I am a client of Hawthorne Troy, but Troy Veterinary Clinic opened up and they seemed pretty good about not charging an office visit, or a tiny office visit fee, for little things like heartworm tests and vaccinations. I took my dog there to do a heartworm test once. However, when our sweet boy Zeke was at the end of his time we called both vets to see who would be more reasonably priced for the 'procedure'. Hawthorne was a little pricier, but Troy Vet Clinic wanted us to pay an office visit fee for them to see him before they would agree to the 'procedure'. We opted for Hawthorne, and we were glad. They were so kind and respectful during that very difficult time. Now, we're watching my sister's dog for an extended time and we want to get his shots and heartworm test. So, Troy Clinic was going to be more reasonable than Hawthorne (minimal office visit fee when doing vaccinations). So, even though we had been put off by their attitude with our Zeke situation, off we went to Troy Vet Clinic. They had never seen this dog. They have only seen my other dog for a heartworm test, so we don't really have a feel for the staff there, and I've never even met the vet. Although, when I stopped in a while back to get some heartworm medicine, I spoke with the girl at the front desk and was told that my brand of choice had been discontinued but that they had Heartgard. I asked her if the active ingredients in the Heartgard are the same as the ones in my old brand, as I knew my dog's system did well on the old brand. I could see by the flash of inner confusion on the girl's face that she had no idea what the active ingredients were. However, she must have decided that it was easier to come up with an answer than to try to figure it out, so she piped up "Yes!". When I asked her what that active ingredient was, she got that confused look again. So, I gave her my best "You just LIED and we both know it" look. I checked, no they aren't the same. I guess it's a good thing that I was asking because I'm overprotective and not because my dog is freakishly allergic, because that invented answer could have been a big problem. So, needless to say, the staff at Troy Vet Clinic haven't earned our trust yet. The vet tech who saw us for our vaccinations was extremely young and unsure. She announced that she would take my dog to the back to do all the vaccinations and the heartworm test, and I very politely stated that I wished to remain with him while they did what they needed to do. That startled her. She said all her equipment was in the back room, so I offered to follow her to the back room, or suggested that she could bring her 'equipment' to the exam room. She went mildly fluttery and stuttery and had to go out and check with someone else. She returned to tell me that I could not remain with my pet because it was against policy. She cited insurance issues as the reason. I was adamant about not turning my pet over to people who were increasingly causing me alarm, and my husband was very upset. He explained to her that the dog is part of our family and that the staff had done nothing to earn our trust yet. Some discussion later, we ended up leaving vowing never to return. The staff just doesn't exhibit the regard for our family members that we feel they should. So, skip forward a few days. I receive a certified letter from the vet at Troy vet clinic saying that yada yada obviously we are unhappy with their service and don't trust them yada yada yada and we should find a new vet. No kidding? That's just what I was thinking. I absolutely DON'T trust them with my beloved animals, and I absolutely WILL find a different vet. There was absolutely no chance that I was ever going back there, but they felt it necessary to spend $6.11 to send a certified letter divorcing themselves from a potential client, essentially trying to punish me for being a voice and advocate for the members of my family who have no voice. I find their behavior extremely disturbing, very arrogant, and not at all in the best interest of pets and the people who love them. I will heartily recommend AGAINST Troy Veterinary Clinic and Dr. Julie Mears to anyone who asks. I miss my old vet who didn't charge outrageous office visit fees when they weren't needed, who greeted my dog with a big smile and open arms, and who I trusted to treat her with love and respect at all times, whether I was there watching over his shoulder or not. I miss my old vet whose goal was healthy happy animals not paying off his student loans or shuffling as many dogs as possible through his office every day. I miss my old vet who spoke to me about my dog's care, not in little placating words, but about research and biology and physiology. If anyone knows a vet like that in the area, please let me know. In the meantime, if you're in Troy, I recommend you visit Hawthorne Animal Hospital (and I recommend them over Troy Vet Clinic without ever having met the new vet at Troy Hawthorne!). read more