Dr. Sarah has been our veterinarian for eight years now because, frankly, she is the best. She is an exceptional diagnostic vet and is incredibly skilled. A few thoughts about Sarah and the ARK Veterinary team... We first came to Sarah at the recommendation of a close friend who told us a story about Sarah curing his dog of chronic ear infections that other veterinarians just couldn't figure out how to treat effectively. Sarah has skillfully treated one of our dogs who has struggled with seizures (and thanks to her, no longer has seizures). She has helped both of our dogs with their arthritis and mobility issues as they aged. She also treated one of our dogs through cancer with her incredible intellect and tender care, greatly improving the quality of our dog's life in the final months. Sarah lovingly supported our dog and our family through the end of our dog's life. She is brilliant, skilled, and compassionate. When my family and I were heartbroken that our favorite milking goat fell very ill one winter and it became clear that our goat was at the end of her life, Sarah came to our house to put her down in the midst of a blizzard with subzero temperatures. She was so patient and empathic as we said our goodbyes. Truly, she couldn't have been kinder. Sarah also saved the life of a kitten that we adopted, requesting only that we pay for half of the surgical materials necessary to amputate his leg (which had a compound fracture and was infected) to ultimately save his life. She is generous. Sarah is an exceptional vet and person. I see that there are other reviews on this page that express a different viewpoint than my own. As we have now known Sarah for almost a decade now, I really am shocked to see those reviews and really don't know what to make of them. I cannot express how wonderful and skilled she is. Our family loves her and so does every one of my friends that I have sent her way. read more

Dr. Lavelle is the absolute best vet I have ever come in contact with. I cant say enough good things about Dr. Lavelle and the ENTIRE staff at Ark. I have never experienced such compassion and immense care that is put into every process at Ark. I moved here from Texas and it was very important that I find the right vet for my dog, Penny, because she started out with fear of new people and other animals. I was very apprehensive with the thought of Penny having to move and start all over with a new vet, but the very first visit that we had with Dr. Lavelle was something remarkable, in the past my dog had been judged and had to always be muzzled for the safely of others in the office, but Dr. Lavelle, took the time to get to know Penny and work with her, gaining her trust and making me feel at ease as well. I was never able to board my dog anywhere because of her issues, and Dr. Lavelle assured me that Penny would be just fine, so I boarded her with Ark for a week, and she did great, I came back and she was happy and healthy and had made friends, human and dogs alike. I could not have been happier with the result! Now, a little less than a year now, I am able to take my dog to the dog park, vet, and bored her at Ark without issue. Penny is a familiar face around Ark, the staff have grown to love her and they treat her as one of their own. I can honestly say that Dr. Lavelle has change Penny's life and mine as well, I feel confident to take my dog places and explore, and I can only credit that to Dr. Lavelle and the staff at Ark. It is truly a remarkable place, I highly recommend Ark to anyone!! I am so appreciative and grateful that I found them. read more

I switched vets to Dr. Sarah for closeness and cost, and she is fabulous. Dr. Sarah is always available and does a fantastic job taking care of my black lab, Bentley. Anytime I call, she can usually get us in same day. Just ask Bentley if he wants to see Dr. Sarah and he goes insane! He gets so excited his hiney can't keep up with his tail!! Dr. Sarah always explains what needs to be done, provided different options with cost to achieve, and leaves the decision up to me. Even when my budget is squeaking, and I am frugal as they get, Dr. Sarah always charges a fair price. Bentley was having allergy issues, and we discussed testing. As we discussed options, Dr. Sarah pointed out ~ food we can test for and control; environment not so much. So we tested and found he was allergic to pork, barley, flaxseed and kelp. She even got a list of foods that weren't supposed to have these items in them. Do you know how many foods have most of these? After hours and hours of in person research, I let her know which ones had their formulas changed and she was able to let the allergy company know. She was so awesome about this! Bentley is happily itch free! Thank you Dr. Sarah, you ROCK! read more

I can't say enough amazing things about our vet! She is truly one of a kind--always there when you need her, especially in emergencies. No matter the situation, she brings such calm, expert care and makes you feel completely supported and reassured. It's not just her medical skill that stands out (though she's incredible in that regard), it's the way she genuinely cares--for both your pet and you. Every visit feels personal. She remembers the little things, takes time to explain everything, and never rushes you. You can tell this is more than just a job to her--it's a calling. Whether it's a late-night fever, sudden injury, or a worried bark at 2 a.m., you can count on this vet to deliver top-quality care with a calm, experienced hand. No inflated costs, no unnecessary treatments -- just honest, affordable service that puts your pet's health first. It's not just about being available -- it's about doing what's right. Every time. If you're looking for someone you can truly trust with your pet's health, someone who will go above and beyond every single time, look no further. She's simply the best. read more

Dr. Sarah and her staff are AMAZING! We've been going to her since 2013 when we moved to Montana with our 2 lab mixes and she now sees my 3rd rescue who is 2.5. I cannot say enough about the utter professionalism and top notch care all my dogs have gotten through this practice. She diagnosed a malignancy on my yellow lab mix's anal gland when she was 11 and that quick action gave us another 2 wonderful years with Mia. And when it was time for Mia to go over the Rainbow Bridge, she came to our house one very snowy evening and compassionately helped us with one of the most difficult decisions any pet owner has to make. My current rescue Tucker is 86lbs of beans and rubber bands and he adores Dr. Sarah and her staff and LOVES staying there when we have to go out of town. I cannot say enough or recommend this practice highly enough--you will receive undivided attention from ALL the staff and Dr. Sarah and incredibly thorough exams that are fully explained and all questions (I mean ALL) thoroughly answered. Dr. Sarah and her staff are true gifts and I wouldn't go anywhere else--even if I moved! read more

I first discovered Ark Veterinary Practice and Dr Sarah when we made the decision to have our beloved 17 year old orange tabby Chedder Cheese put to sleep, he had renal failure and was suffering. I called the vet he had seen previously, and I was shocked when they told me they didn't have time to do it. I was furious, we had already said our goodbyes and come to terms with the decision that morning, and I wanted it done ASAP. I called 2 other places, one told me I had to schedule it for a different day, and the other said they would do it, but not until after 5:30. Then I called ARK, explained the situation and was told yes please come in now. Dr Sarah and staff made the experience as pleasant as it could be and I was so thankful Chedder didn't have to suffer another hour. Now we have 2 kittens that received all of their shots and got spayed and are doing absolutely great. I will continue to use Ark Veterinary Practice for all of their needs, for their kind compassionate service, thank you so much ! read more

Dr. Sarah was recommended to us when we moved here. She helped my mother with her 13 y/o German Shepherd. Given her age, she came to our home to help her with her arthritis among other problems. She also came to us when it was time for her to cross the Rainbow Bridge. She was the most caring, respectful, and thoughtful vet we had ever experienced. She later was key in diagnosing a challenging situation with my German. I had recently changed vets because I moved and wanted someone closer. That was big mistake. The other veterinarian felt like purely "business." We went back to Dr. Sarah who again, helped us to figure out what was going on. Not only is she gifted with diagnosing issues, but she gave me so much 1/1 time and treated our dog with such care and respect. And the follow-up calls have also been extraordinary. She also helps me with my horses and cats. They're so worth my drive given their quality care. read more

I am the owner of a hardworking bird dog. I am from out of town and required veterinary service so visited Dr. Lavelle on recommendation of an acquaintance. In my travels I have used many vet services from Alaska to the Yukon and Montana and the Dakotas. The dr found and diagnosed a minor shoulder injury. ....wait, I didn't bring the dog in for this issue but it had been a worry of mine. I hesitated to even bring up this problem as I just didn't want to spend time on it with an unfamiliar vet. She not only diagnosed the tendonitis but showed me how to locate it under a gland with my finger tips. Wow! Those of you that extensive experience with hard working dogs will appreciate her experience, natural talent, and patience to educate the customer. I could not possibly have a higher recommendation. Glen Haines, AK read more

I cannot speak highly enough of our experience at Ark. Our normal vet is in Minnesota and our malamute was just diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Dr. Lavelle was kind, thorough, and gave us all the options for treatment, was up front and honest about prognosis related to treatment, cost for each option, and what to expect as the course of care continues. She took the time to review lab work in detail, explain x-rays, and gave us all the information we needed. She helped us develop the best plan of care for our pup that was in our price range. The vet techs were kind, welcoming, professional and did incredibly well taking care of our very nervous and skittish dog. To be completely honest, I am glad we ran into this issue while in MT on vacation as I do not think we could have gotten this level of care back in MN. read more

I can't recommend Ark Veterinary Practice enough for anyone with exotic pets in Montana. It's so hard to find a vet who understands the unique needs of animals like snakes, tortoises, and rats, but Ark truly delivers exceptional care. They performed surgery on both my snake and my tortoise, and thanks to their expertise and compassion, both pets are doing incredibly well. They also provided excellent care for my rats, treating them with the same respect and attention they'd give to any other animal. The team at Ark is knowledgeable, patient, and understanding, and they go the extra mile to make sure your pets feel safe and cared for. Whether it's a routine checkup or a complex procedure, I trust Ark with my animals completely. If you have exotics and live in Montana, this is the place to go! read more

IF I could give a million stars I would!!!!! BY far the Most patient, smartest, kindest vet anyone could ever have. With the best bedside manner I have ever seen- Sarah researched and found a rare disease in our labs toenails after a number of vets could not determine what was the matter. Sarah recently diagnosed our lab with bone cancer and in order to get the most out of the rest of his life we decided to amputate his leg- that was having the most problems. Sarah volunteered to keep him at her house after the operation -He had the Best Pre and Post Op care!! I call her with questions all the time- Completely helpful with working on a budget- Highly recommended!!! read more

We found this most wonderful Veterinary practice near the end of our sweet dogs lives. One of our pups had cancer and our other faithful companion of 16 years had reached her final days. It is so hard to let these furry companions go but the care and compassion of the women at this clinic were beyond what we could have asked for. The clinic is in a beautiful setting in the country. The space for animals is calm and the support for humans is top notch. I really don't have enough or the right words to express how fortunate we were to find this clinic when we needed it most. Best of luck to all of the wonderful women who work at this clinic. Thank you so so much! read more

WoW! That's unfortunate that others had a bad experience, mine was the complete opposite!! I found Sarah as compassionate, professional, thorough and I felt like probably one of the top in her field. My Golden Retriever was in need of immediate surgery for an infected uterus. Sarah & her technician were very attentive to her condition & were willing to perform the surgery on short notice & on a Saturday (which is very difficult to find a vet on the wkd). Also took the time to follow up & be sure my Golden was healing like she should. And her facility is amazing, so clean & beautiful grounds! I will definitely be taking all my fur babies here!!! read more

Ark has been amazing to me and my kitties! After discovering strange health issues with one of my kitties, Dr. Sarah was more than willing to help determine the best choice of action as well as price various options out for me and answer any and all questions I had. She was able to thoroughly explain everything she did or will do when my kitty comes in. Her instructions and findings are very clear and very well thought out. She is true to her word with respect to procedure and costs. She truly cares for the pets and owners. I have been very impressed with the knowledge of all the employees. I would highly recommend Ark to any pet owners! read more

From the very first phone call to Ark I could tell that the health of my animals was top priority. Dr. Lavelle and her staff have been so kind to my animals and I. Dr. Lavelle is very professional and takes treatments and procedures very seriously but she is also very personable as are her staff. My kids love going with me whenever we bring in an animal, she always includes them when she's explaining things or if there's a fun fact to share about an animal. After having not so good experiences with a former vet I'm so grateful to have found Ark!! It's so nice to feel at ease. I never feel pressured. Grateful!! Thank you Ark!! read more

Sarah and her staff have been nothing but amazing to us and our dog while he has been dealing with cancer. So far we have gotten 1.5 more years with him than we had originally anticipated (per the other vet's diagnosis). Our other vet stopped short and basically just told us he had 3-6 months to live. Sarah was willing to dig deeper and really investigate what was going on. We drove all the way from OR to MT and back to OR (twice), just so our dog could be seen by her. She and her very staff were very easy to get in touch with and communicate with even from a distance like that. read more

Dr. Sarah and the staff at Ark are amazing! They are so accommodating. They were prompt and very professional. Our kitten is a little wild but they handled her with care and compassion. They are willing to work with you on the kind of care that works best, making suggestions but never pressuring you. Even sending us home to administer booster shots on our own. Taking time to make sure we were instructed thoroughly on the proper techniques and making sure we felt confident. We would highly recommend Ark to anyone looking for a great vet! read more

I took my cat in to Ark on recommendation from a national vet chain, and I could not have asked for more compassionate care for her, and for me as her owner. Unfortunately we did have to put her down, but Dr. Lavelle was excellent in allowing me to text multiple times per day with updates on her condition and symptoms. Additionally during the process of putting my cat to sleep, she was very kind and understanding of my need to take some time to say goodbye. If and when I get another animal, I will be returning to Ark without question. read more

My husband and I have been taking our dog (now two dogs) to Dr Sarah since we moved to Montana in 2011 and have had a really great experience, we live over an hour away and still go to see her when we can even though we have a great vet in our area, because of the way she treats us and cares about our pets. We often ask what we think are silly questions and she is always willing to help and explain things very comprehensively. We always recommend Dr Sarah to people new to the area, and i always hear great reviews! read more