Richard Webb -> Bob Ackley wrote:

We have a similar situation with our vet.  The original vet was the nephew
of my truck foreman.  We found him to be super with our dogs and cats. 
Very pet oriented.  Just before he retired and moved up to the board of
directors, he brought in a female vet who was taking over the facility as
lead vet.  She seems to have come out of the same mold that he did.  When
she comes into the room, the first words out of her mouth are to the
dog(s).  They wag and run to her for treats and affection. THEN, while
still on her knees petting the dogs, she talks to us and gets on with
business!  We discuss treatment options and often get a "senior
discount" if the bill gets very high.

And as you say, we know there are vets in the area that charge less, we
stay where we are because of the relationship we have with the vet AND the
staff.  We also joke that one of the new examining rooms should be named
for us due to all the contributions we have made to expansion of the
facility.  NOT gonna happen, but the relationship continues to make it
worth a little more to keep them as our vet.

 RW> Locals have told me the vet closer to my home is cheaper.  I know he
 RW> does farm animals etc. as well.  OF course he is,
 RW> smaller operation.  THe clinic we take schotze to (got
 RW> corrected on my spelling of her name )  has two lady vets and the
 RW> fellow that owns it.
 RW> STill it's rare when they feel the need to muzzle a dog,
 RW> even the large so-called dangerous breeds.  Schotze likes
 RW> all three of them and exhibits no fear of them.
 RW> Just as important, they exhibit no fear of her.

 RW> WHen our former neighbor's dog was hit by a car it was real
 RW> close to closing time, and he's one of those low paid
 RW> service workers barely getting by, his wife had just lost
 RW> her job.
 RW> They stayed open, rushed his dog in the back door when we
 RW> brought her (we called while enroute on his cell) and took
 RW> great care of her.  HE's still making payments on that one.

 RW> I could switch to the guy in the little town in which we now live, but
 RW> I'd rather stay with the vets we know and trust.
 RW> DUring recent session of inoculations etc. they were able to sell us a
 RW> more comprehensive blood screening for a wider
 RW> variety of ailments than they could do in house.  THey
 RW> called us with results the other day, some indications of
 RW> "might be" a parasite problem, but stool samples and other
 RW> indicators show negative.

 RW> We've another appointment Tuesday checking on an eye
 RW> infection we've been treating with antibiotic ointment twice a day which
 RW> causes the eyelid to roll in.  Doc said if this
 RW> round of treatment didn't seem to clear it up chances were
 RW> good some minor surgery was called for, but it looks like
 RW> we're getting it straightened out.  WE"ll discuss the whole
 RW> battery of tests they did then.

 RW> just as important to me was their treatment of us when we
 RW> had to put Roxy down.  THey were very kind to us and
 RW> considerate of our feelings of grief and loss.  A few weeks
 RW> later they sent us a nice plaster molding of the impression
 RW> of her front paw.

 RW> NOt being a rich man you'd think I'd at least have a look at the guy
 RW> closer to home who's said to be cheaper, but the
 RW> dog's comfort with the people who must treat her and my
 RW> comfort with them means more than just saving a few bucks.
 RW> THey're quick to call me back with an answer to a question
 RW> or to discuss a problem.

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