassionate with us when we put him down. They created a very warm and comfortable setting for my old boy. And I will always appreciate how they comforted my brothers and I after Link had passed. You have made us your loyal customers forever read more

Founders Veterinary Clinic - My 11 year old lab - Veterinarians Near Me - Brea, California

I honestly can't say enough good things about Dr. Zempo and her staff. My big guy has been working through a nasty antibiotic resistant ear infection for months now and Dr. Zempo and her staff have taken such great care of him. We still aren't out of the woods, but I appreciate the personal care and attention they've all provided him (and me)! We have had several visits and I have had to call them many times to ask questions about his care and they are always kind, quick, and efficient. Money has been a huge concern/worry for me throughout all of this and she has been very mindful of my situation when talking about treatment, etc. Thank you, Founders! read more

They are the best! So great to the animals and not straight to meds they like to try other methods first!we just love them!

I was so excited to learn about Founders. I feed my cats a raw food diet and most veterinarians are not educated in this practice. Most visits to the vet end with a lecture about bacteria which is especially annoying from a professionals who should have a better understanding of the feline digestion system. Anyway, I called to make an appointment for my kitten Gex. I was really worried about my her and the receptionist helped me feel better. I didn't want to rush her to the vet but I also didn't want to be careless and put her health in jeopardy by waiting. She didn't give me any medical advice over the phone but she helped me assess the situation by discussing her behavior (eating, playing, restroom, etc) and the progression of the illness. She also recommended a emergency vet to use in case the situation got worse before the appointment. The actual visit was just as wonderful. I was slightly disappointed the we had to wait for 15 minutes but I can understand that they could behind schedule. When we finally got in the exam room, I was pleased that the nurse didn't get start man-handling my cat, she asked me to bring Gex out if the cage and then conducted the general stuff like weight & temperature while I held Gex. This was an amazing experience... my cats are usually traumatized after a trip to the vet. They are not used to being grabbing and squeezed by anyone, let alone a stranger who smells like a bunch of other animals. I was so grateful with the respectful approach from the nurse and veterinarian. The visit cost $79 and but it was worth it. They prescribed minimal treatments and Gex and called a week later to see how she was doing! At that point I made a wellness appointment for my other cat, who hasn't had a check up in years! read more

Founders Veterinary Clinic - Gex (before: swollen red gooey eyes) - Veterinarians Near Me - Brea, California

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My dog received dental services from this vet a few months ago. My dog has had liver issues and has been unable to go under anesthesia for her annual dental cleaning. There are not many vets that offer non anesthetic dental cleaning and I was desperate to find a place because her teeth were in bad shape. I found this place and we got off to a rocky start because they couldnt do her teeth on first visit and they suggested a mild anesthesia, which I really wanted to avoid. I asked them to try again with the sedatives and they were able to do the job. The results really blew me away! I was expecting a little improvement, but I will let the photo speak for itself and give them the kudos they deserve. I have maintenance scheduled for her and I would highly recommend if you want or need to avoid anesthesia for your pet! read more

Founders Veterinary Clinic - Before and after...dont judge! - Veterinarians Near Me - Brea, California

We adopted my dog and stayed with the vet his rescue group used. They were nice but never remembered us so I decided to go back to Dr Zempo where I used to bring my old dog in. We are happy to be under her care and the staff is always wonderful. read more

I take all of my pets here and have for years. Dr. Zempo is absolutely amazing and the best vet I've ever had. She explains things very well and I always feel like we make decisions together that are well informed, reasoned, etc. I've had two elderly pets with chronic diseases that they helped manage very effectively, maintaining quality of life as long as possible. The staff are incredibly friendly, accommodating and efficient. I wouldn't take my pets anywhere else and I've recommended them over and over again to my friends. read more

I love Founders ! They don't make me feel pressured, and they are so good with my dogs .

Dr Zempo is one of the kindest and most caring people I've ever met, as well as being a skilled doctor. We have taken our pets to Founder's for 20 years and always feel so well cared for. All the staff are very helpful and attentive. I never feel pressured to do or buy anything, but that a wide range of products and services are available to me. I have had to say goodbye to several pets over the years and always feel very supported and cared for along with my beloved pets. read more

This is a wonderful place! I had to put down my 17 year old, beloved cat today and the staff and veterinarian were so very kind and compassionate on this awful day. Sometimes you just get great vibes about a place... read more

Deceptive and greedy... I brought my dog in for an opinion on teeth cleaning and she had some rotten teeth that needed to be extracted. She is a senior dog and apparently needed a blood test in order to get her teeth cleaned because of the anesthesia. I was under the impression that the blood test, teeth cleaning, and the rabies shot she needed would be included in this senior package for $279. They took her back to do the blood test to check if she could do the teeth cleaning and then came back out with an estimate for the teeth cleaning and tooth extraction. They said the $279 only cover the blood test and vaccination which is an absurd price. Then the estimate for cleaning and extraction came back as an estimate between $1000-$2000. I'm better off taking her to a real dentist At these prices. It's sad this vet preys on people in need to help their animals. Absolute greed! The opposite of compassion!! read more

2.5 stars. Well, my experiences there have been a little different from everyone else's. I had my puppy spayed here and they did a great job with her - they even did the procedure a little early due to the fact that she was more mature than puppies usually are at her age. So, that was great. But I didn't appreciate the attitude from the older woman at the front desk - my very excitable 5 month old lab PUPPY pulled on the leash to go back to the exam area and this woman looked down her nose at me and said, in a very condescending tone, "Well, it looks like SOMEONE hasn't been trained very well!" Seriously? She is a freakin' puppy! And she is at the vet! I brought her back one more time a few months later because she was limping. She had no visible injury and we thought that maybe she pulled a muscle playing too hard. I don't know which vet we saw, but she tried to get us to do all kinds of expensive x-rays even though she admitted that she couldn't find anything wrong when she physically examined her and that it was very possible that she just had a sore muscle. We declined the x-rays, didn't let her play for a few days and then she was completely fine. The vet should have recommended THAT first and then told us to come back if that didn't work. I don't like it when they jump right to whatever is the most expensive (and unnecessary). We won't go back there. read more

I used to be a loyal customer here... I loved it when they had Doggie daycare.... I originally picked Dr. Terafaij because of that and her love of the bullies... I have two pitties and love them sooooo much... unfortunately over the last year I have felt the need to look elsewhere to have someone care for my 2 pups as well as my 2 cats.... There has been a definate decline in customer service over the phone as well as in person from the older woman at the front desk... for some reason she always looked down her nose at me. I did love the way Dr. Terafaij handled my girls, unfortunately it started getting harder and harder to schedule with her, and Dr. Zempo seemed fearful of my big girls and didn't handle them as well...... So... although I did love the place... the recent changes lead me to say that unfortunatly I will not be returning here.... nor will I recommend this practice to my friends..... read more

In my last review, dated 10/20/15, I gave Founders two stars solely due to the front desk receptionist..., this rating wasn't a true representation of the good work they do. (By the way, that receptionist has since retired, and she is a nice lady maybe we both had an off day). Shortly after 'taking my business somewhere else' I returned to Founders because whatever problem I had with the receptionist wasn't important..., quality care of my companion animals is what I truly care about. Without reservation, I trust Dr. Zempo, Renee and the rest of the staff at Founders. I'm happy to say that we are loyal clients and totally satisfied with the care we receive. read more

This place is awesome! Can't add too much to what has already been said. I took my cat here last Friday morning because she wasn't feeling well and not eating or drinking much. Dr. Terifaj, along with 2 other nurses(?) spent at least 30 minutes looking at her and made some excellent recommendations. I followed their advice and by the afternoon my cat was a completely different cat. Jumping around and playing like her sister. Begging for food and eating more than she has all week in one sitting! The place is very clean and everyone is friendly. And like everyone has said, the employees love every animal that walks through the door. read more

We have been using Founders for many years since we have had three dogs over that time. I had always enjoyed the doctors, and the services received until recently. My dog has cancer and needed a blood test to be done, and results faxed to the cancer vet that day. He had been given a new chemotherapy and the cancer vet said it was extremely important to check the blood levels the next day. I asked about this and was told "no problem". When I went in I repeated what needed to be done and mentioned that since this was Saturday the cancer vet was at a different office. I provided them with the card and explained to the front desk, and the vet tech, that I needed the results today. I, again, showed them the cancer vets Saturday fax number and explained again, that she was not at her normal office today. I was always told no problem. I knew that the cancer vet was in the office until 2:00pm so called her at 12:00 to see if she received the results, nothing. OK I thought, we were in there at 10:00 and Founders is always busy so no problem, I had made myself clear. I called the cancer vet again at 1:30 and, again, nothing. I called Founders and was told the blood test was sent out and the results would be back Monday - WTF?? I was very angry and was told "Oh, we don't have the facilities to do that in-house, we always send that out". When I asked why I was told that they would be sent out the same day, I received a "I don't know". I sent a letter explaining how this could have been extremely dangerous for my dog (he was fine that weekend) and never even received a letter back. Now I know that facilities vary, but if I was told that they couldn't do the test the same day, I would have found another that did, and not thought badly about it. I give 1 star for past performance, but I will never go back and trust my dog to them again. read more

I take all of my animals to Founders (two dogs and one cat). I really like both Dr. Terifaj and Dr. Zempo. The office staff are great! I get my dogs groomed there also. I prefer Inez over Brenda in the grooming dept. Founders Vet is pricey but worth it if you can afford it. read more

I recently took my dog to this Veterinary Clinic for grooming. When I arrived in the afternoon to pick him up I was surprised to see an Elizabethan collar on him and his foot taped with gauze. He limped to the door and barked when I approached. I was never contacted by the Clinic that he was injured. The Doctor said he needed medical attention because I brought him in bleeding. I told her my dog was not injured before I left him for grooming and that my dog slept on a light colored blanket, walk on my beige carpet and walked into the clinic without a limp and no blood. The story quickly changed to he caught his claw in the cage they placed him in which caused bleeding. They wrapped his paw and charged me $249 to treat the wound they caused and asked that I bring him back two days later and they would change the bandage and assess the wound. Two days later the Doctor changed the dressing, charged me another $26 and said I would need to bring him back in 3 days and they would sedate him and remove the claw. She said she would only charge us half her normal fee and gave us an estimated cost of an additional $350 to $380. Two days later we contacted another Animal Clinic because the dog was in obvious pain and discomfort. They removed the torn claw, immediately cauterize the wound, gave him a tetanus shot and gave us antibiotics for less than half what Founder's fees. Within 25 minutes we left with our dog no longer in pain and not limping. I will never take a pet to Founders Veterinary Clinic again. I was extremely disappointed that the Clinic did not take ownership for the injury that was sustained while they kept my dog for grooming and was surprised that their negligence not only caused my dog to be in pain for several days, but cost me $279 plus they wanted another $350 to $380 to complete the procedures that should have been done days before. read more

I brought my dog here for a 3rd opinion (!!!) when she was acting very strange at home (very restless, following me around, sleeping in the bathroom). 2 other vets checked her out and did not find anything wrong and I left feeling worried and not convinced there was nothing wrong. Dr. Terafij was so good with our dog!!! Our dog is pretty nervous with new people and Dr. Terafij got down on the floor to examine her, since she was too nervous to go up on the exam table. She examined her a little but mostly talked to us about our dog's history. It was so nice to just talk to a doctor about her history, personality, and behavior problems, not just have a doctor tell us, "She is not experiencing any pain. I can't find anything physically wrong, sorry. Call us later." Dr. Terafij told us our dog was going back to her old anxiety problems and needed more exercise, home-cooked protein and to try a grain-free diet. No drugs! We just paid for the cost of the visit and nothing else! $65! Our cheapest vet visit yet! She also told us how most vets over-vaccinate their patients. Founders Vet can do a test to see if your old vaccines are still good, so you don't have to revaccinate every year, saving you money and saving your pet from over-vaccination. We will definitely go back and I've recommended Founders to many of my friends! Plus, they are open on Saturdays :) read more

This place, although pricey, definitely feels like it's worth the money. The facility is clean and the staff is very friendly. I have taken my accident prone Lhasa Apso mix, Freddy, here a couple of times. The first was when he had a Foxtail lodged in his paw - they were able to squeeze him in depsite their busy schedule with Dr. Zempo. Dr. Zempo called me after the removal to let me know how it went - as a nervous wreck dog mother, this made me very very happy! Second time was when my dog got into some dark chocolate. I spoke with Marilou over the phone, who was very compassionate and was able to get me in with Dr. Zempo ASAP. Even with my poor dog throwing up chocolate and peeing everywhere, the staff and doctor were compassionate. They referred me to the Emergency clinic in Tustin as he needed overnight treatment, where I also experienced the same kind of passionate treatment. There's cheaper places out there, some of which are probably just as trust worthy, but sometimes knowing you can trust the quality of care your pet is receiving is worth spending extra. read more

So far I have had a good experience with vet techs and Dr. Zempo. I also really like the groomer Inez, she is very knowledgeable. HOWEVER, the older woman at the front desk is extremely rude and unfriendly both in person and over the phone. I haven't had any real medical needs since my dog is just a puppy so I can not speak to pricing for those types of visits. But the pricing for spay and neutering is ridiculous. $700 for a spay and micro chipping is outrageous considering many clinic do low cost for under $200. For these reasons I can not give them more than 2 stars. read more

Founders was my #1 choice for 15+ years. They changed owners and are not the same. The only shred of credibility is Mary Lou at the helm, stern but capable. After a days stay for observation my pet was presented to me stuffed in a small pet carrier (not mine) freaked out and in worse shape than when he arrived. He also picked up fleas on this visit. They were unable to assess the current status of his condition (diabetes). All that for a hefty fee. The afternoon shift barely speaks English, the doctor was way more concerned with her child who was running around the vet area. Seriously what a mess. Also they were more concerned that my pet eat their MD prescribed food, that is very expensive, and not that worried that he refused to eat it and I was throwing most of it I the trash. Plus I needed a separate kind of food for my other cat. This food must be a fabulous profit center. Their unmanageable wasteful food changes made us all miserable. Except maybe the profits on the food sales. My pets were assessed by a new vet; in just one friggin visit all was settled and everybody is happy. I am thankful for the restored health, harmony and peace in my home. Please save yourself & your pets the drama and possible harm. read more

If you need a vet in the area, Founders is a great place. Dr. Terafij s a wonderful doctor and we have recommended her to many friends and family (she was recommended to us too). Be aware that her bedside manner is more suited to pets rather than their owners. She says it how it is, and it isn't always delivered in a delicate way. None the less, she is efficient, loves animals, and we always leave feeling like we have picked the perfect vet for our dog. She does strongly encourage and advocate the raw food diet and they will try to sell you on all kinds of medical plans, food, product etc....it's worth the sales pitches to have great care for your pets. read more

Brought my shetland sheepdog puppy in for grooming and a few days later we noticed he was INFESTED with fleas. He never had any contact with any other dogs prior to this visit. I went in to get flea medicine and told them the cause of his infestation was the grooming visit. I was quickly told there was nothing over the counter they could recommend and that I had to bring my dog in for a vet visit the following week in order to get prescription flea medicine. Meanwhile, my puppy is scratching and chewing at his skin to the point of bleeding. Needless to say, my puppy has a new groomer and vet. read more

Front desk very rude and inexperienced. Used to be a vet tech for years and no person deserves the "run around" we received here when trying to get a simple answer that every other vet could give us. read more