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Austin Vet Care
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- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 a.m.
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18 reviews for Austin Vet Care
My feelings towards Austin Vet Care are really indifferent. A few weeks ago, my 13 year old pup got injured while on a walk with my boyfriend. We don't know what happened or how it happened, but a small bit of her tail was degloved (skin removed). I freaked and rushed her to the closest 24 hour vet clinic.
What I thought would just be a few stitches and bandage wound up being $650+ for amputating part of her tail. I don't feel 100% confident that the veterinarian made the best recommendation in the interest of me and my pet. Perhaps amputation was the safest option, but I can't overlook the sad reality that some business significantly upcharge after playing on emotions. Looking back, I wished I had gotten a second opinion from my regular DVM. At the time though, I went with the recommendation of someone with veterinary experience and education -- obviously not myself.
Aside from the exorbitantly priced operation, me and my dog were treated well by the staff at Austin Vet Care. After we had explained the story to the receptionist, a technician came and tended to my dog so she wouldn't have to anguish while we waited to see a vet. Everyone on staff was very polite, friendly, and more than willing to answer my concerns. I received a thorough follow-up call from the veterinarian who performed the operation, which I felt was a nice gesture since this chore is usually left to someone else. The post-op instructions given were also very thorough, and I didn't feel completely lost through the process. Despite the friendly service, it still didn't fill the hole in my pocket nor the guilt I felt for allowing my dog to go through such pain.
My final gripe is that they prescribed torbugesic, an old-fashioned pain management medication. I found a few studies that have shown it's not a very long-lasting or effective analgesic compared to other postoperative meds. The first day home, my dog was in a great deal of pain just a few hours after giving the medication. I didn't know what was happening and assumed she was experiencing side effects from anesthesia. Her temperament worsened until I finally called Austin Vet Care back to prescribe a stronger analgesic. In my opinion (which probably doesn't weigh much anyway without DVM after my name) they should have prescribed the stronger pain medication from the start. Read http://vettechs.blogsp... if you're still interested.
Austin Vet Care is a huge convenience because it offers 24h service every day of the year, but depending on the situation, I would probably wait to see my regular DVM next time.
Can I give zero stars???
This place preys on people that care about their pets. I would HIGHLY recommend you go to another place if you can.
I had to take my yorkie in on Sunday evening because she was vomiting up blood. After giving me a $2,000 estimate (WTF?!?!?) they basically told me that I could take her home and "hope she makes it to the morning" or I could hand over the cash and make her all better.
To sum it all up, I brought her home the next day with some antibiotic and soft dog food. And $1,600 less in my wallet.
Found out later that most of the tests were unnecessary and as my regular vet said, I "was gouged". Fantastic.
I really struggled with how to rate Austin Vet Care. On the one hand, they provided me with compassionate, caring service from about 1:30-3 a.m. on New Year's Eve. On the other hand, they did not diagnose my pup's problem, whereas I was eventually able to do so within literally three minutes to about a 99.99% certainty using Google. Nevertheless, I understand that it's impossible to know every possible malady that might take hold of a dog, so I erred on the side of their good bedside manner and rounded their 3.5 stars up to four.
If you want the long version of this story, read on.
My dog likes to wait until holidays to get sick - the last time she required vet care was over Labor Day weekend. So I should have been more concerned when she was worrying her tail just before I left to celebrate New Year's Eve. It looked like maybe she just had a pesky itch there or something, though, and I couldn't visually see anything wrong, so I thought nothing of it and headed out.
When I got home, I went to let her out and it was immediately evident that something was very wrong. Her tail was crooked about six inches from the base and hanging down weirdly between her legs (she usually carries it aloft). It looked for all the world as if it were broken. And she was walking with her entire rear end tucked under the way dogs who have been horribly abused sometimes do. Worse still, she was crying and yelping and squealing to beat the band, which is REALLY unusual for her - I literally had never heard her even whine once since I adopted her eight months before. I immediately rushed her into the car and sped off for Austin Vet Care which, thankfully, is very close to my house.
We were seen pretty quickly by a vet tech, then Dr. Callaway. About 1.5 hours later, they had sedated her, x-rayed her, partially shaved her tail (which was slightly swollen in one spot) to check for spider bites, and reversed the sedation so she could walk around enough to come home. All the while, they were great about keeping me very informed about what was going on and checking to make sure I OK'd the treatment as they went. The final diagnosis: probably some sort of tail trauma of unknown origin. Odd, since I couldn't think of any way she could have sustained any tail trauma, but whatever. They gave me a couple of drugs to keep her comfortable and instructed me to watch her closely and bring her back if she got any worse.
The next day, on a whim, I Googled "swollen tail" and immediately stumbled upon a condition peculiar to labs called "limp tail," "limber tail," or "cold tail" which is believed to be caused by cold water. I had given her a bath just a couple days previously, and the photos I saw of this condition looked EXACTLY like what Mindy was experiencing. Everything I read said to just give the dog rest and that it would go away within a couple of weeks, usually in just a couple of days. Fortunately, this turned out to be true, and within two days she was back to her old self, clearing tables with one wag of her (now partially shaved) Tail of Doom.
Had they known about the dreaded Limber Tail, Austin Vet Care could have saved me probably $133 of the $260 bill I incurred (I probably would still have taken her to the vet after hours to get her drugs since she was obviously in serious pain). And my lab would not look like I had given her a poodle cut on her tail. Nevertheless, the ability to get compassionate care in the middle of the night - a service that only a couple of vet clinics that I know of in Austin offer - is worth something to me. I probably would not use Austin Vet Care as my usual vet, but if I, god forbid, ever had another pet emergency in the middle of the night, I'd head there again.
I have really mixed feelings about this place & struggled a little with my rating (as I see others have). I have been taking my animals here ever since I moved back to Austin in 2004 & had always had nothing but great things to say about them. The staff at the front were courteous & compassionate, the vets were all very thorough & knowledgeable, & the prices were reasonable.
Two years ago when my beloved staffie became ill we took her here & they worked their hardest to save her, going above & beyond the call of duty, even after they knew she should be put to sleep. Ultimately she was put down & the vet who helped us was so compassionate & considerate, as were all the staff. I don't think we could have been in better hands & truly appreciate all they did for us.
Since that time, the name has changed & it seems some of the staff has changed as well. Unfortunately it also seems that the level of care & compassion has changed with it.
In September my male cat, who was the first animal I ever took to this vet, became suddenly ill - literally overnight - & needed immediate attention. One problem... I was between paychecks & had maxed out my credit cards due to a lay off months before. I inquired about writing a post dated check (they had let me in the past). I explained the urgency of the situation. I told them I could pay "x" amount now & the balance in a week when I got paid. This was an animal they had seen countless times & they knew his history. They refused to help.
Unfortunately I was unable to find another vet willing to help us quickly enough & Johnny died later that evening, at home. I don't know if he could have been saved or not, but I do know that I will never take another animal to this vet unless I have no other choice in the matter.
I have spent thousands of dollars at this clinic to ensure that my animals are well cared for. I had established a relationship there that I thought mattered for something. I work in the medical field & I know that we would never ever turn away one of our patients in crisis, regardless of their ability to pay at time of service. While I understand the business perspective, I also would like to believe that these people went into this line of work because they love animals & would do anything to keep them from suffering. The general attitude & lack of concern they displayed during my time of crisis is just completely unacceptable & has truly left a bad taste in my mouth.
I'll give you my story and let you decide. I had just moved from KC, so I haven't been able to thoroughly research vets. My dog is the first dog that I've ever owned and while he is three years old, I still feel like I'm learning a few things.
With all the excitement of my dog vomiting, I didn't think to check the reviews before going, I wish I had. Although, when the dog is vomiting, the last thought going through your head is, "gee, I think I'll get online and do research."
My dog has been throwing up off and on all week. He's been a bit lethargic. Looking through his vomit, I did find some foreign objects in there. After another round of vomiting yesterday morning, I made an appt and was able to get in that day.
I was impressed because the vet had discussed all the treatment options and gave me an estimate for each. I got to pick my treatment. In KC , you don't get an estimate - you don't know what you are paying until you are ready to check out. Everyone there seemed nice and they seemed to care.
So everything was fine until I got home. A few hours later, I found vomit that had a tie to a robe in it. The whole tie - I was shocked that my dog hadn't choked to death. There were also tags from other clothes in his vomit. At that point I didn't know what he ate or how much was still in his system. The robe was in the box that had other lingerie in it. (light, airy, thin, etc...)
So I called the clinic. They would waive the recheck fee if I came in.
They ran X-rays and those were inconclusive. They said that was possible with thin clothing. They said that they could run a $600 barium dye check but they may also be inconclusive. They also said that 90% of the dogs have to have the surgery. If they had surgery after that, the barium could cause complications. The only sure-fire way to find out if everything is OK is for him to have surgery. The sooner they have surgery the better because intestinal strangulation could occur.
The provided me with a $1900 estimate, which I talked down to $1300. They took pity on me because of the financial devastation that I had been through this year.
So, I get a call at 3:30 in the morning saying that nothing was wrong with him. He had vomited up everything foreign.
After I got over my relief, I got angry. I googled emergency vets in Austin and that's when I saw these reviews. I got that sick feeling in my stomach (which still hasn't gone away). I called another emergency vet clinic in town and they said I did the right thing. They would've told me the same thing: clothing doesn't always show up on X-rays and with the amount of vomiting and the fact that he's been like this for days, they would've recommended surgery.
Would I go back - most likely not. First of all, I think my dog would turn and run if I tried to bring him into the building. Secondly, I will always have it in the back of my head that I was rushed into a decision, even though the diagnosis was confirmed by the second vet clinic. Third, the other reviews on here are scary.
Update 7/25/09 - The vet clinic allowed me to see my dog today. I went to the back area where the pets recover from surgery. I have to say that the area was clean and well organized. The have many techs in the back area to treat and handle the pets. I have to say, that they handled each animal with care. I haven't had experience with visiting my pet in the vet clinic, so to be able to do this was a treat for me and for my dog.
Also, I talked with someone I know who worked summers at an animal clinic. She said that most clothes don't show up on the x-ray and that the urgency of the situation was warranted.
I'm increasing my rating from a 3 to a 4.
Update 7/28/2009
My dog is recovery nicely at home. I've had a few questions, so I called in and there was a tech immediately available to answer my questions. Also, they have called me a couple of time to check up on my dog to see how he is recovering. I have never had that before.
I'm glad I brought my dog here. My rating has changed from a 4 to a 5.
I have taken 3 different dogs here, none mine, but all close to my dog(and myself).
The first time, it was my dog's mother. While playing fetch, she clumsily ran into a tree and got splinters in her eye. The sweet pooch wanted to keep playing, and we didn't even notice anything was wrong til the next morning when her eye was swollen. We took her for emergency surgery and the doctors did a great job fixing her up and saving her eye-she recovered quickly and is still a happy healthy dog.
The second time was my dog's brother. He got hit by a car and had to rehab here. Again, they did a great job taking care of him, even if his owner was negligent and managed to avoid paying them-even defaulting on a loan from Animal Trustees for her dog's life saving operation. Still, very professional on the staff's part the whole way through.
The third time was my dog's best friend and housemate. He was starting to act sick and lethargic and because he had such an enormous coat, we never noticed his dramatic weight loss. We took him in at night, thinking he might have simply been a little sick, possibly having eaten something he shouldn't have-not realizing he likely had cancer. He died there while undergoing tests. My roommate was understandably in hysterics about the very sudden loss of her beloved dog.
Until the last time, I'd have given this place 5 stars, despite the high prices-because their emergency care was great. But the last time, the doctor who tended to him was so dispassionate and *cold* that I just couldn't imagine this person was on staff, especially at night when emergencies happen. Pet owners are at their worst in the middle of the night when they think something is wrong with their loved ones.
I understand you can't be emotionally involved in this line of work, but he had ZERO empathy. Emotional support is just as important in the medical profession as quality care-I don't care how many episodes of House you watch. I was astounded by his lack of feeling.
To this day, I'm still perturbed by it. While it may be a fairly routine(if unpleasant) part of the job-telling someone their pet has died(in your care, I might add) is a moment that sticks with the other person FOREVER. I can't imagine they gloss over this in school. I wonder if he just had other larger things on his mind or if he was naturally like that. Suffice to say, I intend not to find out.
The silver lining is that one of the interns who was working there was not so callous and was very sympathetic, helpful and caring. It's exactly what one should have expected from ALL members of the staff. That and previous experiences are the only thing keeping this from a 1-star review. Suffice to say, unless it were an absolute emergency and I can't get to somewhere else, I'll take my dogs elsewhere.
They have unreasonable charges.
My current experience with this place is that I took my new puppy in to be checked. He had blood spots in his stool and had diarrhea. They told me he had Coccidia. I was given antibiotics to give to him. They asked for more stool sample (I brought my own), and luckily, my puppy had pooped in their office right after they had diagnosed him. That same night, after he was medicated, my dog had really nasty diarrhea. I was even more worried. I asked them what I should do, and they told me that I should bring him in and they can monitor him throughout the night. They said it would cost $500. I decided not to bring him in, and they offered me a dietary solution.
THREE DAYS LATER THEY TOLD ME HE DID -NOT- HAVE COCCIDIA! I was pissed off that I paid for medication that was NOT NEEDED. I know it wasn't the medicine, because the stool they checked was given the SAME DAY. Not only did I spend A LOT of money that night, I was mad that they had made a mistake. I was giving my dog medicine that he didn't need, so I was worried how it would benefit him!
I went to 2 different vets within the next weeks, who have CONFIRMED that he had NO parasites or bacteria at ALL.
I'm glad I didn't let my dog stay overnight, and I felt really jipped. Seriously, how can you make a mistake like that?
I would never come back to this place again. it may be convenient to drive to, but it's NOT WORTH IT.
I now go to a new vet who is far, but well worth it..and my money is WORTH SPENT. He also told me not to listen to B*S* vets tell you, just so they can get money out of you.
Heed my warning.
They have saved one of my dogs who got in a dog fight after hours and needed to be stitched up immediately. I was so distracted, worrying that she was going to bleed to death that I didn't pause to think about anything else. She turned out fine and I've taken another dog there a couple of times.
With this dog I've been severely disappointed with how they manipulate worried pet owners, making them think their dog is going to die if they don't fork over a $500 deposit and consent to every test possible. I took my dog at 2 in the morning because she hadn't eaten for the past couple of days and wouldn't stop vomiting. I couldn't sleep thinking she would get worse in the night so we headed over to the 24 hour clinic.
They were purposely vague about what her symptoms could mean and suggested expensive x-rays and tests right off the bat. They hadn't even laid a hand on her to feel her intestines or take her temperature. I had to keep reminding them that I just needed an initial analysis and to keep her stable through the night until I could take her to her normal vet. They showed me her x-rays that I finally consented to and even though the vet admitted he didn't see any obstruction and mostly just saw gas in her tummy he made it clear that if we took her home things could get worse quickly.
So after thoroughly scaring the crap out of me convincing me that my doggy will die unless I give them $500 and leave her overnight, I fork over the cash and return home to lay awake sick with fear and crying because I think she's going to die.
When I fetched her in the morning they said she had been stable all through the night hooked up to an IV just sleeping in her kennel. Once I took her over to her regular vet he determined from the x-rays that what looked like gas in her tummy was just that. I paid $500 for Vet Care to figure out that she had freaking gas.
Overall, I am appalled by how they manipulate the emotions of owners to get money up front and the "exams" by the vet don't involve the vet touching the animal at all. They want to use expensive tests to tell them everything and then charge you as much as possible. I'll probably have to come back here if I have another emergency in the middle of the night but I won't be real happy about it.
Wow, that's quite a few bad reviews.
Let me first say that i don't have a dog or a cat :( i do have two beautiful birds but that's another story.
A couple of months ago i was driving down a residential ally that i drive down everyday, there was this cute (schnauzer-ish) black dog sniffing along minding it's own, i realized something was off so i opened my car door and called it over, She/He hopped right in and sat on my lap with no tags and was sweet as could be! So feeling the pain of someone missing such a sweetheart i drove around the neighborhood for about an hour asking all the people i could find if they have ever seen the dog before, when that didn't work i had to get to the bank so i decided i would see if there was a vet on the way and this is where we come to Austin vet care, i went in and asked for a leash (since she had barked at other dogs outside of the car) and brought her in, they said she was chipped and they left a msg for her owner and that she could stay there for the night if need be, i felt relieved but also worried that the chip wasn't updated so i went back the next morning and they said she had been picked up.
I had no idea that this vet was a two star average on yelp and i didn't get anything but respect and kindness when i went in.
But after reading all of these reviews I'm now worried they tried to charge the person who came to pick her up, do vets do that?
In my personal one time encounter i give them 4 stars but i do wonder if that would change if i had a dog or cat that i got treated there...
A fact of life:
Vet offices close on holidays.
Fleas do not take a break from their job to celebrate said holidays.
Neither does Austin Vet Care. And they will sell you capstar pills for $5 each, 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year. Then in about 30 minutes you and your pup can continue to celebrate holiday, sans fleas.
**Disclaimer: I have not taken my dogs to see a vet here, I have only been on Easter to buy flea products.**
We had just moved to Austin and so we did not know any Vets yet, and our dog we had just adopted from the Humane Society was acting a bit off, so since this place was within walking distance and the Humane society was not yet open for the day, we brought our new (to us) dog here.
We found their name on a list provided by the humane society, so we figured that this would be a reasonable practice. After waiting an acceptable amount of time we got in to see the vet. At this point the vet proceeded to induce panic in us that our dog, whom we had only had for a couple days at this point, was near death and needed to be checked in immediately.
Having already gotten attached to the dog, we followed the vet's advice and checked her in. We then walked home and called the humane society once they opened. It then got complicated and we got the humane society's vet to call this vet and talk to get it all sorted out.
In the end, our dog had contracted some mild kennel cough at the Humane society (or possibly Town Lake before that) but didn't show symptoms til she came home with us. All she really needed was some rest and some anti-biotics, but about 8 hours and $200 dollars later we are finally reunited with our pup.
According to the Humane society, whom was incredibly helpful through all this, this practice has a reputation for overcharging and overreacting. The only reason they were in the pamphlet was because they happen to honor a coupon for new animal adopters.
Even in this long rant, I am synopsizing much. Regardless, we have never returned to this vet for two reasons. First, you do not panic pet owner into your pet's pending death in the manner that they did and second, they really did charge about 2x as much as our current vet for similar practices and procedures.
There are plenty of great vets in Austin, from our experience however, this is not one of them.
So....I'm very thankful this place exists. Dr Catherine Cuddihy is a very real person who was able to talk to me about which tests/meds were actually needed and relate to me as a "creative class (broke)" pet owner. I have been to other doctors at this clinic in the past with other pets and yes....they weren't amazing and probably over charged me, but not her. I won't go to anyone else in town. Hopefully Dr Catherine Cuddihy will change clinics, but for now her extended hours (since it's a 24hr clinic) are a perk.
Hmmmm..
When my dog Charlie, the LOVE OF MY LIFE, got the inside part of his leg caught on some shrubbery barrier and started bleeding like a stuck pig, this is where I went to see if he needed stitches...
They weren't sure at the front desk (as SNOW DOGS blared on the tv behind me), but would take him in, get an assessment (and $500 deposit) and let me know within an hour.
An hour passed, nothing, two hours, nothing. I called and they were "really backed up" and casually confirmed that Charlie was fine.
Another hour, and another. I finally got a real person after my nth call, asking if I wanted to leave him overnight, and I said yes, IF YOU CAN TELL ME WHAT THE #@&%&@#%(&(@#*%&()_@ IS GOING ON...
Finally, about 5 hours after dropping him off, worrying that he was slowly dying in a pile of his own blood, a technician called and told me he would be getting stitches and that a vet would call later that night...,
Vet did call @ 2 AM (I admire those work hours..), was very professional in describing what would be done, and next day Charlie was released is a hot pink wrap around his leg, all doped up.
These folks were too hard to get in touch with. I know an emergency room can get backed up, busy, but a courtesy call can usually do the trick...
Then they had me come in every two days to change his wrap and wanted to charge me $20 a pop each time...to change vet wrap which you can get for $5 at any feed store, and they didn't dress the wound...I took him under my own, superior care.
Soooo...Charlie is still alive. Not sure how many choices we have for emergency animal care, but will be a lot more educated in the future. They tried.
Only go here in a true emergency.
I had similar experiences to Charlotte S. Not only did they have me convinced my newly-adopted cat was going to die, they implied that she may have infected my other two cats with an untreatable, 100% fatal disease (FIP--look it up, it's terrible). Then they tested my new cat for FIV/FLV even though she had just been tested at the shelter a few days before. Obviously I was a wreck and went ahead with the test even though it seemed unnecessary. I'm an agnostic and I was literally PRAYING in their office that my other two cats wouldn't die of some horrible disease... that's how worked-up they had me. Long story short, all cats are still alive and doing fine.
Another time, they did all this testing on our cat's eye (he's a one-eyed cat) and told us he would likely lose his one eye, unless we put him on expensive anti-virals for his whole life. We got a second opinion with Dr. Shifrin at Austin Animal Eye Clinic (LOVE HIM!) who put my cat on an inexpensive routine to manage his eye problems. Dr. Shifrin's calming manner was such a contrast to the emotional hell we experienced at Central Park/Austin Vet Care.
So yes, in the middle of the night or on holidays it can be a godsend to have a vet's office open if you really need one. And I do understand that as an emergency vet, it can be hard to diagnose animals when you don't have their whole medical history available. Just beware that they will probably scare the crap out of you with the worst thing they can think of.
Oh, and make sure to ask about their student discount. They told me they have a 10% student discount, but did not inform me of this until I had spent over $500 at their clinic. Classy.
Central Park Animal Hospital is arguably one of the best full-service hospital and veterinarian centers in Austin. Although ATA (see my review on Animal Trustees of Austin) is great for vaccinations, general tests and flea/tick/worm meds, with pets you'll eventually need something full-service.
Central Park is easy accessible on North Lamar and they are never too busy to help, whether it be an emergency or regular visit. They take appointments or walk-ins during normal hours (8am - 6pm), but are a 24-hour emergency hospital as well. The front desk staff is kind, patient, and cheerful (even in the middle of the night).
I had one cat go through surgery there and my other one treated for illness. Unfortunately, this caused me to be there many nights over a period of three weeks. The vet techs and doctors never grew tired of my questions, and although they may not have always had the answers, they did their best.
They did not charge me every time I went in and even offered me a used e-collar for my kitten to use rather than charge me the $5.10 for a new one. Another positive is their system of building you a price quote before they treat your animal, so you can see a reasonable ballpark figure of what you may be spending.
The only drawback to Central Park is the same drawback to any vet or animal clinic/hospital....the cost. CPAH charges $46 for a regular office visit, and adds $20 for a visit during emergency hours. Meds are moderately priced, but quickly add up. You can find slightly cheaper prices elsewhere, but you may not find quality care for your pet.
Future visits? I'll be a regular.
My first experience with this place was wonderful (6 or 7 years ago)... very compassionate. The last time I took my two cats was RIDICULOUS. The amount of $$ you pay is WAY too much! And they messed up TWICE. I was quoted all 4 claws for my cat and when I picked him up only two were taken out. And he was bloody for weeks. I had my other cat declawed in Ingleside, Tx and that cat walked out like nothing happened. Not even blood!! He ws like nothing! Awesome. This place did such a bad job. And now that I still need the other two taken out, they are going to charge me all over again. For THEIR mistake. And not only that, they handed me wrong medication for my cat. Gave me all the directions and when I saw it, it wasn't for my cat.
I will not take my animals there again.
to say I'm disappointed is an understatement. i was asked for a $500 deposit as they whisked my kitty in carrier to the back. i waited patiently in the lobby for over an hour and watched other owners come in to be seen immediately. i was appalled. there was no other mention of $500 to anyone else. i felt that after my cat who was in immediate attention of care sat for an hour, i should go elsewhere. i immediately discarded their business card and will forever avoid this establishment. they had the nerve to tell me my animal needed attention immediately yet would do nothing in the almost 2 hours we were there. this is a pathetic example of an emergency vet exhibiting absolute lack of animal-centric behavior and only that of gaining income. never again.
My cat nearly died and was rushed to this 24 hr place. $3000 later, my cat is alive and very happy. Yes they charge a lot. However you have to be savvy as a consumer of vet services and put your foot down if you think certain recommended tests are unnecessary (you just have to be responsible for the consequences if you want to go against their advice for the sake of saving money). Having dealt with many different doctors and staff there recently, I think they are all very nice people and very patient. I did not encounter any rudeness at all: perhaps the feedback on this site has gotten back to them and they are trying to improve. Dr Catherine Cuddihy, especially, should be singled out as exemplary: she devoted a lot of energy and time to our case. I really commend her and appreciate her painstaking attention, "bedside manner", and detailed notes. She possibly cares about the animal more than I do! Very professional.
