VCA Northern is completely amazing. I started going to Alta Vista Veterinary when I found my first dog Rufus. He was in bad shape, especially his ears. I went to this vet stupidly for at least six months, simply because I didn't know any better. Rufus was my first dog ever and even though I thought his ears weren't healing, the vet kept telling me I was wrong and I believed them.
Then I adopted my second dog Mu from the Humane Society. With Mu came free vet visits at VCA Northern. Rufus was still scratching at his ears and I decided someone else needed to tell me he was just "prone to ear infections." VCA Northern really listened to me and addressed my concerns. They came up with an alternative treatment which led to them finding SIX fox tails in both of his ears. No wonder he had been so uncomfortable! Due to the extreme measures it took to extract the fox tails and the length of time they had been in there, VCA told me there was a good chance he was going to lose his hearing. I was so bummed out and felt so bad I hadn't gotten him the help he needed sooner. But VCA gave me perfect instructions for taking care of him and knew exactly what treatments he needed. Because of that, Rufus can still hear and he and his sister are both so happy and healthy!
There are a lot of vets that are closer to me and in nicer looking neighborhoods, but VCA Northern is worth it in every way. The staff are always polite, caring and patient and the place itself is always spotless. They answer all my questions, from pet insurance to how often I should brush their teeth. Everyone from the receptionist Fay, to the vets, Dr. HammerIch and Dr. Martin really care about animals. They all go above and beyond to provide the best care.