VCA Canada Calgary Animal Referral & Emergency Centre (CARE)

My dog had been receiving treatment for lymphoma here for over a year. Dr. Larson’s team was highly professional, skilled, and compassionate. They showed us so much love and care, which deeply touched me. The emergency team is also truly admirable. During my time in the emergency room, I witnessed their dedication and hard work firsthand. They work tirelessly with a strong sense of responsibility, which is truly commendable. Everyone here is genuinely friendly. I am truly grateful to them and will always cherish the time we spent together.

posted: 12/10/2024

We travelled here from Edmonton for my dog to have cataract removal surgery with a specialist here. Absolutely everything about our experience here was top notch. Every single staff was confident, competent, kind and helpful. Our surgeon was outstanding, thorough and kind. We had three appointments over three days including surgery, and everything was coordinated so well. We are so so very happy with the care and health care our dog received here, including after-surgery support we received after we travelled home. Highly recommend this fantastic facility!!

posted: 08/01/2024

Thank you Dr.Dominic and the excellent staff. The reception and every one here were super professional and caring. Providing excellent care for our Gilly. He is recovering very well.

posted: 09/20/2024

I can't speak for others and their experience here, I can also attest to my own and honestly, my experience was the best it could have been given the circumstance. I had been fighting for months to find answers. I went to multiple vets. Finally, a referral was sent to this animal hospital. My cat and his health took a steep decline and so no longer wanting to wait, I called them and they said to bring him in. 30 minutes later, I arrived with my boy and was met at the front desk. I said I called and they immediately remembered. They took my cat right away to be assessed. I sat down to fill out forms and was updated periodically while I waited. Finally I was brought to an exam room where I waited only moments for the vet to come in. I had Carissa Tong first who came in, I answered questions, gave background and then she shared her findings. Based on his health, he was kept overnight in an oxygen chamber while we waited for the morning to come so he could be seen by a specialist. It was hard to have to leave him, but after talking to a care specialist and working out a plan with tests and all, she asked if I wanted to go see him. The price was.. a lot. I expected it to be. It's an emergency hospital. But I was ready to pay what I needed to pay to get answers, to get help. I went and visited my boy, who seemed to perk up after getting some oxygen. Everyone was sweet, and they assured me they would take care of him. As they walked me out, they informed me of the next steps and that if I had any questions, they were there all night and all I had to do was call. It was a long night and around 10am, I got a call to inform me my cat was moved to critical care, like they said he would be in the morning. The lady on the phone said the specialist will give me a call after she's examined him. By 12, I got the call from the specialist who gave me details of her findings, Jenefer Stillion was very compassionate and assuring. She told me the time she would call back and so I went back to waiting and hoping for the best. Unfortunately, at no fault of anyone, after his tests and further exams, the prognosis wasn't good. Dr.Stillion gave me 4 options, but was very honest with me. In the end, I chose to go with euthanasia. Dr.Stillion explained the process to me as I haven't done this before, she was very kind and understanding. She said there was no rush and when I was ready, to come in. After letting my family know, we went back to the hospital to say goodbye to my best friend. They brought us into a dimly lit, clean and quiet room. Soon after, they brought my cat in and assured us it was ok to take as much time as needed and when we were ready, to press the button on the wall. After lots of tears, cuddles and kisses to his soft head, we pushed the button. Dr.Stillion came in, and at the pace I wanted to go, we got through one of the hardest things I've had to do. In all my tears and blubbering, Dr.Stillion kept reassuring me. Finally, when his passing was confirmed, we were told we could stay with him for as long as needed. When we were ready, a nurse came in and very gently, picked up my boy, let us kiss him goodbye and asked if we wanted to leave out the back doors. The staff said my cat was a charmer, very sweet and had people falling in love with him in only 24 hours. They acted fast, got me the answers I had been begging for for months, and even though there wasn't much I could do that wouldn't take away the quality of life he deserved, and as hard as it was to do, I'm so happy that in his last hours, he was doted on, he was taken care of, he was loved and I had the opportunity to be there, to comfort him, to take in our last moments together and there was no rush. A few days ago, I got his ashes back and there was a card in the bag from the team at CARE. My heart goes out to them, it can't be easy but I am beyond grateful for your support, your compassion, your honesty and the love you gave to us. Thank-you.

posted: 09/12/2024

I want to express my gratitude to this clinic for the care and compassion they showed during a really tough day. From the moment I reached out, the entire team was kind, understanding, and supportive. They guided me through every step of the process with patience, answering all my questions and making sure we felt comfortable. They created such a peaceful and loving environment, allowing me the time and space to say goodbye. Their empathy and professionalism made a heartbreaking experience a little easier to bear. They were respectful in honouring our financial limitations when offering treatment options. Thank you for treating us with such dignity and respect during such a difficult time.

posted: 12/16/2024