Testimonials
A Credit to Veterinary Medicine
Bulger Veterinary Hospital
Dr. Burns, Thank you for caring for Abbey last Saturday. She is active, running up snow banks and taking “us” for walks again. We appreciate the professionalism, expertise and compassion that you displayed while taking care of her, You are a credit to the hospital and to Veterinary Medicine.
Patrick & Abbey | Salem, NH
A Dog Lover’s Prayers Answered
Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital
Mass Vet is a dog lovers prayer answered. My boxer girl, Nysa, needed a crutiate repair and she also needed a special vet clinic. My girl is stressed and aggressive around strange dogs, making vet visits very difficult. Not so here!Wished I found these folks long ago. What passion for their work! We will be eternally grateful to Dr. Pastor and everyone at Mass Vet for the compassionate care. My girl is doing great thanks to these consummate professionals.
Eileen | Danvers, MA
Compassionate and Empathetic
Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital
Our beloved Golden Retriever Mazey, just 2 days short of her 11th birthday, became ill very suddenly. We were directed to MVRH by our vet and Dr. Sarah Allen took charge of evaluating and testing her immediately. Mazey was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, a vicious and malignant cancer that spreads rapidly, and a ruptured tumor on her spleen was causing bleeding internally. Of all the options Dr. Allen offered, euthanasia was really the only one, since surgery without complications had little chance of success, extending her life perhaps 3 to 6 months.
Dr. Allen and the entire staff serving us were compassionate and empathetic, explaining everything and answering all of our questions. The dignity and privacy they afforded us were greatly appreciated in the face of a heart wrenching decision. When the time came, we were escorted to a small and comfortable room, Mazey came in for our last goodbyes, and Dr. Allen aided her departure.
I can’t adequately express how much we appreciated Dr. Allen and the MVRH staff’s support at such a trying time. She also sent us a very thoughtful note with Mazey’s paw print, arriving on her birthday.
Thank you Dr. Allen and all the staff at MVRH.
Gary and Sue Bergmann | Topsfield, MADr. Boyle and her team did an exceptional job
Port City Veterinary Referral Hospital
Our black lab Zoey became very ill suddenly a few weeks ago and we rushed her to Port City under the care of Dr. Tonya Boyle. She stayed 3 nights and we were able to visit and call daily to check up on her. Dr. Boyle was very helpful and very positive during Zoey’s recovery. Tonya and her team did an exceptional job and now Zoey is happy at home with us again. We are forever grateful. Great care was given to her.
Bonnie | Amesbury, MAHe is home now after 2 1/2 days and doing great. Thank you!!
Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital
Our dog who came from a shelter 4 days earlier was not well. He had many GI issues. And of course only knowing him for 3 days just added to the stress. The hospital staff was wonderful, professional, communicative, and the best treatment available. He is home now after 2 1/2 days and doing great. Thank you!! Thank you!!!
Ellen | Lexington, MA
I’m happy to say that Edward is back to his old self
Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital
I want to thank the veterinarians and techs at Mass Vet a thousand times over for taking care of my boy Edward in September 2011.
I brought Edward to Mass Vet around midnight last Monday, after having been referred to the clinic by a vet at VESCONE. Edward is a big black-and-white, 10-year-old domestic shorthair, and he was showing signs of a stroke. He couldn’t walk because he was knuckling, and he couldn’t stand without toppling over.
Dr. Kyle examined him and was very honest but compassionate in her diagnosis. She warned my partner and me that his behavior was likely the result of a stroke or brain tumor. Regardless, the problem was definitely neurological, and she said the only way to know for sure was to perform an MRI, which I could not afford. Dr. Kyle said she understood and did not pressure me to have the MRI, which I greatly appreciated.
She kept Edward overnight for observation and administered an enema because he hadn’t had a bowel movement for four days. At six-thirty the next morning, she called with an update on his condition, and promised that a neurologist would do a more thorough examination later in the day.
Dr. Waldrop contacted me in the afternoon with another update. Because I was unable to pay for an MRI, she said the best treatment was to prescribe steroids to decrease any swelling in the brain, and antibiotics just on the off-chance that his behavior was caused by an infection. She also said she was worried about mega-colon and advised me to continue administering lactulose and cisapride, which he was already taking.
Both Dr. Kyle and Dr. Waldorf told me that, if Edward had indeed suffered a stroke, it was likely he would recover within a few weeks. When I picked him up on Tuesday night, a vet technician named Kathy (I’m afraid I didn’t catch her last name) spoke with me for a good 30 minutes regarding Edward’s prognosis and his treatment going forward. When I started to cry because I couldn’t afford the MRI, she assured me that many people can’t afford the test, and that didn’t make me a bad person. She was very kind, and listened to me talk about how I’d gotten Edward and his sister, Nina, during my senior year of college, and how they were the first pets that I’d gotten as an adult. I told her about how Edward always tries to climb into the refrigerator, and that he thinks he’s a dog and greets me at the door, and how he can’t understand why he’s not allowed to go for walks with my golden retriever and yellow lab. I’m sure she hears stories like this multiple times a day, yet she listened patiently and never once indicated that she had more important things to do.
As soon as I got him into the car, he began to purr. I put my fingers through the door of the carrier and he rubbed his nose against them during the entire drive back to Cambridge. Within 24 hours, he was walking around the apartment and cuddling with me and the dogs. He’s pooping regularly, greeting us at the door, sleeping with us at night, and elbowing his way into the refrigerator. We gave him a step stool to get in and out of the litter box (so as not to further aggravate his arthritis), and put a chair next to the counter so he doesn’t have to jump so high to get to his food. He’s very good about taking his meds, and he’s even eating wet food, which I’m hoping will help with hydration and weight loss.
I am holding out hope that he indeed had a stroke, and that the steroids are not masking a brain tumor. But either way, you gave me back my boy, and I’m grateful for every day I have with him, whether it be for another month or another 10 years.
I’ve attached a photo of him with his buddies, Connor and Bailey, and my partner, Jenn. It was taken the night I brought him home. He’s happiest when he’s with his big brother and sister.
Thank you again,
~Vicky
Impressed with the Caring & Concern
Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital
I brought my corgi, Brodie, in over the weekend for emergency treatment after he was attacked and bitten by another dog. I was very impressed with the caring and concern shown by all members of your staff (for both Brodie and myself, as I was equally traumatized) from the front desk to the nurses, doctors, and techs who were present that day. Dr. Miele was wonderful and provided excellent care. It is very reassuring to know that such professional care is readily available when needed 24 hours a day. Thank you to all for taking the best care of my “baby.”
Patty | Swampscott, MAIt seemed like they had known her forever
Bulger Veterinary Hospital
I brought Sable in about a week ago and knew that she was struggling. I had first brought her to her own vet and the feeling that I got was that they were too busy to really care for her.
I brought her to Bulger and met with fantastic staff. Carly and the emergency vet took such good care of my Sable (and me, as I was a wreck)
They took such great care of her in her last moments that it seemed like they had known her forever.
I cannot thank everyone that day who took such good care of her enough!
THANK YOU
On behalf of Ashley
Port City Veterinary Referral Hospital
… To sum up, in the course of just 24 hours your staff gave me a lifetime’s worth of comfort by ensuring that in her final hours my pup was cared for, nursed back to health, well fed, and definitely not alone. You should all be proud of the exceptional jobs you do at Port City.
Jerry & Erin | Exeter, NHOur Dog Lucky
Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital
Our dog lucky, who was 16, took a turn for the worse this past Friday night. Our Vet was closed and your number was provided as a contact. We cannot thank you enough for your quick help with having to put lucky down. You made everything easier and your compassion was greatly appreciated. You respected our privacy with her and you made the process easier on us. Lucky had a great happy life and her last hours were less stressful thanks you & your staff
Cheryl | Wilmington, MATeam Member Spotlight
Dr. Looney graduated from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. She spent a year in private practice, then returned to Cornell’s small animal...
More about Andrea Looney, DVM, DACVA, CCRP, Senior Lecturer