CARES – Center for Animal Referral & Emergency Services

In Fall 2014 our Westie Angel was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma, and underwent a full round of treatment at CARES, by Dr. Jennifer Baez. Dr. Baez answered all our questions before treatment began, any questions during treatment protocols, and adjusted protocols as necessary. Several times Angel needed immediate attention; the evening and overnight staff were fully attentive to those situations, and resolved them for Angel. The front desk staff were always very helpful; the vet assistants as well. Dr Erk was clear with information we needed during our evening visits. Our family is completely satisfied with the treatment Angel received during her treatment at CARES. Our thanks to CARES.

This place keeps filing a complaint with Unilocal to take down my review. Probably because they are hurting on business. It’s pretty sad that they need to pay to get good reviews. So I’m reposting my review, sad that after 3 years this place still stands as the WORST business I have ever dealt with in my life.: I brought my animal to CARES due to its 24-​hour Emergency Service and I regret every second of that decision. Be forewarned! The staff is rude, money hungry, uneducated and rude. Jon M. Rappaport not returning any calls and Donna, the office manager, is an outright bad person.
Erin Koster MISSED 8 puncture wounds (which led to an infection because her wounds weren’t treated properly). She completely missed 8 wounds the size of a dime. Erin also overlooked and neglected to inform me of a virus my animal contracted under their care. My pet came home in complete disarray and emotional damage has been afflicted to her. I was able to go into the back of the hospital where they keep the animals and it was DISGUSTING! DIRTY DIRTY DIRTY!!! Old dry feces on the floors, stains, dirty. Someone call animal control to surprise check them!!! If it wasn’t 12am and if my animal wasn’t in need of immediate surgical care… I should have rushed elsewhere but the reviews were so positive… I called 5 local vet hospitals the next day & they confirmed that CARES overcharged for the procedures. My regular vet said they preformed horrible job on my animal and she DID NOT HEAL WELL. I am honestly shocked she made it out of that hospital alive! I hope anyone reading this review, WILL NEVER REFER THIS DIRTY, DISEASE INFESTED, UNEDUCATED, MONEY HUNGRY HOSPITAL TO ANYONE !!
They should be ashamed of themselves. Avoid the office manager Donna at all costs, she has the worst people skills known to mankind. She makes Hitler seem like a nice guy. The WORST experience I have ever had with a Veterinary hospital or group of humans
Fire you staff and go back to Veterinary school.

I went to CARES today based on reviews and my dog was evaluated by Dr. Low. She has a wonderful bed side manner and is clearly competent as well. I liked that she was able to explain in simple language my dog’s eye problems in addition to being able to answer questions clearly. There was no attempt at selling more services or care than medically necessary, either, which I experienced every time I went to VSEC.
I thought the front desk staff were polite and accommodating. I was 5 minutes late after getting myself lost (how I did that is a mystery) but there was no attitude at all.
Having tried both VSEC and CARES, while VSEC has more a more luxury styled look in the waiting area, the polished look seems more about income generating and sales pressure. CARES has a great facility and low pressure attitude with an excellent medical staff. Whereas I always left VSEC with a large bill and worry, I left CARES with a very fair bill and trust in the treatment plan for my dog.

I’ve had to bring all three of my dogs to CARES for separate medical emergencies. I’ve also had to bring my best friend’s dogs there after an unfortunate coin-​eating incident. My dog, Levi, tore his cruciate ligament and had surgery at CARES. My little guy, Lambie, had a bad bout of pancreatitis and was on the verge of death. My puppy, Roxy, had vomiting and diarrhea and was dehydrated. I have nothing, but positive things to say about my experiences. The front desk staff is kind beyond words. They have treated all of my dogs with tremendous kindness and are great with people, too. (I think baby Roxy has been the favorite, probably because she is the cutest dog in the world). The nurses are extremely knowledgable and answer all questions. The doctors are also knowledgable and answer any and all questions. They know how to speak to worried pet owners. All of the staff is compassionate and patient. The doctors never have talked down to me and have always taken their time and been very thorough. Yeah, it’s expensive. It’s always expensive to take your dog to the vet, but it’s totally worth having a LIVING HEALTHY ANIMAL. I don’t have a lot of money, but I do love my dogs and I will always do whatever I can to ensure that they live long and happy lives. I have nothing but positive things to say about the amazing staff of CARES. They have done a great job treating my dogs and making them comfortable while doing so.

We had to put down our cat of 17 years, and we couldn’t have had a better experience then the one we had at CARES. The staff was understanding and kind, the whole facility was clean and aesthetically pleasing.
They took us into their comfort room, gave us as much time to say our goodbyes, then we alerted the doctor to come in and put her down. It was all a very comforting and respectful process for a pet who was in dire need to be put down.
We would highly recommend this place for their euthanasia services, and CARES was a very big part of our closure that we will never forget and were grateful enough to experience.
Thank you, CARES

I brought my cat in when he stopped breathing and went limp in the middle of the night. From the beginning when I called to get directions the staff were super helpful. When I got there they were realistic and emotionally supportive. My cat did not make it as I was informed he died from a blood clot. As painful as it was they made it a little easier to accept. I hope I never need emergency care for a pet again but if I do I certainly will return to Cares. Thank you Cares

After a bad experience at another specialty clinic nearby I came to Cares. I picked the other place to start with based on reviews and let me tell you these people have it all wrong. The staff was extremely nice, caring, and gentle with my dog. Also, prompt, there was no wait time for my appointment. We saw Dr. Lowe (an ophthalmologist) she was very thorough and performed the required procedure at my first appointment. The cost was a quarter of the cost quoted by the ‘other’ nearby clinic. I only wish I hadn’t wasted so much time with my dog in pain spinning my wheels before I came to Cares.

I came home from work one day, to a limping 10 year old dog. I made an appointment with Pets Best Friend, our regular vet. They diagnosed my dog with arthritis. $ 500, 3 Rx’s and one week later, my dog seemed a bit worse and above all, in a good deal of pain in his front paw. I called my vet several times to follow up. I struggled to believe that this overnight pain was caused from arthritis. Not knowing where to go, I researched Ortho Surgeons and came across CARES. I was able to get a same day appointment with Dr. Peurto. The exam was costly ($ 150), but it was extremely thorough and he found a mass in my dogs toe. I was relieved and frustrated. I’m currently awaiting test results from an aspirates procedure that was done, to remove some tissue from the mass, for testing. In summary, I have called CARES several times and I have been seen twice, by specialists, with same-​day appointments. The surgeons and all of the staff at CARES has shown great care and great communication. Yes, the prices are higher, but, in my opinion, so is there service and staff.

Unfortunately, I have been a frequent customer. I was referred by my vet to Dr Low, one of the Ophthalmologists at this facility. I love her. She is thorough in her care and explanations, and has done a wonderful job caring for my cat and his eye issues/​ulcers. She goes above and beyond, answering questions for me via the phone, and always shows me patience.
I had a recent experience where my cat had an Abscess below his eye. I brought him in immediately, and was unable to see Dr Low, or any Ophthalmologist. I had to see an Emergency care vet on that was call… DR. Frankel. Seems about right, as her name reminds me of Frankenstein. She was rude right off the bat. Not one smile, gave me a hard time over me pronouncing the name of a medication wrong, talked down to me, and had a general bitchy tone like she was doing me a favor. She took my cat in the back room to administer an eye pressure test and to put drops in his eye, both things Dr Low usually does right in front of me. She said it was an allergic reaction, and that it didn’t (DIDNT) look like an abscess. Benedryl shot and a 90 dollar bill.
Next day… obviously his eye is not any better. Bring him in, see an Ophthalmologist (Dr. Pffier… who didn’t smile, introduce himself, or say hello… BUT seemed I know exactly what he was doing. Apparentu Dr Low was trained under him, so I trust him) and what do you know… an abscess! Finally prescribed some medicine, swelling gone in 2 days. 120 bill that could have been avoided if she had diagnosed him right the day before.
Dr. Frankel is the WORST. I will never, evveeeerrrrrr be seen by her ever again. Snappy, interrupts, talks down to you. Misdiagnosed and given wrong information by her and her alone. Literally arguing with me over when I said my cat last vomited? THE worst.
Dr Low is awesome, and so is Jessie at the front desk. Most ladies at the front desk are very helpful and sweet, but the majority are rude and unhelpful. Call with questions, it can be many hours until you hear back from them. I called yesterday at 1:00 pm with a very important question regarding his prescribed antibiotics and they just called me back now, at 9:45 am. Cat could not keep food down, got fever and dehydrated but was told to keep giving meds? Took to my vet, put me on diff medicine, he is 95% better today.

I work with special needs animals, for a nonprofit rescue group. CARES informed me they offer no discount whatsoever. So we go to VSEC, a wonderful veterinary emergency center not at all far from CARES, where we are given a discount, the owner of the hospital is willing to speak to us on the phone, the ophthalmologist sees dogs and cats at an incredible discount, and they really care and are willing to support rescues.

Lovely people who love animals work at this place. Absolutely everyone was professional, helpful, and pleasant. Our cat swallowed a hoodie string and about 4 inches of it were hanging from his rectum. Obviously, off to the vet ER we went @ midnight on a Friday. Thank God, the entire string was able to be removed by the vet without incident. They took wonderful care of my bad lil’ kitty man and he’s just fine now. I found the prices to be quite reasonable for an x ray and the positive outcome. I’m happy my first pet ER experience was with them.

I have brought my dog to CARES for two separate medical issues, chemotherapy and most recently treatment for kidney problems. We have always had great experiences with the vets, nurses and support staff. They genuinely seem to care about their patients. As far as their prices, no they are not cheap but they are certainly less expensive than equivalent practices in Philadelphia. I would recommend CARES to any pet owner who is faces with long term treatment and emergency services.

I was referred to the ophthalmologists at CARES after my dog Arnold suddenly went blind.
Mary L. Landis, VMD thoroughly examined Arnold, reviewed all of the possible maladies, and discussed his options with me… in plain English.
When I brought Arnold back for his followup visit, his health had declined significantly. Robert L. Peiffer, DVM, PhD examined Arnold, and was upfront about the fact that his ailments were more likely neurological (more specifically, the result of a brain stem tumor) than a result of his vision loss.
I monitored Arnold for several days as he quickly lost the ability to bark, eat on his own, stand without falling, and lost control of his bodily functions. When I had to make the painful decision to put him down, I called Dr. Landis, not my regular family vet. Again, Dr. Landis reviewed the possibilities with me, and assured me that whatever I decided would be the best, most compassionate decision for Arnold. I put Arnold down on a Sunday, and again brought him back to CARES. The doctors on call that morning made a terrible, heartbreaking experience as bearable as possible.
I highly recommend the doctors at CARES.