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    PETS Referral Center

    3.6 (849 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

    Services - PETS Referral Center

    Emergency pet hospital

    Pet physical or wellness exam

    Pet vaccinations

    PETS Referral Center Photos

    Recommended Reviews - PETS Referral Center

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    Reviews With Photos

    Kitty with her brother.  Kitty is the smaller on the right

    I have a horrible experience with the Pets Referral center emergency services. I brought my kitten Kitty who had an upper respiratory infection, but started having neurological symptoms and became very unstable. She also was not drinking or eating They admitted her and took her for "monitoring'. I was waiting in the lobby for hours without any update. Desk was not responsive. Many who came after us were served and we were pushed down the cue. Approximately 5 hours later eventually I was called to discuss what was going on with Kitty. Dr. Lindsey Peterson said that it is a "good thing" we were waiting, because other patients were more acute. Eventually some treatment was given and when Kitty was just about to be discharged I was told that she was dying. I was in total shock, indeed she was talking her last breaths. I found out she was not monitored and left alone in her carrier during all these long hours. She was labeled "stable'' and given no support. What an acute case of veterinary negligence! Their triage and assessment is a total disaster. The communication with staff nonexistent. The service lowest, the prices highest. My little princess Kitty lost her life in their incompetent hands! I think this place should be investigated for their deadly practices.

    Nykole T.

    I am writing this review following the loss of my dog, Cooley, after an emergency visit to this facility. This is not written lightly, but I believe it is important to share my experience. When I brought Cooley in, he had been hyperventilating and crying continuously for nearly two days and throughout the night. To me, it was clear he was in significant distress and pain. After checking in, we waited approximately 30 minutes before a technician brought him to the back to take vitals. While he was in the back, I could clearly hear him crying. After about 15 minutes, he was returned to me, and I was told that the estimated wait time to see a doctor was 2-3 hours. I immediately expressed concern that Cooley might not make it that long given his condition. I was told that patients are seen based on severity, which was confusing and concerning given what I was witnessing. I then went to the front desk and said I was considering leaving to seek care elsewhere due to the urgency of his condition. At that point, the doctor came out within about 5 minutes. We spoke briefly, and I again communicated that Cooley was not doing well and needed urgent attention. The doctor stated that Cooley "seemed stable" and advised me to stay and wait, explaining there were multiple cases ahead of us and that they would do their best to get to him. Unfortunately, Cooley passed away approximately five hours later in his sleep, still experiencing labored breathing. I understand that emergency facilities must triage patients and manage multiple critical cases at once. However, based on what I observed and communicated, I do not feel that the level of urgency reflected Cooley's condition or the distress he was in. My intention in sharing this is not to assign blame, but to highlight a serious concern about how urgency and patient distress are assessed and communicated. I hope this experience can lead to improvements in how cases like this are handled in the future.

    Dr. Zarfoss performing ophthalmic exam on my lop bunny "Luna", who was referred to ophthalmology for chronic corneal ulcers

    Dr. Gleeson is an excellent and compassionate exotic specialist. I brought my senior lop bunny, Violet, to her for a CT scan and a complex diagnostic workup, and I'm incredibly grateful for her knowledge, thoroughness and communication. She has taken the time to truly understand Violet's complicated medical case, always prioritizing her health and safety. I deeply appreciate the care, effort, and expertise she has devoted to helping my bun. Additionally, Dr. Zarfoss is a wonderful ophthalmologist who also assessed my senior bunny. I also brought my other lop bunny to her for an ophthalmic referral. She performed an ulcer debridement procedure on my bunny's eyes. The exotic and ophthalmology staff are great!

    Street view
    Tashema M.

    So I made an appointment to be seen around 1pm, arrived at 12:45. At around 1:40 they took my pet in the back and checked his vitals and returned him to me to continue waiting... around 3:45 I order lunch from door dash because I seen that I wasn't going anywhere. I got called in around 5:30... yeaaaa. They didn't see anything wrong with my pet but for $1400 they could sedate and xray him etc but they wanted me to sign a paper stating if I want him brought back if he dies... ok so I am tired and stress by then... that was the $180 consult, I asked for medication to make him comfortable til I could do next step, well he passed away quickly after. Never did he take the liquid food or antibiotics they gave him... I wish they would have told me during hour #1 that I wouldn't see an exotic vet that I was waiting all those hours for. They were nice so it wasn't all bad.

    The object lodged in our dogs cornea
    Thomas P.

    I came here with our little mix Lucy who had an eye issue on a Saturday. As soon as they saw her, they rushed her to the back and did a diagnostic, found an object lodged in her cornea, removed it, consulted with their ophthalmologist parter practice and came up with a treatment plan. All in the space of 30 min. Truly extraordinary service. Still waiting for them to complete a contrast test to determine if the cornea had been completely punctured. They will also book me an appointment with the ophthalmologist specialist early next week to get a specialist involved. This at a time when the emergency vet closer to me quoted 2 to 4 hour wait. They are excellent no doubt but in this case we really needed her to be seen immediately.

    back at home on bed rest
    Karen L.

    In contrast to the negative or disappointed pet owners who have posted , I had a pretty good experience early this morning. A bit of a wait because of change of shift but I'm medical and knew what that meant. My big senior German Shepherd dog wasn't freaking out in the waiting room as he usually does any where veterinarian so that was amazing enough. He has wigged out at UC Davis, at another local urgent care and very dramatically at his regular vet's parking lot and office in Moraga. This dog does not like vet settings. He had the painful heartworm treatment before so perhaps he has PTSD. BUT Good competent and friendly experience from the first phone call to meeting all the early morning staff, Leo the tech, and Dr Jennings. Now I know that kennel cough isn't a cough but a dramatic gagging and hacking with maybe a little vomiting maybe a little of this and that. Since my dog has a heart condition and I think a rougher life before being rescued under a freeway, I am a bit of a helicopter mom. But now we are reassured and resting and grateful for the good care, oh and did I mention the reasonable fee??? Thank you, everyone at Pets Referral.

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    2 months ago

    Nice staff but super long waits and very expensive. I wouldn't go there again unless I have to.

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    5 months ago

    Excellent staff, veterinarians, and care. We've been going to Pets for years for urgent care and specialty services.

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    Page 1 of 22

    PETS Referral Center Reviews in Other Languages

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    Review Highlights - PETS Referral Center

    Barlia was sensitive to how much I could handle and since I was ready to make the right decision he was right there.

    Mentioned in 19 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital - Feeding a bottle baby

    Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital

    (760 reviews)

    Downtown Berkeley

    My dog overdosed on his med in the middle of the night (yes, it was my fault ). Took him to the…read moreEmergency service within 30 minutes and the really nice night vet had his stomach empty in no time. He's doing great and the experience was really smooth. And pretty affordable, all things considered. I have one complaint, though. I called twice to the front desk to ask a couple questions about a prescription for my dog. The woman on the phone was not very helpful at all. She couldn't answer my questions and kept referring me to their website, not knowing where on the website I could find what I was looking for.

    I'm embarrassed that I don't know how to spell her name, but Naia, Niya, the person who runs the…read morefront desk, she's the most calming person on the planet sometimes. I have really bad anxiety. And my shrink has a real sense of humor telling me to get a dog for it. I've been in this ER for some real shit, but also some just me being anxious shit. No matter what it is, she's never dismissive. She's never condescending. I'm always relieved to see her face. My dog is also obsessed with her. Everyone else here is great too. Also, the nurses are great. The one tonight gave me pee pee pads because my very high dog is leaving a trail. They've been very useful as my entire apartment smells like pee, but that can all be mopped up off the floor and thankfully thrown away off the couch and bed.

    Berkeley Animal Hospital - My kitten

    Berkeley Animal Hospital

    (118 reviews)

    West Berkeley

    Best experience for veterinary services in Berkeley. Calm,…read morecompetent and organized from the moment you enter. You can feel confident with the care, your pet will receive.

    Kind staff, but a frustrating and disorganized urgent care experience…read more Our visit took about 1.5 hours. Even though we completed intake over the phone, we were asked to fill out the same information again on paper, and we weren't seen until ~15 minutes after our scheduled time. We also spent a long time waiting due to a lepto test. We were initially told results could take up to 30 minutes and that the assistant would check with Dr. Holliday to see if we could leave and come back. About 20 minutes later, we were told we only needed to wait 10-15 minutes total--by then, we had already waited most of that time unnecessarily. Follow-up was the most frustrating part. The front desk was responsive through the online portal, but not helpful--they repeatedly said they would "leave a note for the doctor" or were "waiting for the doctor to finalize their notes." We later found out test results were available on Tuesday but weren't released to us until Thursday. For an urgent care visit, this delay felt unacceptable. We requested SOAP notes and lab results on Monday for insurance purposes and had to follow up multiple times to get documentation that should have been readily available. The medical care itself seemed thorough, but the administrative side was lacking. Given the cost (urgent care exam alone was $147), I expected a more efficient and timely process. Overall: kind staff, but poor follow-through and delayed communication. For urgent care, I expected a much greater sense of urgency.

    University Vet Hospital

    University Vet Hospital

    (317 reviews)

    West Berkeley

    University Veterinary Hospital in West Berkeley is a fantastic clinic with a really nice, clean,…read moreand well-organized facility. They have a small parking lot, but there's usually decent street parking nearby. They're open Monday through Saturday by appointment only. I saw Dr. Schaffer for my cat Sophie and she was amazing. She was incredibly thorough, compassionate, and clearly very good with animals. The entire staff was great--professional, friendly, and attentive. I felt very comfortable here, and I think my cat, despite it being a new environment, felt relatively at ease as well. They're very transparent about pricing and never pressured me into getting any specific tests. They answered all my questions clearly and made sure I understood everything. The clinic gives out free treats for both cats and dogs, which was a nice touch. Their prices do lean a little on the higher side compared to some other clinics I looked at nearby but they provided close estimates over the phone beforehand. They offer basic blood/urine work and have an in-house pharmacy for some medications. They also do basic bladder ultrasounds, but for more advanced imaging, they refer out to other nearby clinics they trust. Overall, I highly recommend this clinic. The level of care and professionalism is excellent, and Dr. Schaffer especially was wonderful with my cat.

    Best.vet.ever! Dana Schaffer was the most patient, competent and caring vet we've ever had - and…read morethere have been many! She took her time making Genesis, my German Shepherd, calm and comfortable before doing a very thorough exam. She explained her thinking clearly, gave background literature and was also very cost conscious in her treatment recommendations. So grateful that she's just around the corner! A++

    Urgent Pet Animal Hospital - healthy and happy!

    Urgent Pet Animal Hospital

    (81 reviews)

    I came in on a same day appointment for my cat who had developed stomach issues. Like a lot of…read moreother cat owners know, it can be stressful finding a vet that can give as good care to cats as they often do for dogs. I came here on a recommendation from my usual vet who were out of availability and boy am I glad. Dr. K was wonderful, empathetic, sweet, and very detailed in her care of my cat. She understood how to approach to my little scaredy cat and did what she could to avoid any further stress. She answered my questions, provided me with important information, and we were on our way! I also want to say thanks to the front office and the vet techs. The place seemed very busy and it seemed they were all working everywhere all at once and even then they were prompt and polite. Although I would happily pay anything to make sure my cat is okay, I can't deny I was thinking about what it would cost since it's an urgent care vet, but I found the price fair and, at least for me, affordable. I would recommend anyone who is looking up the reviews to feel ease when considering Urgent Pet.

    Guess who's back? After arriving from work one day, I noticed my girl was limping?? Like why are…read moreyou doing this to me?! This time, however, I knew where to go, and I immediately call up Urgent Pet and obtain a same day appointment. Dr. K is amazing! She was so patient and kind with my girl and they figured out what was going on. The bill was fair for the services and within a few hours we were back at home with a prescription. Thanks to Dr. K, Dr. Lowe and the other staff, Puma is feeling much better and we have a treatment plan moving forward. Thanks again Urgent Pet!

    Modern Animal Berkeley - Modern Animal Berkeley Exterior

    Modern Animal Berkeley

    (108 reviews)

    West Berkeley

    Huge thank you to Dr. Dianicia Valencia and the team for taking such good care of Ben today. I was…read morehonestly very stressed and worried when his dew claw injury suddenly became worse, especially after already bringing him in the week before. What I appreciated most was not only the care for Ben, but also the kindness and understanding toward my financial situation. The doctor took the time to explain every recommendation clearly, never pressured me, and helped work with me to find a treatment option that was still safe for Ben while being more affordable. As a pet owner, that level of compassion means a lot. Veterinary emergencies can be overwhelming, and being treated with patience and understanding made the entire experience so much less stressful. Ben may have been a little dramatic today but he came home safe, cared for, and already acting like himself again (especially after snacks). Thank you again for your kindness, honesty, and for truly caring about both your patients and their owners. We really appreciate you so much.

    My primary reason for booking an exam here was for wellness and to get a Simparica trio…read moreprescription for my dog. We visited in June 9th 2026 and it is now June 20th and we still have not been able to get the prescription filled after a visit that cost well over $1000 for a checkup, vaccines and labwork. We got HWT results the day after the visit and I made the doctor and staff aware that Momo had an active flea infestation at the time of the visit. They approved a prescription for regular Simparica after we discussed getting the Trio at my visit. I was told we need heartworm test results. I get that. We got them. So why has it been impossible for me to get ahold of someone who works at this actual location for a simparica trio prescription to be sent to Costco when I was told multiple time it would happen. I have sent multiple messages to their corporate, to this location, and to the doctor who saw him. Why haven't you given me a prescription when my dog had an active flea infestation when we were there two weeks ago? So frustrated when we agreed to do everything they suggested without batting an eye. We got an estimate for more expensive diagnostics but my dog still has fleas because no preventative.

    El Cerrito Veterinary Care

    El Cerrito Veterinary Care

    (216 reviews)

    We were quickly ushered into an exam room, minimizing my pets' time in the waiting area. Dr…read more Fernandez performed a thorough examination on both cats right in front of me and patiently addressed all my questions and concerns. She handled my pets with great care, as if they were family. The support staff was also highly professional and quickly and efficiently drew blood for labs. I especially appreciated that my cats weren't separated from me for long.

    Our cat, Roxy, was a very special member of our family! Dr. Fernandez at El Cerrito Veterinary Care…read morediagnosed her conditions expertly. She was diligent about ensuring Roxy's vaccinations were up to date and medications were always current. As she grew older Roxy developed serious health problems like arthritis in many joints, and asthma. She needed regular injections, inhaler treatments, and frequent medications. As Roxy's conditions worsened over the years, the clinic staff taught us how to care for her ourselves, at home. We learned how to give Roxy injections, properly use her inhaler, even administer subcutaneous fluids. It was scary at first, but eventually we got the hang of it. Dr. Fernandez always made a detailed treatment plan. Her proactive and caring approach made a big difference in Roxy's quality of life. She also told us signs of the progression of Roxy's condition. She taught us what to look for, so we could prepare ourselves to make a humane decision. Her guidelines helped us decide when the right time came for Roxy. Because of Dr. Fernandez and her clinic, we actually got to have much more time with our Roxy than we expected! Thank you, Dr. Fernandez!

    Vesta Veterinary - Sylvie!

    Vesta Veterinary

    (39 reviews)

    Berkeley Hills

    Our dog is now 16.5 after working with Dr. Brown, Chelsea, and recently Ruby for 7 years (and…read moreongoing). Our dog has had many ups and downs, a couple ER scares, and Dr. Brown has patiently walked me through all of anxieties that come with loving a geriatric soul dog. In my mind, you're paying for time - his time, which he's generous with, and more time with your pet. It will always be worth it. I trust this team implicitly and hope they know what kind of impact they've had on our lives by giving us so much time with our dog and helping her live a good life.

    No one picks up the phone during business hours. Called at least 5 times on different days…read more It is a real struggle to communicate with the vet tech. Common sense is not her strength; for appointments (can only be booked by email), she only gives days of availability not times. She rarely responds to emails in a timely manner, even when it involves medications for example that need to be received in a timely way. It is very stressful playing phone tag with her or reminding her to respond to emails. I really like Dr. Brown, but I cannot imagine how I can rely on this clinic when my pet is having an emergency and there is no one to speak to. Voicemail directs emergencies to a third party. It would be terrible to be unable to reach your veterinarians during an emergency. Their physical address maps to a UPS or a rug store so you can't go in person for an emergency either.

    PETS Referral Center - vet - Updated June 2026

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