About a month ago we had to put our cat Simba down. It was something that happened quickly so it was a real shock. The staff were very understanding and incredibly supportive and helpful. Dr Platteo walked us through everything and even though it was still really hard she, and the staff made it very easy during a difficult time. What prompted me to write the review however was after a week or so we received a hand written letter from Dr Platteo that was incredibly nice. We will be going there for regular services as well. Losing a pet/friend is never easy but it was a comfort to know what was coming and the care they showed. read more

Westside Animal Clinic, A Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner - Simba - Veterinarians Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

Such an amazing, caring team. Dr. Guillen got to know our family and our cat and was able to coordinate a plan to keep her happy as long as possible. Everyone from the desk staff to the techs were wonderful. We were never treated as just another animal that walked in. Any pet we have will be going here. read more

Dr. Roy is a superlative clinician! She is decidedly astute and discerning, and indeed so caring of both patient and caregiver. She is why I bring my cat here for care. Elizabeth Horn read more

I'm on my 6th German Shepherd. My dogs have gone here. From GSD #1until present. The staff at the reception desk are always so polite . I have never had a bad experience there even when it was time to say goodbye to one of my GSD's. Love this place. read more

Westside Animal Clinic, A Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner - GSD # 6 ENZO - Veterinarians Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

Very courteous, kind & professional. Helping you and your pet are their priority. They've always gone out of their way to do the best for my dogs. read more

They encourage insurance purchase which seems to be related to the company running the business. Been there over 20 years. Many pets and memories. It changed hands a few years ago. My dog got a few small porcupine quills today and I was told to go to a major center and get a CT scan or if I refused that (which I did) they would help me with what seemed a very costly sum in their office. The Dr seemed upset with me; her voice was shaking when she chided me. I said I could not afford that for a quill removal; there were only a few small ones I could see that I had pulled out. Then the Dr threatened to call the Humane Society and report me if I did not comply with her to bring the dog in there for whatever she had to do. She said she was a mandated reporter and that my dog was in pain and might get an infection. She was not in pain the Vet had not even seen my dog. I finally mobilized due to this incident and found a new Vet that day. That was it for me after feeling gouged again or pressured to buy insurance. The new place charged me a reasonable office fee to remove a few little quills that I missed in the dog's mouth. When Dr Trom owned the practice it felt like a very good community friendly fairly priced practice. Also used to be busy. It's very quiet there now...... like all the time. The place we pivoted to in Sutton is taking new patients. A pleasant low key place. Dr got on the floor and laid down under the dog to manually remove the quills with light and tweezer the old fashioned way and gave my dog a rabies booster. Impressively down to earth. No antibiotic he said unless on recheck the dog seemed inflamed. You see the same Drs here not per Diem or on call Staff. The long time desk folks at Westside who stayed on are very nice and will miss what was good there. Time for us to move on. read more

My pup is now 9 years old. I've been taking him to Westside since he was ~3 months old. Since the practice was sold to a large corporation several years ago, my experience has been that Westside is a mixed bag -- and I'm not sure which "Westside" I'll get each time I call or visit. Sometimes it's great. Sometimes it's meh. Sometimes they are pretty unhelpful. Mostly, they really are kind, no matter what. It can be hard to get an appointment when your pup really needs it. Over the last few years, they have said it was impossible for me to go there any time my dog had a more "urgent" need like an ear infection. But for those yearly checkups, with expensive blood work and vaccines, for some reason they have no issue booking an appointment. It's odd to me that they can't help their longtime patients when it's really needed. This has happened numerous times over the past 3-ish years. So, maybe it's partly because of all the new patients since so many people got new pets during the pandemic... but it just *seems* like it's all about money. (Also, I would suggest that if you cannot care for the patients you already have, perhaps you should probably STOP taking on NEW patients.) For regular, monthly prescription meds for heart worm and flea/tick prevention, the latest news is that Westside has now decided to make it more complicated to get your meds from outside sources like 1800PetMeds. All the years prior, they would verify the prescription by phone. Now, suddenly, they won't do it. (And the reasons they give for it are truly bologna.) So, you have to request that a vet write a hand written prescription, which you have to pick up there, and then physically mail it to the company you're ordering from. Oh, but if you order from the pharmacy owned by the same company that owns Westside, they WILL make it easy. Oh, and it's also more expensive than it would be elsewhere. The person I spoke with there earlier today said that the vets there -- who in my experience have really all been deeply caring about my pup -- have no say in what happens there, because Westside is owned by a corporation. I don't know if that's true, but if so, how sad. If the doctors do not really have a say in the place where they practice, wouldn't you RUN the other way as a patient? I will be. read more

We recently moved to the area after having an amazing (almost unbeatable) vet in Texas and we chose Westside. Last week my dog Nova had her first appointment with Dr. Palermo and it was amazing! The front desk staff was so friendly, and even came to say hello to her in the waiting room and give her pats. We were seen quickly, and once in the room the vet tech and Dr. Palermo were both so great. Our second dog is reactive and comes from a difficult past (rescue) and has a lot of trouble with the vet, so after our great experience with Nova we will likely be bringing her to this office as well. I am very surprised with the negative comments posted here on the yelp page as everyone we have met at Westside is compassionate and kind. read more

Westside Animal Clinic, A Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner - Veterinarians Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

Due to the sale of Westside animal clinic a few years back. This clinic is not the same many of the staff have quit or been removed. There are some good vets there. But it's clear to me by reading all the reviews and talking to other people who have left this practice never to return again to have the animals cared for, THAT THEIR MAIN CONCERN IS JUST MONEY. When I brought my cat in the last time for a rabies shot. The technician asked if I wanted blood work my cat ? She is only 8 years old and healthy.and ​When.Dr. Murphy' and Dr Trom owned the wasn't run the same way and they really cared from their bottom of their heart about the animals and they had consideration if you were a senior.AND LOTS OF COMPASSION. THIS NEW OWNER THINKS ,$$$$$$$ Upon finding out it was going to cost me $100 for a rabies shot in a well visit and I cut my own cat's nails. And this is with the discount.?? There's no discount whoever took over this business cares more about their pocketbook than they do about the animals. And right now we're living in tough times And one of the receptionist I called to talk about the prices was very rude. She implied rudely you have insurance in other words they want me to buy pet insurance when I only go to the vets for their shots especially if they're healthy and all the years I've had cats I've never gone more than once or twice a year and I'm supposed to pay for insurance for something that might happen, because you jack up the prices so high people can't afford to bring their cats.Or dogs?? It's about time these veterinarians come off their high horses and consider the animals can be saved and loved and cared for instead of euthanized If people could afford to keep them. Things are so bad I even have trouble at times finding my cat's food. We love our pets and we do pay out money to take good care of them but not to be taken advantage of by unscrupulous people who only think about their pocketbook and don't give a damn about the pets. You may have some good doctors there. Too bad they are being wasted they could be at a better place of ​business. And as far as the new people that took over the receptionist part forget it I give you a rating of 1 to 10 . 2 at best I know you've lost quite a few clients because I've talked to some of them . So continue on that path and make yourself a new name DON'T DISRESPECT WESTSIDE animal clinic because they had a great HONORABLE REPUTATION IN THIS COMUNITY which you have degraded with YOUR GREED. The previous owner should demand that you remove the prestigious name that was known throughout the community for equality veterinary Care read more

Today, 1st visit - very pleased ! 9 y/o male Yorkie with skin irritation. Tech (Allie) was excellent, Vet (dr Toddei) very thorough. Coupla tests, results will be e-mailed to us. Very comfortable with this practice ! read more

We have taken our dogs to Westside for 25 years. It used to be a great place with compassionate care, even though it was always a little pricey and you always had to wait. Since Dr. Murphy and Dr. Trom sold the business, however, it has completely changed. They routinely suggest expensive and unnecessary tests without considering the pet's actual needs and health status. They are very sloppy with medications. We have had to bring back medications prescribed for the wrong dosage or weight at least five times. Once, when my dog was given his usual medication in a dosage for large dogs instead of medium/small, I was told that the vet said it didn't matter! (I responded that it mattered to me.) I find it depressing that individuals would prioritize profit over caring for animals that are suffering. read more

We are a couple married 38 years who have always had dogs instead of children. Our two dogs were seen by the excellent Dr. Murphy at Westside for many years, until he retired and sold the business. Since the acquisition of Westside by new vets (Dr. Roy and Dr. Kawai) they are far more concerned with taking in revenue than with animal health. Dr. Kawai actually ordered ultrasounds ($600 apiece) for both overtly healthy dogs. Our older dog took medications for his last three years or so, which cost $500-$600 a month. I am still not convinced he needed them all. If that weren't enough, Dr. Roy repeats the same advice over and over again. Any interaction with her takes 5-6x as long as it should. Ask her the time of day, she'll tell you how to build a clock. She is clearly more concerned with the impression she leaves on the owner than with the dog's health. Bottom line: Watch your wallet if you use this vet. read more

I had previously given Westside Animal Clinic a five star rating and we had been clients there since it was established in its prior location. Dr. Trom and Dr. Murphy have kept 8 of our dogs healthy during this time and they have put five of them to sleep when they could no longer keep them living comfortable lives. They became like members of our family; we put our faith in them, we trusted them, and we knew that they also cared for us and for our animals. There was consistency behind the front desk, and when we would call for an appointment or in an emergency, people knew who we were and they responded to us warmly. Since the new corporate takeover, things are no longer the same. There is constant turnover in the front, appointments are hard to get, and when you walk in the door, people may or may not know who you are. The vets seem to be part-time people who don't have the investment in the practice that Dr. Trom and Dr. Murphy did. We decided that once Dr. Trom officially left we would change vets because of our dissatisfaction with the new management. When I called to ask that our records be faxed to another vet, I wasn't even asked why I wanted to leave. After having been patients at the office for more than twenty-five years, I would have thought that the new owners would have wanted to know the reasons for our choice to move to a new vet; obviously, we are not people who rotate from practice to practice. This in itself is symptomatic of the coldness and the corporate air that now permeates a once wonderful place. read more

I am so impressed by the staff at WAC. They came highly recommended and I see why. The staff genuinely cares about their patients. My dog is extremely nervous at the vet and they held her gently and even kissed her on the head. I am so pleased with the care we receive there. FYI: It generally takes about 2 weeks for new patients to be seen unless it's an emergency. read more

WAC is the best in the city! My BF and I have been bringing our animals here for the past 5+ years and will definitely continue doing so! The staff and vets are super friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable. WAC provides high quality care to all their animal patients, going above and beyond to provide the best for your pets. Highly recommended! Please note: They're only open to new patients during certain times throughout the year, so make sure to call in advance to ask whether they're accepting new patients or when they will! Once you're in, you are golden and your pets will be well taken care of! Thank you WAC for taking such excellent care of our animals! read more

I have been coming here to Westside with my cats for 20+ years. Dr. Trom and Dr. Murphy were always the best and caring. Was I surprised when I made an appointment and learned they were no longer there but it was bought out by a company and that the doctors are retiring now. I don't begrudge anyone who worked as hard and as long as they have to retire. I just wish there was some kind of warning. These new doctors seem cold as fish. I will probably look elsewhere if I can find someone. Thank God I keep my cats healthy for the most part. read more

Love love love dr. Kerr! My 2 bulldogs were frequent visitors to the vet, especially my Frenchie until I switched him to Westside. De Kerr was so helpful, did allergy testing and now he's having issues once to twice a year as opposed to before 5-6. She is very knowledgeable about allergies and will offer advice about any questions I have, even potty training issues with my English bulldog. I have often been told that I am crazy when it comes to my dogs, and I'm sure I am, they are my kids. dr Kerr makes me feel like they're her nephews :) read more

Westside Animal Clinic, A Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner - My French bulldog george - Veterinarians Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

I had been with Westside Animal Clinic for over 20+ years. My experience was nothing but positive. My primary vet was Dr. Trom. She was the best thing that could have happened to me and my pets. She was very supportive in times of need and she was always there through the good and bad times. She had a way of making you feel that you and your pet were very important to her. With the sale of the clinic to Pathway, all the positive feelings went out the door with Dr. Trom and Dr. Murphy. Now it is a business with the primary objective of making money. Costs have sky-rocketed for services, meds, food etc. because the main objective is the now bottom line. There has been a lack of communication between the staff and clients. Changes have been made without notification to the people it is affecting the most; the clients. One such change is the refilling of prescriptions. What used to take 24 hours can now take anywhere from four days to a week. I am no longer at Westside. I did give them a chance to prove themselves but they came up short. My last appointment was to be with the vet but much to my surprise it was changed to a tech. Was I asked if this change could occur? No it was just done. I refused to have the tech draw his blood because he was a difficult draw. The tech threw a temper tantrum in the room so I left. The lead receptionist followed me outside and asked me if I wanted her to make a copy of my dog's record. It was so comforting to see how concerned she was about my dissatisfaction. I have found another vet. So now the lead receptionist can make copies of all my dogs records (5) and be HAPPY that I am leaving. read more

We've been going here for over 7 years and have recommended them to many people. We recently had to put our dog down (which they handled really well - though trying to get her seen leading up to it was miserable due to reception desk) and then we also added a new puppy and kitten to the family. Even though we still have two cats who are patients there and are seen regularly, they wouldn't let me make a sick visit for our new puppy because he's a "new" patient (after not letting me make an appointment for either the puppy or kitten previously and recommending I find a clinic to bring them to to get them vaccinated). I can understand if we were new clients to the practice - but this is crazy. Most of the vets we've seen have been great - but not being able to speak to a vet or make an appointment is frustrating. We used to love this place, but have been treated differently and noticed a change in the past several months. Currently looking elsewhere for our veterinary needs. read more

I took my dogs to Westside for 18 years, and the care was excellent, that is, until Dr. Murphy sold the practice to a business-person. TWO DIFFERENT (new) veterinarians at Westside missed an obvious diagnosis of glaucoma in my dog, who then LOST THE EYE!! I took her to a veterinary ophthalmologist in Rhode Island, who made the diagnosis within seconds after we walked in the door. Dr. Murphy was great, and did the best he could to help us after the other vets not only missed the diagnosis, but duped me into buying an unnecessary and expensive medication. I now take my one-eyed dog to a vet an hour away. Westside is now more of a money-making business than a medical facility. The technicians are great, but the veterinary care has gone downhill. read more

They will have you waiting out side for hours in hot sun when you got to your appointment 40min in advance not god at all

Review of the Pathway Vet Alliance's Worcester location, aka Westside Animal Clinic. Much like Jeri, I also started going to WAC back when they were at the other end of the street. They always held my pet's wellness as their first priority. But now that Pathway bought the WAC, things have changed. In the past, when my dog got a urinary infection (she gets them about once a year - long story), I would drop off a urine sample and within hours had a prescription for antibiotics. They would usually check her file, see she had the same symptoms as last year, send off the urine sample to confirm the infection, and prescribe an antibiotic in the mean time. This time it hit her on a Thursday night. I called and dropped off a sample soon after opening on Friday, with the notice that I would get a call within 24 hours. Saturday, no call. As they close early on Saturday, I stopped by to find out what the situation was and to get my dog, who has now been feeling horrible since Thursday night, some antibiotics. I was told that the results were in - yes, she had a urinary infection. But I still could not get the antibiotics: "the Dr. will call you after she was through with patients" (in other words, after closing). I begged for the pills now, again to get my dog relief ASAP. Nope - only after I spoke to the Dr.. Frustrated, I said OK, but please assure me that I could come by later and pick them up after closing. Nope again! Apparently my dog would have to wait for antibiotics until the following Monday. The four days of pain for my dog was not a concern for the new crew. I asked why I can't get them now, and I was told they had to be sure it wasn't something else. "We had a dog with similar symptoms this morning who turned out to have cancer." Dumbfounded, I explained my dog has had this before, they have a test result that confirms she has it now, and all I want is antibiotics - not looking for opiates here. I would accept all risk. Nope again: "our policies have changed". Having no recourse but to make a very loud demand to see the Dr. right then, they relented. So now we go to a vet that treats my pets as is best for the pet, and not as "policy" dictates. Yes, one star is harsh, but Pathway kept my dog in pain much longer than needed, and that is the worst thing a veterinary office could ever do. read more

I am sorry to say, hasn't been the same since Dr Trom left. I have a sick cat at home, and the best they could do was the end of June to be seen. I had been going there since the place had opened. Is a shame, and now I fear the worst for my fur baby read more

I had an appointment with my dog today to get routine things checked out, I was 4 minutes late to the appointment (after calling ahead and letting them know I would be) and they brought in another customer. I had to wait OVER AN HOUR to be seen by the vet and after an hour they still were taking people ahead of me. DO NOT GO TO THIS VET. They are rude and punished a hard working mom for being a few minuets late. read more

This place has turned into complete SHIT upon ownership change. Their number one focus is money oriented. I've brought my pup there his entire life. I brought him in exactly a week ago for an infection of the anal gland and their lack of thorough observation of the situation brought him to an untimely death. He was a healthy boy and he is no longer. Don't go there if you're looking for a compassionate pet care. read more

Have been bringing our dogs to WAC for many years. We sadly learned that Drs Murphy and Trom will be leaving/retiring... They have been nothing short of fantastic..! However, with the new ownership, sorry to report that the WAC is definitely NOT the same as it was... Extremely aggressive and illogical approach (more than once) aiming primarily at unsuspecting people's emotions and wallets... Our suspicions were validated after seeking second opinion (again, more than once). Too bad... This was a great place before, but now, beware! Your pets (and you) deserve better.. read more

That's is after 7 yrs I'll be taking my business and pets elsewhere. The Drs at Westside are good for wellness visits, but Front desk support staff at west side is rude and unhelpful. I had to have my cats knee rebuilt which was beyond west side capacity so I used Northboro VCA and they where spectacular! Unfortunately in order to transfer my records I was required to sign an agreement not to switch vets. Drat! Today I brought both my cat and dog in for annual visit. Front desk would not acknowledge my arrival (the only client at desk) and 6 of them chatting away. So rude obviously holding 2 pets waiting to check in while someone husky puppy is stressing my cat out, you would think they would acknowledge me so I could at least get to the waiting room, not this crack staff of chair moisteners! Chat away ladies I am outta here found a new vet in Holden on my way home. read more

Westside Animal Clinic, A Thrive Pet Healthcare Partner - Veterinarians Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

I have been bringing my animals there for along time.my pet is very old and feeble and I made a very sympathic decision to be him down,Well I was never treated so poorly and judged in all my life.they were accusing and judgemental towards me/. I am now looking for a new vet. read more

tl;dr: If you're considering taking your pet(s) to Westside, PLEASE read recent reviews before committing. As others have noted, the client experience at Westside has shifted dramatically since the practice changed hands a couple of years ago. Our four (now three) cats have been patients for just over a decade, and we always had positive experiences. In the past two years or so, however, we've noticed the following: 1. Difficulty scheduling a short-notice visit when we thought our cat seemed out of sorts. - Example: We were told that the office books two months out; unfortunately, once we were finally able to get our cat into the office, our only remaining option was euthanasia or a blood transfusion, which we were told likely would not succeed. (Though we appreciate the condolence card that the office sent out afterwards). 2. Encouraged to order expensive tests that would put a great deal of stress on the pet, even though the doctor admitted that the test likely would not be conclusive. - Example: Sedation and an $800+ ultrasound for a cat who lost weight since his last visit, and has no symptoms of illness. - This new "upselling" tactic is evidenced, too, by the subscription service they now offer. 3. Abysmal communication between clients, front desk, and veterinary team. There are a number of new front desk staffers who vary in their empathy and competence. - Example: We were told to expect bloodwork results within 24 hours. A comedy of errors ensued ("actually, that lab can take up to 48 hours", "The doctor is out of the office today", "It looks like someone called you yesterday", etc.), and we finally acquired the bloodwork results after 8 phone conversations over the course of 5 business days. As a concerned pet parent, this was distressing and raised concerns that the office either had not actually drawn blood or that they had lost the sample. - Example: New, automated appointment reminder system that staff evidently have not been trained to use. We regularly receive erroneous texts and postcards encouraging us to come in for vaccines that we are up to date on, despite multiple phone calls to the office asking to correct the error. Obviously, this raises a concern that certain vaccines were never actually administered, even though we were charged for them, and that our pets are not adequately protected from preventable illnesses. 4. Concern over quality of care: - While the office has excellent COVID-19 safety protocols in place to protect its staff, because we cannot go into the exam room with our pets, it's not possible to know whether a vaccine or test was actually administered. - After a vaccine appointment, we dealt with lethargy, no appetite, shivering, and a limp with two of the three cats. We were not warned about these side effects, which lasted for about a day, and while all cats are fine now, it was understandably concerning. read more

I really like this place. Dr. Roy is genuinely concerned with our dogs condition. She goes the extra mile to help. The staff is great as well. I don't know if they are expensive or not but it is costly owning a dog. Anyway its a great place and i highly recommend asking for Dr. Roy. Wish they were cheaper in general... But again i have nothing to compare it to. read more

Quality of vet's knowledge is not consistent with all vets you will see at this clinic. Statements I do not appreciate hearing from a vet when I ask for reasons why my dog is being put on antibiotics for 30 days. "It's the way I've done it for 20 years and it works." "You seem to be really data-driven." The staff seem to really like and care for animals which is great, but not being able to communicate a research-based reason for a treatment is startling. Turns out that the antibiotics were not necessary. I requested an xray to see if my dog's bladder stones were dissolved from a special diet. So, the antibiotics that the vet could not justify using were completely unnecessary. They did refund the cost, close to $200 and I appreciate that. read more

Good doctors but rude, arrogant and uneducated support staff. Really their only job is to provide administrative help and courteous customer interactions. After seven years of lugging my dog and cat in for appointments, paying immediately you would think they could acknowledged a client within 10 minutes of arrival. Nope they continued chatting amongst themselves. I m a clinician myself and nope they were not discussing time sensitive patient care. Oh well taking my business elsewhere! read more

I worked at a vet hospital part time for a few years, and I know the ins and outs of them. WAC is hands down the best vet clinic in Worcester. The staff are so caring and wonderful. Dr. Trom, particularly, was beyond amazing when we were going through allergy testing and when we had to euthanized our previous dog unexpectedly , but I've seen almost all the docs there at least once and have had great experiences with all of them. You can't go wrong! read more

Just moved to the area and they were great with getting my pup caught up on vaccinations and follow-up recommendations.

I've been going to West Side for years. Our older dog had some symptoms that could be attributed to many causes, and Dr. Trom was able to determine the cause. Dr. Trom and her staff are empathetic, knowledgable, and truely seem to love their patients and their jobs. read more

This place has gone completely downhill since Dr. Murphy and Dr. Trom sold to Pathway. I have a 12 plus year old German shepherd with late stage degenerative myelopathy, who is basically a paraplegic. He gets recurring uti's due to wearing a diaper for incontinence. I called today because he has another one only 7 months since the last and vet refused to give antibiotics without seeing him in person. This dog is large and not easy to transport without being able to stand, at all without wheelchair. I offered to bring a urine sample to be tested and they said they have to see him since it's been 7 months. I asked about a video call check since trying to get this dog and wheelchair into car, is difficult at best.... nope they refused to help without in person visit. Needless to say, I found a new understanding veterinarian who was willing to review records and give antibiotic once urine results were ready, in same day. Beyond disappointed, since I've been a client for many years. I will not being using Westside again for my pets. read more

Just brought my cat here for the first time because I was unhappy with my other vet and had heard great things about west side. I am so impressed by this clinic! My cat is generally very snippy and fussy with vets but she was very calm here! The vet and vet assistants were caring, gentle, and extremely friendly! I also was given a ton of free samples!!! Their prices are reasonable and they are very punctual. I will definitely be going to west side from now on! read more

I needed to get my two rabbits fixed so I looked around for the best prices and WAC won. I brought my bunnies in and was with the vet during the pre check up. She took very good care to my bunnies and was gentle. My rabbits seemed to love her. The procedure went fine and my bunnies are as happy as two clams in the ocean. I also really liked the abundance of candy here read more

If I could give this clinic a zero, I would. Called today with a request to see one of their vets. I work just up the street from their location. The receptionist said the dog should be seen immediately and then came back to say that she spoke with the vet and he could not give an appointment to a non-existing client!! Really? The dogs needs immediate help and you can't give her 10 minutes? At anytime? Certain doctors work for the passion of helping and the love of their clients, others just wont. That would be Westside Animal Clinic! Call Abbot Animal Hospital instead!! read more

The best around. We have brought our animals here for as long as I can remember. We had a dog with severe allergies who they helped us care for. Unfortunately we just lost him a couple of weeks ago at the age of 14! I will continue to bring my cat here even though I moved about an hour away. It is well worth the drive to come and see them! read more