I took my kitten to VCA Crown Hill Animal Hospital last week for an 8:00 AM appointment. We arrived at 7:55 AM and joined a couple with their noisy dog in the waiting area. It seemed that all the... More

I took my kitten to VCA Crown Hill Animal Hospital last week for an 8:00 AM appointment. We arrived at 7:55 AM and joined a couple with their noisy dog in the waiting area. It seemed that all the chairs were covered in dog fur. I chose the cleanest looking chair, but I still got dog fur stuck all over my fleece coat. The whining, heavy breathing, fidgety dog a few feet away made my kitten very nervous (and also annoyed me). We were not called into the exam room until 8:13 AM. The floor was clean, which was a pleasant surprise, as it was covered with dog fur at our last visit. The Vet was kind, but I did not like how she took my kitten in back to perform an evaluation. A different Vet on a different visit also took my kitten in back to administer an immunization. I do not like this practice, as I hate being separated from my kitten, and I prefer to be present during all medical procedures. I am considering switching to Cats Exclusive, as I constantly hear great things about it. If you are a cat owner, I think there is something to be said for taking him/her to a cat-only veterinary facility. I imagine it would be less stressful on both of you.
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Having worked in auto before -- this is actually quite easy as it has more to do with the brand of the battery than the person who installs it... But only a little. If you don't know how to... More

Having worked in auto before -- this is actually quite easy as it has more to do with the brand of the battery than the person who installs it... But only a little. If you don't know how to install it yourself, go buy the battery from Sears or somewhere similar and ask a mechanic to install it for you. Or, head on over to your favorite mechanic. Most will buy from NAPA or offer Diehard batteries. Those are fine. The last I read in Consumer Reports, NAPA brand batteries were fine and offered a good warranty. If you live anywhere near Ballard/Fremont, I'd suggest visiting Superior Auto Service on Leary Way. They've been great to me and I'm confident they'd treat you well.
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I used to take my dogs to this place but I stopped when little things started to bother me. Like the smell of urine or pet something as you walk through the door. Or the careless young staff... More

I used to take my dogs to this place but I stopped when little things started to bother me. Like the smell of urine or pet something as you walk through the door. Or the careless young staff memberhat made a callous comment out loud about a prescription that had been left behind, only to find out that the pet had just died. His reaction? He thought it was funny. I guess hiring uncompassionate 20 year olds as assistants will get you that response. It seemed like every time I went there, the staff were all young, inexperienced, and new. The other thing I didn't like was that they sell Science Diet in the lobby. That's always a discouraging sign when you want nothing but the best for your pets. I now go to Carkeek Park Veterinary (see post).
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