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November 2023 by Robert
Awesome Veterarian care. Our 15 year old lab has had remarkable help from Accupuncture.
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August 2023 by Janelle Gilbert
The Drake Center is a great practice, and we love Dr. Shotwell. She is a great veterinarian, and she's so sweet to our 3 cats. Highly recommended!
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October 2022 by Zack W.
Our fur baby Daisy has a disc issue and everybody involved has been amazing and extremely helpful. Christine at the front desk is a total sweetheart and got us right in for our appointment! (Even after us being late due to traffic on the 5) Daisy's vet Dr. Leslie and vet tech Mikaela have been a joy to work with, they are very obviously dog lovers and have done everything they can to help us get Daisy back to 100%. We are thankful for you all and will certainly be coming back for any of our veterinary needs!
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October 2022 by Ken Z.
I wanted to write this review as I have a developed deep appreciation for "The Drake Center" Encinitas. I've been going to them for over 8 years now. They've seen me through really hard times and the care they have provided to me and all my dogs means a lot. I now think of them as family. The front office is full of people who will go above and beyond to help. They have a range of highly specialized Doctors. Whatever the unique situation is that you're facing there will be someone in the office with deep knowledge and an ability to help. My dogs are my family, and we all want the best possible care for our loved ones. There is no one I trust more with my dogs health than The Drake Center.
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October 2022 by Dennis D.
I wanted to single out Dr. Janice Lee and her Technician Melanie. They were amazing, they took their time and gave our dog a thorough examination, and spent time listening to us and our concerns both medically and financially. Dr. Lee is new to the practice as I understand and as such made an unforgettable impression on both myself and my wife. As of our visit, we will always insist on seeing Dr. Lee for Dexter, our dog, and hopefully her Technician Melanie will be there as well for us. Melanie was very understanding and worked with us to maintain our financial concerns as well. Both have wonderful bedside manner in dealing with our situation. We wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Lee and her Technician Melanie when you visit The Drake Center for Veterinary Care.
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September 2022 by Marnie B.
I won't call out the veterinary clinic that I'd been going to in La Costa but it wasn't my favorite, especially after the vet I really liked there moved to another clinic. I was changed to a different veterinarian who had the unfortunate job of helping me put my blind pug down as his first interaction with me. It was fine but he definitely wasn't warm, especially for such a brutal experience like that. I just never felt like anyone there really was. When I brought my other pug in for a sickness barely a month later, the same veterinarian said, "Oh, I don't think we've met, I'm Dr. _______." To say that upset me is an understatement! I'd heard wonderful things about The Drake Center so when I adopted my 15-year-old kitty, Bo, I booked myself to get him checked out. Cue anxiety, as first veterinary visits are nerve-wracking, especially for cats, and this is the first cat I've had since childhood. It was a typical Monday so my phone had pooped out - I went to the Drake Center on El Camino Real and had to explain my situation and ask for directions to their new annex. This amazing vet tech walked me outside and gave me turn-by-turn directions there. Such a relief! From the second I was greeted to the second I met Dr. Kovacs, I was amazed. It smells great in there (not always true for veterinary clinics - lol!), and you can tell everyone TRULY enjoys working there and that they love animals. Bo was amazingly well cared for and Dr. Kovacs was wonderful and lovely. I will no longer be afraid to go back and will make sure to take pics next time when my phone is working. Thanks to everyone at The Drake Center for taking the nerves away from what can be an anxiety-provoking experience!
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August 2022 by Colleen R.
A friend recommended the Drake Center a couple of years ago when my partner and I got our first pup, and we are very glad she did! Our now two-year-old doggo is always treated with so much love and such care when we take him to the Drake Center. During our last visit, Dr. Leslie was the vet working with him (this was a new vet to us). Dr. Leslie explained what the evaluation would look like, and asked about doing the majority of the exam in the room together to make our doggo feel most comfortable. I really appreciated this technique, as I was able to see our (sometimes anxious) doggo come out of his shell and open up to this new human! It was obvious that he felt safe, which of course made the exam go by quickly and smoothly. I thought this technique was extremely effective, as Dr. Leslie was able to gain rapport and trust with our pup in a comfortable environment. Additionally, Dr. Leslie explained all parts of the exam and checked in with me about any questions I had. The whole experience left such a positive impact on our family, which is why I felt the need to share this review. I am grateful to all of the staff there for showing compassion and demonstrating excellent care to our doggo - I highly, highly recommend the Drake Center!
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August 2022 by Makena L.
The Drake Center is the best! Specially Dr. Leslie! My dog is usually shaking and scared at the vets but he is no longer scared and actually enjoys seeing her. She takes extended time with you and your pet, explains everything so thoroughly and really talks through all of your options. Honestly all of the vets there are amazing and I trust them with my dogs' lives. I wouldn't go anywhere else. Highly recommend the Drake Center!
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August 2022 by Emily C.
Really bad experience for my cat. Took him in for vaccine boosters. During the exam by Dr. Kristi Leslie he got something in his eye that made him tear and he became defensive. I was asked to leave the room. After the vaccination they couldn't get him into the carrier. I shouldn't have let them handle him because he was scared and frantic after that. A good vet would have been more discerning and not force a defensive animal. I felt that I could have comforted him. Dr. Leslie could not explain why his eye was tearing during the exam but said she could do a fluorecein test to look for damage. However, when I looked at his eye he was no longer squinting so I declined. The next day the san diego humane society enforcement agency posted a quarantine notice on my front door because Dr. Leslie filed a rabies report because someone got bit while forcing him into the carrier. I felt it was very unprofessional that I was not informed during the exam or given a courtesy call that they would pursue this action. Because I was out of town, the enforcement officer quarantined my cat at the pet hotel. Now he is stuck in a small cage until I return from vacation. Very unhappy with how the situation was managed, poor decision making, and lack of consideration for the pet and the customer.
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August 2022 by Janet Wright
Easy access, Very nice staff and receptionists. Dr Hamlet was very nice and took her time talking with us.
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April 2022 by Andrea B.
A money gouging veterinary practice that offered redundant (and ineffective/outdated) medicine on more than one occasion. Also unwilling to provide any sort of virtual/phone consultation for any pets that aren't "established patients" (despite being in need)
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March 2022 by Sara S.
They are amazing! Have take my pets here for almost 10 years. My dogs are happy to go to the vet and love it here.
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March 2022 by Misty M.
I love this place! But if youre asking why i gave it four stars, its only because i feel anxious going to the vet - 1) end up paying $$$ because the estimates really arent that accurate. 2) i often feel bad / pressured when i dont move forward on certain actions in the estimate or they have moved forward on something when we clearly made a decision not to which ends up on our bill (like labs, blood work). That being said, I have three dogs and i owe it to TDC for saving their lives! I feel comfortable with the service and care they give my dogs and try to fit me in order to get me in. My dogs also feel very happy to be there and that is always a plus for me. I have dealt with three different vets for each of my dogs - Dr Shotwell, Dr Kovach and Dr H. All of them were great!
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February 2022 by Valerie B.
Dr. Shotwell is amazing. I would trust my pets with her any day. The Drake Center as a veterinary clinic however? Only out for money. Front staff have no idea what back staff say or do. Twice after leaving I've had the clinic call to request more money because the front staff once again messed up the billing. Pet care seems to get in the way of money making. And now there's a new annex -- wow, how much are prices going to go up THIS time? I've been a client for 10+ years and though my beloved is still alive I don't believe he'll ever return there for care. I certainly will stop referring people there. Do your pet and your bank account a favor and look elsewhere for a vet.
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February 2022 by Brittany S.
PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR PETS HERE!!! The employees are rude and do not want to help!! Loraine at the front desk was just HORRIBLE to me!! I've NEVER been so disappointed and disrespected in my life! I wouldn't trust anyone here with my dog if that's how they treat the people! Not worth the price for the horrible service too.
