West Coast Animal Veterinary Emergency Specialty (WAVES) Hospital

Bonnie Goldenhar

I’ve never seen a place so unprofessional. The reception staff are so cold. The communication between all areas is non existing I had to go back to get eye drops I was billed for but didn’t get My dogs eyes is not healing as it should it’s popping out of he socket but I would never tell them because there’s too much incompetence I’ll take here to my regular vet tomorrow and hope it’s not too late. Please don’t take your beloved there they are so uncompassionate and they don’t triage properly and one of the staff was shaking her head at me because I was pacing. I have never experienced such in compassionate people when dealing with animals

Nov 11, 2024

Shauna Slipper

WAVES made our emergency situation with our little boy, Lewie, so much less stressful than it could have been! He had a life threatening medical problem and all of their work was incredible. They without a doubt saved our little boys life ❤️ I couldn’t be any more thankful for the kind compassionate care we received from all of the professionals working here. I truly believe had it not been for their incredible knowledge, our baby wouldn’t still be with us. THANK YOU! 🥹

Aug 14, 2024

V A

We are beyond grateful for the incredible care our dachshund received from Dr. Barnard at WAVES. Our dog came in with no mobility in her back legs and needed emergency IVDD spinal surgery. Dr. Barnard happened to be there that Friday and fit us in immediately. She discovered two ruptured disks and performed a complex surgery, also creating fenestrations where she could reach. The results have been positive. Our dachshund had her surgery on September 6th, and by October 20th, she was walking unassisted on non-slippery surfaces! She continues to show improvements every day, and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome. Dr. Barnard is a skilled, compassionate professional, and we felt reassured throughout the entire process. If you’re facing IVDD surgery for your pet, I highly recommend Dr. Barnard and the team at WAVES. They saved our dog, and we are forever grateful! We will be traveling to the USA for PLDA surgery, a specialized procedure that isn’t available in Canada. If you are in the same situation, I highly recommend reading up on this option, as this procedure could be the best option for your pet. Note: video is from Oct 11, and her mobility continues to improve.

Oct 20, 2024

Miranda McCue

The situation surrounding this hospital highlights a fundamental issue with online outrage and misinformation. It's heartbreaking that this hospital and their team are facing hate and threats over a situation that involved numerous factors beyond control. Veterinary professionals dedicate their lives to saving and caring for animals, and it's unjust to vilify them based on one-sided narratives. It's crucial for people to realize that stories shared online often lack context and nuance, and rushing to condemn without all the facts can cause irreparable harm. Constructive dialogue, empathy, and a willingness to understand the complexities of each situation are vital in ensuring fairness and justice for all involved parties, so I would like to share my honest and factual experience with Waves, coming from someone who was actually a patron of this hospital. I took my almost 3 year old Cat, Boots into this hospital after he was experiencing some worrisome symptoms and was in a lot of pain. We were kindly welcomed in and checked in within seconds of walking inside the door. The front desk staff were so wonderful with me and patient as I was in a pile of tears. My cat is my best bud, and everyone on the team here made me feel very comfortable leaving my anxious boy in their care. They said such kind things to me and didn’t make me feel silly for crying at all. Since my cat was in overnight, I believe he saw 3 separate Vets as there was shift change, each was a woman and they were all equally as amazing. They called me as promised, and gave me a very easy to understand update, and were always honest. I am very happy with every vet my cat saw, and could not have asked for better care. At WAVES the Veterinary staff members often work grueling hours, sacrificing precious time with their families and friends to ensure the well-being of animals in their care. They frequently face long shifts, emergency call-ins, and unpredictable work schedules, all in the service of providing compassionate and competent care. These dedicated professionals understand the immense responsibility they hold in safeguarding the health and lives of beloved pets, and they willingly make personal sacrifices to fulfill their duties. Their commitment goes beyond mere job duties; it reflects a deep-seated passion for animals and a sense of duty to their community. Their selflessness and unwavering dedication deserve acknowledgment and appreciation, as they play a vital role in maintaining the health and happiness of our beloved animal companions. Thank you Wave’s for sacrificing your time and working around the clock to save my best friend. I really hope I don’t have to come back (because that means my cat is sick ), but if I do come back- I know Boots will be in the best care. p.s they reached out to my insurance company to clear an issue for me weeks later, it was done within minutes of me sending them an email a really nice vet even personally called me to explain that insurance was wrong and that they submitted paper work for me to clear things up (done free of charge out of the kindness of their hearts because they care)

Aug 6, 2024

Lynn West

On November 16th in the middle of the night we awoke to the sounds of our cat Harley in distress. He had collapsed and was obviously in a very bad way. We rushed him to this emergency hospital and they rushed him off to the back while we signed the required form. When the vet came to see us he told us that Harley had a very weak heartbeat and an extremely low oxygen level. Although he was only eight years old it was clear to us that Harley was critically ill. The vet than proceeded to tell us that he was too sick to go home, that if we left him at the hospital it would be $3000 overnight and any diagnostic tests would be another $2000. He didn't give us any idea what may be happening with Harley but it was very clear to us that Harley was dying. Both my husband and l had years of experience in the field of animal welfare and we knew that Harley wouldn't survive any prolonged stay or diagnostic tests. We decided to have Harley euthanized. They brought Harley to us and l held him in my arms while the vet injected him with a sedative, unfortunately the vet, in our opinion injected the solution much too quickly and Harley screamed out in pain. The vet's only response to this was to cry out was any one bit. Harley would never have bitten anyone, and if the vet had been a little kinder and took a little more time to administer that sedative Harley wouldn't have reacted the way he did. After that shot Harley purred in my arms until he passed away. We had brought another cat in for treatment at Waves and were so impressed with the vet that met with us. This experience was so different, the vet's lack of caring or compassion, the focus on quoting fees without even attempting to be honest about the condition of the animal and the rushed attempt to sedate our cat that only made a bad situation worse. I really don't think l would consider taking one of my animals to Waves in the future after this experience.

Dec 7, 2024