Internet reviews, when truthful, can be very helpful for potential clients/consumers to select businesses which they would like to patronize. However, when the review is not truthful, the subject of the review may be unfairly and unjustly harmed. Shawna Jackson’s review contains very little factual information. We appreciate our many clients who know us and have given us glowing reviews both publicly and privately. We recognize that we cannot please everyone but we always reach out to anyone who is dissatisfied if we are given the opportunity. Most cases of dissatisfaction are related to miscommunication. We have attempted to reach out to Ms. Jackson without success. We still extend an invitation to her by way of this response to request that she communicate directly with us to review the record details. Pippin, a very cute and sweet silky terrier was admitted to Lockridge Animal Hospital on June 16, 2010 for an ovariohysterectomy (spay). As is our normal protocol, Ms. Jackson met with the surgeon and technician that morning. A detailed written consent and treatment plan which included an itemized cost estimate was presented to her for review. Ms. Jackson read and signed this form which we have in Pippin’s medical record. THE TOTAL COST ESTIMATE EXPECTED TO BE PAID AT THE TIME OF DISCHARGE WAS $203 – $323. This included pre-anesthetic blood work, general anesthesia, surgical monitoring, intravenous catheter placement and fluids, spay surgery, pain medication and an allowance for the possibility of extra surgery time related to estrus or maturity. This was our verbal and written understanding. THE ACTUAL TOTAL INVOICE PRESENTED TO MS. JACKSON AT PIPPIN’S DISCHARGE WAS $268.80. There was never any mention of additional costs or additional anesthesia at any time. Not only is the “extra $300.00” untrue, the entire bill was less than $300.00. Never was $500 quoted for this surgery on this patient. Our documents with Ms. Jackson’s signature and invoice history is readily available for review. Ms. Jackson was asked to pay for our services at Pippin’s discharge as agreed upon. She came in with $200.00. She was politely asked to consider additional methods of paying the balance of $68.80. Ms. Jackson left our office and shortly returned with the full payment of $268.80 and Pippin was discharged. Nine days later Pippin’s sutures were removed at no charge. Leaving a beloved pet at the hospital can be an emotional and stressful experience. This is why we try very hard to communicate with owners both verbally and in writing with a treatment plan and cost estimate. This way we can all be “on the same page”. This review is both unkind and untrue. It should be removed. Michael McCammon DVM & Pamela Richard DVM – Owners of Lockridge Animal Hospital Disclaimer: I acknowledge that this should be a reply to MS. Jackson's review however due to technical difficulties with Google that have not been resolved I have had to go about posting this the only way possible.

In June 2009, Rosie, our nine-year-old Boston terrier, was listless, loosing weight, and found dirt to be appetizing. We took her to her favorite veterinarian, Dr. Pamela Richard. She found that Rosie was profoundly anemic. Xrays, blood samples, urine samples, blood tranfusions, a bone marrow aspirition and biopsy showed that Rosie had immune-mediated myelofibrosis (that meant her immune system was destroying her red blood cells). Dr. Richard and Dr. McCammon were tireless in their efforts to research treatment approaches that would manage Rosie's condition. They were very helpful in keeping us involved. Rosie's blood count was brought under control and a maintenance program was devise to prevent a re-occurence. Rosie is now fourteen years old and a happy, healthy senior citizen. Lockridge Animal Hospital saved Rosie's life, and gave us five more years with our canine family member. My husband and I wish we could find medical care for ourselves that is as competent, thorough and caring as that provided to Rosie by everyone at Lockridge Animal Hospital. Rosie always looks forward to her visits and knows exactly where the treats are hidden.

This was something like three or four years ago now but I'm just looking around to get my cat fixed and this place was suggested so I decided it was time to write my review. Anyway my dog, Pippin, had just become old enough to be fixed and I brought her here, as it was recommended to me when I got her shots done and they had been really nice then. When I brought her in I asked for the range, highest and lowest prices, that people had ever paid so that I could make sure I got enough out of my bank account to pay for her to get fixed. After telling me the highest it would probably go was 500 I went and got the money, I was dumb enough to pull it from an atm and therefore exceed my limit because I believed what they told me. When I came back to get her when they called, around four thirty or so? Near the end of the day, I got a ride in. When I went to pay it was sudden three hundred dollars MORE than what they had told me originally. They tried to explain it as it taking more to put her under. Mind you she was a five pound silky terrier, I can't imagine how it magically took that much to put her under to fix her..They then told me that if I didn't get the money to them before they closed they would be KEEPING my dog over night and then CHARGING ME to keep her over night, all because they couldn't quote me properly. I will never go back there again. It would have been one thing if they had just misquoted and explained that I needed to go and find the money instead of basically making it sound as if I was going to skip out on them and then threatening to keep my dog. Never again, and I told that to them to their faces. They were so nice before that, but Pippin will never go there again.

I have been taking my pets to Lockridge Animal Hospital for many years. The staff is wonderful, friendly, caring, honest, and the facilities are always clean inside and out. The cost for yearly visits and vaccinations are reasonable. I bring 5 cats and a dog every year and the staff know that my expenses can add up so if there is a way for me to save money without compromising my pet's care they are honest and tell me. I have never been to any other vet that does that. If there are different treatments or tests available they will tell me my options and let me decide which I think is best for my pet. I have never felt pressured into any unnecessary treatments for my pets. If I can get a prescription for my pet for less money at a pharmacy they will write a prescription for it. Not only is the medical care for my pets above average they have also been able to give me great advice to improve my pets behavior issues. I think my pets are lucky to have such great place to go to.

I've had dogs all my life and at 56 I've seen many come and go; miss them all. During that time I've also had my experiences with good vets and bad vets. Unfortunately, like all professions they are not all equal. My wife and I have rescued many dogs over the last decade and along with dogs we have bred we have never spared money over their healthcare. We even once had one of our beloved springer spaniels, Kayla, successfully operated on by one of the great animal surgeons in the country, Nick Trout, of Angel Memorial Hospital in Boston, MA for an inoperable tumor. My point being that I know who the good vets are and know animal care today does not come cheap because of the care modern vets now can offer. With the exception of the already mentioned, Angel Memorial, an entire different entity that I describe as the "Mass General" for animals, I must admit that Lockridge Animal Hospital is the best their is. Mike McCammon and Pam Richard have assembled an amazing staff of vets that includes Diane Carey, Eileen Fisher and Jen Cornell. Sorry, I haven't met the two new vets they hired but I know that Mike and Pam are very selective as to who they add to their team. Along with their dedicated staff, we have become good friends over the years. Lockridge Animal Hospital offers just about everything possible in modern healthcare for your pets. For example, we prolonged the life of three of our babies thanks to the technology of laser therapy. There are days during the winter that I contemplate moving to a warmer climate and wonder if I would able to find a comparable animal hospital in Florida. And no, Mike and Pam did not pay me for this endorsement; I feel they deserve it.