VCA Animal Care Center of Chicago - Chicago, Illinois

jose R.

Hospital de Animales, Para el público. Jajaja.

Julie G.

I brought my dog to this location for almost 10 years, always under the impression that they were doing what they could in order to help my dog and his many ailments. But when my dog really needed help, and I called them telling them that he couldn’t walk and wasn’t eating, they told me they couldn’t see him until Monday. Frustrated, I said that I could just bring him there and wait for when the vet had an opening so that he could be seen. The person I spoke to told me I should not do that, and that the vet has no obligation to see me or talk to me while I am there. I ended up having to put my dog down that day at a different location that I was totally unfamiliar with. Luckily the place I went was beyond amazing and helpful. This location then called me a couple days later to “express their sympathies”, although it felt much more they were obligated to call to tell me I was being refunded for two months of CareClub that my dog didn’t use prior to passing away. Now, almost a month later, a refund has yet to occur. Instead, I need to continue to call the place where I have some of the worst possible memories of the last day of my dog life. Looking back, the amount of money I spent here for what turned out to be completely unnecessary test, was absurd. However, what won’t we do for our pets? This location knows that, as other reviews have pointed out. I cannot express how badly I don’t want anyone else to feel like I did that day. Because when it comes to the hardest time of your pets life, you cannot relay on this place to try and help you when you really need it, regardless of how much money you’ve spent there. If I ever adopt another dog, I will do my due diligence in finding a vet that genuinely cares.

Liz B.

My dogs have been clients at VCA West Loop since they were puppies and we have enjoyed five years of excellent care and outstanding customer service. VCA makes everything user friendly and take amazing care of my doggies. The Care Club package has been a great value. Would recommend VCA highly.

Dena G.

Prices are outrageous and I feel that they are constantly trying to upsell. The entire staff must be incentivized for profits or sales. Agree with the review that said they felt like they were at Disney and paid $9 for water.Feel totally ripped off after spending over $400 and fecal test, not including rabies! I was sold the care plan for one year after the fact, because at that point, it didn't make financial sense not to do it. I went blindly off a recommendation and my fault for not researching more, but this place is a complete rip off. I will be stuck for a year and then moving on. Do your homework before going there.

Priscilla M.

2nd update: I took my pets to another (way cheaper) clinic, and they did the vaccines in under 10 seconds in a way that did not upset my pets at all. VCA charged me over $300 and my new clinic was only $80. Pretty drastic for the same service/vaccines.

Update: I emailed them as directed by the comment below and they never answered, so much for wanting to make things right.

Advocating for my pets was like PULLING TEETH!
I’m extremely disappointed in my experience after bringing my pets here for years and having no issues. It was my first time with Dr.Moodie and I honestly have nothing good to say. He was extremely condescending and kept trying to push me to administer drugs to my pets that they did not need to make up for his poor job handling them and maybe to make me pay more. I kept trying to help hold them and kept being brushed off, I explained their different personalities and how the vaccines and medications have always been administered to my pets (at this location in the past) with no issues and he kept refusing to listen or care. He just kept hurting my pets and then gave up saying it was their fault and they needed medication to do a quick shot when, as someone who’s worked in a Vet clinic for years in the past, I couldn’t have administered in a couple seconds. There was absolutely no understanding or customer service and now instead of being done, I have to stress my pets out more by taking them to another clinic that they are unfamiliar with because this doctor did not listen or try to do their job in a more understanding manner. Again, my pets have NEVER had any issues getting shots, it was a very disappointing experience and there was no care for my pets. He said that the my pets were the most exposed to diseases at the vet, which did not make me confident that the clinic is being cleaned if that is what their doctor is worried about. On top of all of this he kept saying that the vaccines were going to give my pets cancer, which is so crazy to say because that might deter someone from administering important vaccines to their pets. COMPLETELY UNPROFESSIONAL!

Angie C.

I had to put both my dogs down, which was a very troubling experience for me, but I personally feel That VCA helped me And both my dogs Feel comfortable and let me know that I made the right decision for both of my pets who were sick. I want to think Liz for helping me personally feel better and giving so much love to my dogs as If they were her own, I was even able to get a card from the whole staff, and I can just tell that everyone But especially Liz cared I appreciate you thank you!!

Kristi E.

Wow! I'm sitting next to a very content cat right now, all rolled up into a ball. I think he was happier today than your average day, and had some excitement. This is a cat that went to the vet today.

A little backstory, my little guy, whom is a kitten, has only been to VetCo (PetCo's mobile veterinarian service) and PAWS, for vaccines and neutering. VetCo has been such a horrible experience, that little my cat is traumatized by this point, from seeing a vet. They couldn't even complete his pre-surgical examination at PAWS, by the time I took him there just 12 days ago, because he was so freaked out (and he isn't really a little scaredy cat, nor is he fractious at home).

So finally, I got him into VCA for his first real vet appointment. I didn't expect for them to be able to examine him, but at least I knew I could get all my health questions for him answered, and hopefully they wouldn't tell me to never to bring him back again.

I forgot to ask if they had cat empathetic or Fear-Free certified veterinarians there, when making an appointment, so I asked when I arrived. The front desk staff didn't know what I was talking about, but started listing amongst themselves some of their vets that were already really good with cats, and one of them just happened to be who my baby got to see today.

The front desk staff were super attentive to my furball's needs and friendly throughout the visit. They got me out of the stress of the front waiting area with the other animals, and into a exam room right away.

They let me take him out of his carrier, but we hardly had to wait at all, despite being early for the appointment. I brought toys and treats, and put him on the metal exam table, so I could start helping him make a positive association with those tables. When the veterinarian came in, he was so cool!

I got to asking my questions first, and by the time I was done, FluffBall wasn't even afraid of the vet anymore- just a little timid. And BAM! We got a whole physical examination done! No hissing, not a thing! The veterinarian even checked his mouth, and my little guy was cooler with it than he is with me doing that!

MIND YOU, this was a previously "fractious" cat, that was at the point before this that he could barely be touched by a vet or their technician. A miracle!

Not only that, but my little guy got a welcome bag! It had toys and all sorts of goodies in it, and he was so excited to get it! VCA is running first time appointments at a promotional price right now, which I think is great, because I really think it helps the animal community out there. Not only that, but their booster shots run less cost than horrible VetCo!

Also, they have excellent hours of operation, and they were able to advise me on which times were least packed, to make it less stressful for the cat.

Parking isn't bad- it's free street parking.

Another cool thing, is they're pretty sanitary here, and I think the notes on the entry door said that they have a separate entrance for sick pets.

Thanks VCA for performing a 180, miracle, on my little guy. I'm glad to make this my new home veterinarian.

Paige P.

GROOMING SERVICE

I had high hopes of taking my puppy to her first grooming appointment at the vet we go to, since they always take great care of her when needed. I was very particular and direct on the type of cut I wanted, which was just a "puppy trim" as we wanted to leave her coat on the shaggy side. I also referenced wanting her to look more like the retriever in her than poodle multiple times because I know most groomers like to cut doodles more like a poodle (which we didn't want). I even sent pictures before the appointment and brought some with me, to avoid any miscommunication. I brush my puppy every day to avoid mats, so she doesn't have to be shaved because we love her longer coat.

I was very upset when I picked her up, to find the opposite of what I asked for. Her hair was basically shaved, they went scissor crazy and gave her a poodle face/head that I did not want. It almost looks like a terrible bowl cut toddlers got in the 90s.

It was an overall disappointment.

If you are expecting the type of cut you ask for, I wouldn't use the grooming services here.

First pic is for desired "trim" length reference.