I do not recommend this place…read more
We went to Angels of Assisi because it was advertised online as a low cost, walk in style clinic for vaccinations and preventative care on Saturdays. All we needed was flea and tick prevention for my dog. What should have been a simple visit turned into nearly a 2 hour ordeal for something that ultimately took only a few minutes.
The experience started off awkwardly from the moment we arrived. An employee walked up to the passenger side of our vehicle and just stood there without waving, introducing herself, or making it clear she was trying to get our attention. We were handed paperwork and informed that even though we were only there for flea and tick medication, an exam was required first. That requirement, along with the additional $30 exam fee, was never clearly disclosed online and came as a surprise.
The biggest issue, however, was how they handled my Psychiatric Service Animal.
I am a Retired U.S. Marine Veteran with both Combat and Humanitarian service, and my dog is not a pet. He is my Psychiatric Service Animal for PTSD. He is with me constantly because he performs an important role in my daily life. I explained this to staff and made it clear that I wanted to accompany him during his examination after waiting almost 2 hours to be seen.
I was told no.
When I asked why, I was told it was "policy." When I asked for a specific reason, nobody could provide one. I was referred to the manager sitting behind the front desk. I calmly explained that my dog is a Psychiatric Service Animal and asked why I was not allowed to accompany him during the examination. Her response was simply, "That's how we operate here."
I then asked to see the written policy that supposedly prevented me from accompanying my own Service Animal.
I was told there wasn't one.
Instead, I was again told, "That's just how we operate."
That answer was completely unacceptable. If you're going to separate a Disabled Veteran from his Psychiatric Service Animal, there should at least be a legitimate explanation and a written policy to support it! There was neither.
What made it worse was the complete lack of compassion. When I explained that I am a Combat Veteran and that being separated from my Service Dog causes significant stress and frustration, the response was essentially, "I understand," followed by more indifference. There was no effort to address the concern, no attempt to accommodate the situation, no apology for the inconvenience, and no recognition whatsoever of why the issue mattered. I was not even given a simple "Thank you for your Service" by anyone during the entire visit.
In all my years of owning dogs and taking them to veterinarians, I have never once been told that I could not accompany my dog during an examination, especially when that dog is a Psychiatric Service Animal and the staff have been informed of that fact. It felt less like a veterinary clinic and more like dealing with a bureaucracy where nonexistent policies matter more than people.
Since I was already being required to pay for a $30 wellness exam, I also wanted the veterinarian to take a look at a few moles and a small fatty lump that have appeared as my dog has gotten older. Other veterinarians have previously examined these areas, but I wanted a second opinion to make the most of the exam I was being charged for. Instead of discussing those concerns directly with the veterinarian while I was present with my dog, I was expected to get down and point everything out in the waiting area before he was taken away. As a Disabled Veteran with mobility limitations, having to do that on the floor in front of other clients felt both awkward and unnecessary. A private conversation with the veterinarian while remaining with my dog would have been far more professional and respectful.
To be fair, the technician who handled my dog was polite, respectful, and professional. Unfortunately, that professionalism did not extend to management.
After the exam, I even apologized for being frustrated because I was trying to remain respectful throughout the entire interaction. I never raised my voice, used profanity, or became disrespectful. Despite that, the response never changed. The attitude remained, "This is how we do things."
By the end of the visit, we spent $180 for an exam and six months of flea and tick medication after waiting nearly two hours. For a clinic that advertises affordability, convenience, and community service, the entire experience felt disorganized, impersonal, and unnecessarily stressful.
If you are a Military Veteran, have a Service Animal, value transparency, or simply expect compassion from the people caring for your pet, I would strongly recommend looking elsewhere. My dog deserved better, and frankly, so did I.
SEMPER FIDELIS
