The Cottage Animal Clinic, Stantonsburg, NC…read more
If I could give zero stars, I would. My experience with The Cottage Animal Clinic was one of the most upsetting, unprofessional, and downright unethical encounters I have ever had with a veterinary office.
I brought in a small outdoor cat I had been caring for for over a year -- a cat who arrived on my property malnourished, underweight, and missing large patches of fur. I fed her, sheltered her, and slowly brought her back to health. She chose us as her family, and we loved her dearly. I did not want to see her pregnant and bringing more feral cats into the world.
Before the appointment, I explicitly told the clinic that I did NOT want her ear tipped. I explained that she was no longer a feral cat, that I was keeping her indoors, and that I would be her owner going forward. They heard me. And they did it anyway.
After the clinic discovered she had a microchip, they refused to let me see her, refused to give me any information, and spoke to me as though I had done something wrong by caring for a starving, sick animal who showed up on my property. They accused us of being "aggressive" simply because my husband -- heartbroken and frustrated as well -- raised his voice slightly while pleading for me to be allowed to say goodbye. (I later discovered why they wouldn't let me see her.)
But the worst part came later.
They sent the cat to Wayne County Animal Control. After they were unable to find the original owners, we went to the animal control to adopt her, we discovered that the veterinarian had cut the tip of her ear off, even though she already had a spay tattoo from her original owners. There was absolutely no justification for ear‑tipping a cat who was already spayed, already tattooed, and whose future owner (me) had clearly and directly declined the procedure. Then I figured out why they wouldn't let me see her because they had already cut her ear off before they shaved her and found the tatoo! And if that's not enough, when they shaved her to discover the tattoo, they cut off one of her nipples and cut her skin with the shaver. Amateur work.
They permanently altered her appearance against my wishes and against all common sense. Ear‑tipping is meant for unowned feral cats in TNR programs -- not for a cat with a microchip, a spay tattoo, and a person standing right there saying, "Please don't do this."
Instead of compassion, we were met with coldness, accusations, and a complete lack of empathy. The way we were spoken to was dismissive, condescending, and unnecessarily harsh during an already emotional situation.
Thankfully, the staff at Wayne County Animal Control treated us with kindness and helped us fill out the paperwork so that if her original owners do not reclaim her, we can adopt her. Their compassion was everything this clinic lacked.
I understand that procedures and laws must be followed. What I cannot understand -- and will not excuse -- is the unprofessional behavior, the lack of empathy, and then when I call their office to ask the name of the veterinarian to whom I was speaking with, the receptionist lied and told me her name was Karen... blatantly lied!!! Totally inexcusable behavior.
People deserve to know how this clinic handles animals and the people who care about them. I will never return here, and I hope this review helps others make an informed decision before trusting this clinic with their pets.