. "5"^^ . "5"^^ . . "0"^^ . "0"^^ . . "2013-09-09T00:00:00"^^ . "emergency vet clinics are largely shitty places. they're expensive. when you need them, you are dealing with an emergency that faces your pet (awful). and if you can't pay, your pet can't get treated. this is all really shitty stuff. \n\nhowever, I've had several emergency visits to the VET and have to respectfully say that Chad's take on their services are not in line with my experience. Of course they're expensive - they are a veterinary clinic that operates during emergency hours and so charges a premium! but that outlandish high/low estimate is well beyond the scope of anything that's been sprung on me and i've brought animals here near death.\n\nwe could all vent all day about the awful costs associated with a pet - especially those of us who don't have pet insurance *THIS GIRL* but putting the money talk aside, it must be said that the VEC has absolutely tremendous, world-class specialists on site. if you have lived anywhere other than toronto/surrounding, you might know how difficult it is to access a veterinary neurologist or other specialist. dr susan cochrane at VEC is just simply superb. firstly purely from a credentials standpoint she is tops. she teaches at guelph currently and taught my regular vet a neurology course. there's basically no point getting a second opinion if your dog is under dr cochrane's care. secondly, she is extremely supportive and always available. by phone, all the time. if she's busy, she'll call back. i've talked to her at midnight on a saturday. she will always talk to clients on the phone rather than send messages through secretaries or vet techs. she is also budget conscious. all those phone calls i mentioned? FREE. couldn't be happier or more grateful for the experience my dog and i have had with dr cochrane at VEC."^^ .