VCA Ark Animal Hospital

Beware. This vet provided the worst care I have ever received from a vet. I brought my cat in for a routine teeth cleaning and Dr. Landini admitted he damaged my cat's throat during the procedure. My cat became increasingly ill, refused to eat, and in the process Dr. Landini prescribed steroids to treat her throat, which caused a negative reaction, then charged me for multiple procedures and overnights at his clinic, all because of an issue he admitted to creating. Ultimately, my cat became so sick she was close to dying. I brought her to another vet and she was better within a week. I would never trust this vet with my pet's life. I see this vet has four stars and I can't imagine how this is possible. Many companies ask their employees to write reviews to improve their ratings. Again, beware if you love your pet. more

A good friend of mine referred me to Dr. Cohen at Animal Ark. He diagnosed our dog with a neurological problem with his hind legs. The options he gave were surgery or steroids and complete bed rest for a month. Opting for the steroid route since surgery would be very expensive and if the steroid didn't work the surgery would still be an option he is now about 95%. I would also like to commend the entire staff on its care and compassion. We feel like we were treated as part of the family and look forward to a long relationship with Animal Ark. more

Dr. Derrick Landini is a brilliant vet who loves animals! I have taken all my cats to Animal Ark (after trying 2 very $$, impersonal vets in my neighborhood) with always excellent results. Dr. Landini is an excellent diagnostician, as well as great surgeon. When my cat, Teddi was bitten by a possum, she had what seemed a small wound. But Dr. Landini showed me how deep the injury was. Dr. Landini sewed three layers of stiches, and Teddi-6 years later-is still running around. My cat One-Eye has an eye problem from birth. Dr.Landini gave me the LESS expensive medicine to try first, knowing I was on a tight budget. And when my elderly cat got kidney disease, he gently discussed the options with me. They treated her with love & dignity. And they have a private room you can use with your pet to say goodbye. I have recommended Animal Ark to numerous clients, who have all been very pleased. And it is obvious the staff loves animals! more

Don't go there, over priced and a very nasty staff. I used to take my cat and dog there but as the years went on, and the clinic grew, the services got really bad. Dr. Landini is a good doctor but should surround himself with better staff including the front office. more

I took my cat in after she had a cold and lost some weight. Despite taking my other cat there and spending more than $1000 on that one, I had to beg for an emergency visit. The staff lady was very cold and condescending and said "IF you THINK it's an emergency, you can come in, but you will have to wait." So I came, and we waited.... My cat was admitted, given an IV, and ended up dying...sometime during the night, in a cage, alone. I did not get a chance to say goodbye. I wish the vet had been more upfront about the reality of her prognosis and more willing to do discuss care options and also causes--especially since I have two other cats at home who, if this was an infection, could be affected by an accurate diagnosis. Overall, I am unhappy with his propensity to run extremely expensive tests without explaining them, and I will not be bringing my other two cats back to him. more

Dr. Landini is involved with pet rescue and some of the staff (Hector and Joey in particular) are nice, but I have found that Dr. Landini immediately prescribes the most invasive and expensive treatment without aiming for an accurate diagnosis. He does not explain the rationale for the treatments....and when questioned often gets annoyed, especially if questioned on rationale, price, and expected outcome. Pros: Hector and Joey are nice Cons: rest of staff is very rude & insensitive; VERY expensive more

Dr. Landini & the staff at Animal Ark saved my dog's life. Polar Bear was misdiagnosed by another vet & lost more than 1/2 is body weight. We took him to Animal Ark and Dr. Landini immediately knew what the problem was. They acted quickly, professionally, & gave my dog the best care. 5 years later, Dr. Landini & his staff give Polar Bear the best care. I would recommend Animal Ark to everyone. more

I would like to preface this review with the following:\r \r 1) I went to this veternary clinic for over a year, so I am very familiar with them. This is not an angry, spontaneous reaction to one bad experience.\r \r 2) My review is not reflective of my vet, but of the whole experience.\r \r That being said, I will not be returning to Animal Ark for the following reasons:\r \r a) Overbooking. Setting an appointment at 3pm means you will see a vet at about 4pm on their best day. This happened nearly every visit we scheduled. \r \r b) Staff. The veternarian we worked with was very good (Dr. Ceipley) but the staff they employed come across many times as insensitive, irritated with simple requests, and sometimes downright lazy. For example, when I told them I was dissatisfied with the service I was getting, rather than asking why or being even the slightest bit apologetic, they made excuses for their behavior, and then seemed not to care that I was taking my business elsewhere. Again, this is after 1.5 years of loyal customership.\r \r c) Expensive! They rarely let you know what your options are, just the most expensive one... only upon grilling will they reveal less expensive treatment options.\r \r This is really unfortunate as I liked Dr. Ceipley and felt she was a very capable and caring vet, but the rest of the experience has driven me off. Buyer beware! Pros: Veternarians are knowledgeable, easy parking. Cons: Long waits, bored, insensitive, irritated, and lazy staff. more

I highly recommend Dr. Landini. I know my pets are getting the best care and won't go anyplace else. There is a staff of Vets. at Animal Ark. I recommend asking for him personally. more

I just took my dog in to see Dr. Fredrickson. He is very knowlegeable and diagnosed and treated his Dog Flu symptoms. The rest of the staff is top notch and they have one of the best facilities I have ever taken a pet to. more

My faithful companion of 14 years had to be put down recently. Dr. Landini helped me through this difficult time through the empathy that only a true animal lover has. The staff also made this terrible loss more bearable with their consideration and kind words regarding my loss. Pros: Very nice office, great staff. more

I have had my birds taken care of by Dr. Landini since he was doing house calls. Being blind I have always had problems getting care for my avian friends. Animal Ark is always ready to help out and have always been compassionate and caring. I highly recommend them for anyone in Chicago looking for quality pet care by people who truly love animals of all kinds. more

Wow, after having many pets over the years I have been to my share of vets both good and not so good. Animal Ark is light years above any that I have been too before. Walking in you notice right away that this is an extremely clean facility. The staff is very attentive and helpful. I have seen three of the four doctors during various visits and each one is very professional and knowledgeable and understands the needs of my pets. For anyone looking for great care for their pet, I cannot recommend any vet more than this one. Pros: Great facility, eat off the floor clean, wonderful staff more

I enjoyed a pleasant experience here. They were able to squeeze me in for the last appt in the day, the whole staff was friendly and efficient, the facility was clean, comfortable, and not as tacky as most veterinary clinics I've been to. They were able to run tests and deliver results quickly, the whole visit was thorough and yet I was on my way in about an hour. I really appreciated the genuine care they showed to my pet, who was misbehaving. I'll definitely be going back if I need to. Pros: Great staff, comfortable surroundings Cons: Little to no sound dampening, so you can hear everything going on in the next room more

Animal Ark is the premiere veterinarian in Chicago. They were recommended to me by several individuals who are in pet care, work for rescue organizations or are responsible pet owners. I liked their holistic approach coupled with traditional vet medicine. Their service was quick and their environment was pleasant, modern and clean. My cat improved after visits there or I left with a definitive idea of what could possibly be wrong and what to expect in the future. Vet medicine is obviously not an exact science as these creatures can't tell us what is exactly wrong, Vets can only surmise, and run tests. I always felt they were completely through in attempting to diagnose my aging cat. Although she received exemplary care from Animal Ark, I was forced to put her to sleep on Christmas Eve morning after a short illness. Amazingly, they answered their phones before 8am on this day and got me right in. I had no other options with my beloved cat but they made the decision so compassionate. Never once did I get the impression they were just doing their job. They even cried with me, hugged me and petted my cat and spoke gently to her. They gave me burial/remains choices. What more can you ask for during one of the most difficult decisions in life. I am so grateful to have had such a caring, compassionate and professional team of people to help me with my pet. They are truly the best. Pros: Flexible, long hours most days; fabulous staff; easy access off Kennedy Cons: Closed early one afternoon during the week more

I would recommend Animal Ark to anyone. Animal Ark gives excellent guidance, and extra special care to every pet (and pet owner!). I have been bringing my pup Savannah to Animal Ark for almost a year now with little complaint. I recently tried another vet recommended to me by several people including the rescue org at which we made our doggie adoption. You never know how good you've got it til' you're gone! I will never go anywhere else but Animal Ark!!! Dr. Landini spends excellent quality time with you and your pet during office visits and really listens. Time is not money with this crew. Try Animal Ark. They are ears and tail above the rest!! I'm a highly satisfied customer and my doggie loves going there!!! Pros: Dr. Landini has excellent experience, spends lots of time listening to your worries! Cons: Other Vets there not as good, office staff can be flighty, get estimate first! more

My pet became increasingly ill under the care of Dr. Landini. Following a routine procedure, Dr. Landini prescribed expensive treatments and medications that caused my pet's condition to deteriorate, while bills skyrocketed. Several years ago, I had a good experience at Animal Ark, but recently Dr. Landini's practice has grown to a point that he seems overwhelmed and unable to provide proper care, in my experience. Dr. Landini is a friendly, affable guy. Unfortunately, the quality of care that Dr. Landini provides is unsatisfactory. more

Horrible experience. My pet became increasingly ill under the care of Dr. Landini. Following a routine procedure, Dr. Landini prescribed expensive treatments and medications--and my healthy cat got sicker and sicker, while bills skyrocketed. Finally, I went to another vet for a second opinion, and my cat showed immediate improvement. I will never see this doctor again, and would suggest extreme caution. Do your research and find a great vet in Chicago - there are many. Pros: Unfortunately, none Cons: Misdiagnosis, overcharging more

Animal Ark's staff and facilities are the absolute best in Chicago, and I have tried out a many. The staff and vets are incredibly knowledgeable in anything from daily afflictions to complicated diseases and procedures, and they are compassionate and efficient with your pet. The facilities are top notch, super clean, and it is nice to know there is a groomer on premises with a vet should anything awry happen. I highly recommend Animal Ark for any and all services. more

Just cant believe how these people are still in the market. They scream at you on the phone. If you love your dog please stay away from them. Cons: everything more