Your experience begins when you walk through the doors and meet the people at the front desk!!! A smile and warm greeting as you're checked in! For me being in the exam room with my cat/cats and I have always been treated with kindness, respect and compassion! My most recent experience was with Dr. Sawyer and an incredible vet tech! A sad and emotional time as I had to say goodbye to one of my animals! Having that process being explained beforehand made a big difference! Some alone time afterwards was soothing! I have pets that have been here for routine exams as well and I honestly wouldn't go anywhere else! I give five stars and five hearts! . read more

Very attentive and kind. I tend to judge an establishment by the attitude of the person who answers the phone when I call the first time. They even had coffee and candy (went in October). They were gentle with my 9-yr old cat Finley and asked probing questions. I didn't feel like I was being rushed through the appt, which is usually the case these days. read more

PawSteps Veterinary Center - Finley's "I hate going to the vet" circa 2022 - Veterinarians Near Me - Whitinsville, Massachusetts

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Our experience with our dog - who underwent surgery at PawSteps - was extremely positive. Everyone was kind, caring, thorough, communicative and knowledgeable. We would highly recommend them! read more

I've been here a few times now after moving to Whitinsville last year, and I am so impressed with them both medically and personally! They handled my cat's unexpected euthanasia with such compassion. Even though I am a relatively new client, I really felt like they cared a lot about him and me. Dr. Altobelli is extremely thorough and really takes the time to explain everything very clearly. Every member of staff I've met has been warm and welcoming and loving to my pets. Veterinary care is expensive. Everywhere. That's not something this office can or even should fix. The doctors and staff work hard, and they deserve to be compensated for their work and make enough money that they can continue to be there for us year after year. However, even on routine exams, they give you estimates every step of the way, so you'll never risk being hit with sticker shock when you check out. This is incredibly helpful, and above and beyond what I've seen at other practices in the past, where they usually save estimates for big medical procedures/surgeries or hospitalizations. So glad I found this place, and looking forward to coming back for years to come! read more

I have left a review in the past for this place. Back then they were kind, considerate and wonderful. This was 6 years ago......that Pawsteps experience is long gone. Somehow, they lost the kindness for their clients. I was asking to return as a client and was told that "due to my pets records and their 'zero tolerance, I will not be welcome as a client." The Zero tolerance they are talking about occurred at a different vets office, when that vet treated my dog badly and my husband and I told them that we were mad about her treatment and told them we would be switching vets. They did a horrible job with her and we were rightfully pissed! So, because we advocated for our dog and the other vet was peeved about it, Pawsteps invoked the "zero tolerance" on us because we spoke up about our dog's treatment at a different vet. They were a good vet before, but not any more!!! I hope they can get some of their compassion back! read more

This one-star review is based on a single appointment which occurred November 4, 2022. In fairness to this business, among over two-dozen appointments that took place between 2003 - 2016, each and every visit would have received 5-stars. read more

Excellent veterinarian hospital great care was given by the staff and Dr Anna Altobelli my dog Lily loved the attention!!!

When we rescued our dog we checked around and decided on PawSteps and have been delighted with the care that we have received. Our lab Weimaraner mix was diagnosed with heartworm within a year of his move north. Who knows how he got it as he tested negative when he left Mississippi and he also tested negative on his first visit?! He had even taken all of his medication! The doctors at PawSteps did all the paperwork necessary to file with the heartworm preventative company to get reimbursed for not only the cost of the medicine he had been on but also for a huge chunk of his treatment cost. In the nearly six month process, our dog had to lose weight (hard to do if you are not supposed to exercise due to potential damage of your heart) so the Vet would be able to use less of the drug that kills heartworm. The entire staff helped give me ideas to enable my pup to have some mental stimulus and also to work for every piece of kibble he got because there was so little of it! The trainer that they had recommended to me was also part of this; she sent me many websites that I could look at to come up with games to keep the dog happy enough that he wouldn't want to run and jump. We went to PawSteps every Friday to get him weighed and also to make the Vets a friendly place for him because we didn't want him to leave him with a negative association. Every week the staff would make him feel welcome; he would be given extra love and plenty of low calorie treats. They were excited to see him and made us feel better about this necessary seclusion of our pup. We recently received the news that our puppy is heartworm free! And yes, we still go to the vets on Fridays because he loves them... but now it's only every other week... don't want to be a pest! I highly recommend this practice and in particular Dr. Barr. read more

I adopted a dog from Alabama in Feb 2021. He was found on the streets, full of fleas, low weight and with a spinal injury. His back paws would knuckle under while walking and they were all tore up and infected. He has anxiety and abandonment issues, and has become more aggressive recently when anyone tries to leave to the house, or if strangers are near the house or come into the house. Long story short, he was seeing Blackstone Valley VCA Hospital in Uxbridge, I left 2 messages and the vet never got back to me. I had a few recommendations for Pawsteps. I made an appointment and they cancelled that day, this was a Monday. That day they emailed a 5 page questionare regarding his behaviors. I dropped it off that day. The following Friday they emailed me and told me I should go back to the previous vet. I had told before I wanted to switch vets because the other vet couldn't be bothered to get back to me. I thought they could at least give me suggestions or recommendations (not just to go back to the vet that couldn't be bothered to call me back) on what to do next. If I could give zero stars I would. read more

I absolutely adore Dr Barr and Dr Altobelli! They have both been very caring and compassionate to my two pups! The cost is a bit higher than other places but I find it to be worth it for the care my fur babies receive from them. I would say my biggest complaint would be how the receptionist speaks to customers. Not all of the receptionists.... Just had an issue with one or two. Other than that the doctors are amazing and same with the nurses/assistance. We are by no means rich and the doctors are always understanding and find ways to make my pet come first without draining my bank account. They are very thorough and care about you and your pet so very much! I would highly recommend! Sometimes you just have to look past the one or two receptionist that are a bit less compassionate and sensitive... it's worth it for the amazing care the doctors give! I also hear the surgeon Dr Sawyer is amazing! He will be working with my heart and soul, little Jazzy! Thank you for everything Dr Barr, Dr Altobelli and Dr Sawyer read more

PawSteps Veterinary Center - Jazzy and her Papa!!! - Veterinarians Near Me - Whitinsville, Massachusetts

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Everyone who works at PawSteps is amazing! I have a small dog who gets feisty when taken from me or when she's scared, but the workers at PawStep make her so comfortable that she's as sweet as ever. They're very helpful and understanding during this time and are handling COVID extremely well. I couldn't ask for a better group of people to take care of my baby. read more

Pawsteps is more concerned with channeling you to their online pharmacy and not providing care for the animals. Unfortunately they will no longer be receiving my business after many years. DO NOT GO HERE they care more about $ than helping animals! Staff is rude and does not listen to clients. STAY AWAY. I repeatedly asked to speak with a vet or a manger and was allowed. I have a hard time believing their response listed below since they did not want to communicate with me, I was a long time customer over 10 years and was treated very poorly. Take your business somewhere else! read more

I have been a client at PawSteps for four years. Each time we have had an appt the staff is friendly and helpful, and take their time to understand our pet. Our dog is extremely anxious and they have found the right treatment to help him. We visited last week and I can't say enough about Dr Barr and Molly. They both were so understanding and kind with the care they gave Finn. They truly do what is best for your pet. I highly recommend this practice. read more

Have been going to PawSteps since we moved to the area 4 years ago, and have never been disappointed with the quality of care for our pets, nor have I ever been treated as a "stupid pet owner" which is important to me as a breeder. Very professional, caring and friendly staff. They even went out of their way to research a procedure I asked for (Hip x-rays for dysplasia), and the results were great! As far as costs, quite honestly you get what you pay for and PawSteps is a quality vet. read more

When I first moved back to Grafton with my then puppy I was worried about transferring vets from Melrose, MA. He was abandoned and then a new vet, so I did my research before choosing PawSteps; of course you still never know. I'm so glad I chose PawSteps. Not only is it convenient but the staff is AMAZING. They always remember Charlie and what's going on with him. The facility itself is always clean and never smells like a veterinary center. Last winter Charlie had lots of problem with his stomach and Dr. Sawyer was great at trying different treatments without harming Charlie or his stomach. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone in the area with a pet that's part of the family! read more

I love Paw Steps. We have been with them for about 13 years now. We started when we moved to Northbridge years ago and had a chocolate lab Murphy. When Murphy got sick Dr Sawyer and the staff helped him with his "Senior care" ..now we live in Hopedale and we are still bringing our new pups (Nola and Neo black labs) to them for care. The staff is so wonderful and will explain everything. I can't say enough great things about Dr Sawyer and all the staff at Paw Steps! read more

Very impressed and pleased! Dr. Sawyer and his staff were very attentive and cared about answering all our questions. My dog is usually a bit shy in new places, but he sensed the warm vibes and took to them right away. 5 stars all the way! read more

Did not enjoy my experience with this vet. They performed tests and labs on my dog while i was out of the state and without my permission and proceeded to charge me for them. They then removed the charges and then refused to service my dog again, seems appropriate? Then after refusing to provide care for my dog, they sent me to collections. Avoid this vet at all cost. They will take your money even when you do not authorize work to be done. read more

Clinic is full of kind and empathetic staff and doctors. I really felt like they cared and came to work every day trying their best to help.

Be very careful; you may think this is a wonderful place; however, if you have an issue, they will tell you what to do...not ask you what you think you would like to do. If your pet is sick, and you do not want to do surgery or whatever it is they recommend, they will make you feel that you are an issue and that you need to put your animal down. I had heard that Dr. Sawyer was a great doctor, but Dr. Claunch is arrogant and demanding. She acts like it is her animal and that you did not spend years raising it. To be quite honest, I really thought I had a great vet until I needed a compassionate opinion that included me as a human being who raised the animal! read more

After taking my pets here for 11+ years (3 cats and 1 dog) I had ignored multiple red flags and warnings from others regarding this practice. I received a call from a staff member requesting to have my dog seen biannually. When I stated that this was unnecessary, this staff person stated that Dr. Sawyer required it for my dogs thyroid problem. This was news to me. After reviewing his last labs from his previous visit, there was no indication of a thyroid problem. I quietly looked for another vet, but Pawsteps saw a post on Facebook (to which I never mentioned anything about them) where I was looking for recommendations of local vets. This started some sort of very unprofessional blame game email war, where it was my fault that his employees miscommunicated diagnoses and I should have asked to speak with a supervisor. They even copied their emails into my pets medical records. My new vet (who wasn't accepting new clients at the time) took us on and stated that she couldn't believe how far this was taken. read more

PawSteps is hands down the best veterinary facility in New England. The staff is always kind and welcoming. The Veterinary nurses and assistants are all knowledgeable and are excellent at practicing a fear free experience for the patients while keeping everyone safe. All of my animals go to Pawsteps for vet care and none of my animals are easy patients, yet the care they receive is always top notch. The doctors are truly superhero's who take owner concerns seriously and always make sure to develop a treatment plan that will work for you and for your pet. I have seen each of their current doctors and have nothing but good things to say about them. Although, Dr. Claunch is truly a miracle worker and takes great care of my pup and Ferret. Dr. Sawyer has looked after my older dog since she was a young pup and has always provided excellent care for her and has given us a multitude of resources to use along the way. He also cared for my two cats, who have now since passed, and provided us with excellent care and service up until the end. I have only seen Dr.Barr a handful of times but she was equally as excellent and welcoming. Everyone at Pawsteps is also constantly learning and growing to improve their care practices and gain more knowledge, it is not uncommon for a doctor to be showing a tech a new skill or vice versa! They truly work as a team there and it shows. There is nothing more comforting in my opinion as a pet parent than to see staff taking iniatiave to learn new things and fine tune their skills in acti Pawsteps is very transparent when it comes to their pricing and are VERY reasonable. I am certainly one of those crazy animal parents and take vet care for my pets very seriously. I trust the entire Pawsteps staff completely and would never go anywhere else for vet care. read more

They are very courteous and generally concerned about your pet just be prepared to remortgage your house when you have to pay or for follow up visits. I have been going there for a couple of years. It seems with their new facility, the presidential palace and spa, their prices went up. I find myself having to find a new vet that is more concerned about the pet and not so much their wallet. When my new puppy needed to be spay they wanted over 800 and I found another vet for 350 for the same procedure. This is just one example of overcharging and I am sure there are m read more

PawSteps has been fantastic. They really get it - they take care of your pet without making it financially difficult. They also were incredibly empathetic when we had to put our dog down. I have never had a better vet (and I used to be married to one!). read more

I first met Dr. Sawyer when he worked at VCA hospital of Westboro, I adopted a cat from Worcester Animal Rescue League back in December of 2006 and I took him to the VCA place, anyways, Dr. Sawyer met Parker and was very good to him and treated him for a cold that he had, so few years ago when I heard that Dr. Sawyer opened his own place in Northbridge, I decided to take Parker back to see him. Pawsteps is a great Veterinary facility, the people there are very kind and supportive, recently I had to bring Parker for his annual exam and I met Dr. Carrol, another great addition to Pawsteps!! I wouldn't bring my animal to any other place!! Thank you Pawsteps for taking good care of my cat when he needs to be brought in. read more

I was very impressed by Pawsteps. I was new to the area and chose them because of location, but I would chose them again every time for quality of service. The staff is amazing, especially Kayla and Dr. Young, who we visited with. The rest of the staff members that I interacted with, though briefly, seemed great too. I'm always concerned with how experienced my vet is with greyhounds and some of the unique needs they have. Dr. Young confidently spoke to all of the breed specific concerns that I had. They were also very accepting of my hesitations regarding things like flea and tick preventatives, which we've had bad experiences with in the past, and did not pressure me at all to use products I was not 100% comfortable with using. That was a nice change from previous vet experiences where I was forced to adamantly defend my choices. I've never felt so good about a choice of vet and, most importantly, my greyhound Grace LOVED them and they were wonderful with her. read more

I am new to the Northbridge area. I moved here to be near family after the death of my husband. I asked around and the most common recommendation was PawSteps. I am so glad I listened. I find them professional, thorough, and friendly. My poor dog, a greyhound, needed a tremendous amount of dental work. PawSteps DR. Claunch was excellent, she kept me informed throughout the lengthy surgery and sent me home with extremely detailed instructions. I would gladly recommend PawSteps to anyone. read more

The folks at Paw Steps are wonderful caring people have nothing but your's pets best care in mind. They are quite good about discussing care options and the need for diagnostic tests and how the expenses of the test will (ow will not) affect the overall clinical plan. read more

I live in Boston, now. I first met Dr.Sawyer while he was doing his small pet fellowship at Tufts Hospital. My little guy came down with a "leaky gut"6 years ago. Angel Memorial almost treated him to death. Dr. Sawyer was Randy's original vet. When I moved back to the city, I visited 2 other Vets and it just wasn't anything like Dr. Sawyer. I returned to Dr. Sawyer with a VERY sick little boy. Well, long story short Dr. Sawyer has grabbed Randy from the brink of death 3 times! This entire practice follows the kind, caring, compassionate standard of care set & demonstrated by Dr. Sawyer. My precious little guy is now on his way to heaven. Dr. Sawyer and his staff have been so supportive and caring. It is very difficult to let Randy go. Randy likes and trusts Dr. Sawyer. We will go on our last ride in the car out to Pawsteps tomorrow morning. We are so lucky to have Dr. Sawyer & his staff!!! read more

I recommend this Veterinary Center to anyone, the staff and doctors are amazing! The office is so clean and comfortable, the staff are all friendly and very knowledgeable. Really the best care you can find for your pet! Absolutely the best in all regards! read more

They are AMAZING here. We had to put our dog down and they were so patient and kind. They even gave her a dish of ice cream. It was a sad day but their compassion, care, and patience made an awful day a little less traumatic. We bring our other dogs there as well. Great care. read more

I called Pawsteps to get the cost of a simple routine procedure for my pet. Staff was very arrogant, insisting that I come in for an office visit first, then I would be "allowed" to know the cost of the routine procedure. I guess they charge you the cost of an office visit, then you are pretty much vested in having to go there for the procedure. Reception staff have a lot to learn about customer service and how to speak to potential clients. I was very interested in coming here since it is in the town I live in and would like to give local businesses an opportunity. Big mistake. I called around and found a vet in a neighboring town that gave me no issues. Told me cost for procedure, pre-op visit and anesthesia, over the phone that day. Needless to say, that is where we went. I would advise anyone looking for a vet to check around before taking their pet to this place. There are definitely better places to get good vet care. read more

Dr. Sean Sawyer opened his own Veterinary practice about 2 years ago in this new building. He was associated with Tufts Veterinary Hospital in Grafton and Uxbridge Veterinary hospital. He is very thorough and caring in his manner with pets and their owners. He takes the time to explain everything clearly (including costs for each procedure/medication). I would recommend him without reservation. His vet techs are also great. A very good experience overall. read more

5 Stars.....Pawsteps is amazing although I found them to late my 1 y/o chiuhua Simon had been going threw some issues with neurological symptoms,off balance falling over and seemed in pain i had been taking him somewhere else for this issue for a long time and they kept sending me to tufts saying they couldnt figure out what was wrong with him he had a fall when he was 6 months old and had FHO surgery so the old vet kept saying it healed wrong and had nurological problems from the fall.NO BLOOD WORK was taken at the old vets EVER not even his first puppy visit and when I took him to see Dr klaunch when Simon took a turn for the worst . At paw steps the first thing she did was take blood come to find out he had lymes disease she was the only one who actually figured out what was wrong with him.she prescribed his doxycycline for treatment for lyme but after a few days before it arrived Simon sadly passed away of kidney failure in his sleep :( thank you dr klaunch and the pawsteps team for trying to help simon.i wish we found you guys sooner. read more

When we first started going to Pawsteps about 4 years go I would have given them 5+ stars but our latest visits have left a sour taste. The newer staff is not up to par. There is a lack of good communication and Dr. Sawyer's flea paranoia is getting a bit over the top. In spite of these annoyances we will stay with Pawsteps because the care our animals get there does surpass what we have found at other area vet offices. read more

It saddens me to write this but I had an awful experience which led me to go elsewhere. I had a phone conversation with Kelly which was uncalled for. It shouldn't have gone to the point of annoyingness. What was lacking is compassion and she fabricated our conversation which is unprofessional. Compassionate client care is one of the most important features of healthcare practice and certain office staff there needs to work on that. Anyone who works in healthcare answering phone calls should always sound compassionate even if clients/patients get upset because there are time of miscommunications that the best situation is to be compassionate...not to be right. You need to sound compassionate to the clients/patients...makes a huge difference. Those who don't, will make clients/patients feel you don't care. This is exactly what happened. I doubt I am the only one she talks to like that. I could be more elaborate about the awful experience I received, but I will not because I refuse to stoop to their level. I had wonderful service at other vet hospitals in the past and I know I will again. The reason I chose this one was because closer to home and we liked Dr. Claunch a lot. This past year we did have couple other bad experiences with office staff but I stayed because of Dr. Claunch. Thought could get better but didn't. I hope the owner will look into this experience and not bypass it. If you always want compassionate client care (not sometimes), I suggest you go somewhere else. They need to work on theirs. read more