Submitted by Melissa Marshall. Proud owner of Jade and Bear!

I am a proud owner of 2 very active and loveable Rotweiller’s.  Jade is 5 years old and Bear, her son, is almost 2!  We have raised our 2 dogs with love and care and they’re considered an equal part of our family.  Our favorite moments are in the winter months when we get to run through the trails as our “big pups” tow our children on their toboggan’s, or in the summer when they all jump in the lake and swim; Jade will even catch the fish for us!   They have created long lasting memories for our entire family, we love them very much!

Back in November we noticed our youngest, Bear, was limping around and just not himself.  We had taken him to a local clinic in Ottawa and was told he would need a TPLO: a very expensive procedure to fix the torn ligament in his knee.  I searched high and low for a well qualified and caring facility to perform this surgery.

After finding Lanark Veterinary Clinic, Chris, at the front desk was so helpful, friendly and welcoming.  She gained our trust with the clinic and made us feel like we were at home!  Chris recommended that we see Dr. Kevin Bacon, one of the best!  He took a look a Bear and new right away that he was going to need surgery.  Our first consultation was close to an hour in length; Dr. Bacon took the time to explain how and why my dog was injured and even used common “day to day” examples that the average person could understand. He used pictures, diagrams, and physical demonstrations. He even referred to his own personal experiences, which helped me understand exactly what was going on inside my dogs knee. He understands the importance of informing the patients/clients of what is going on with their pets.  Dr. Bacon truly cares about his patients and the service he offered to us, not only his pocket book!  He did this surgery at a very reasonable price that was much more affordable than the fancy clinics in the City.

Lanark Veterinary Clinic went above and beyond my expectations; we were able to book his surgery for the very following week, (only 4 days later).  On the day of surgery, I was welcomed into the clinic and was able to bring belongings from home to make sure my “Bear” was comfortable during his stay. They reviewed the procedure with me before I left and was ensured a phone call immediately after surgery.   I received a phone call to follow up on Bear progress that afternoon.  I was told everything has gone well and Bear would be released in 2 to 3 days.  I appreciated the extended stay which would allow the clinic to provide proper supervision, and physiotherapy; a major component of the recovery. The clinic called me daily during Bear’s stay to inform me of any updates and overall recovery.  I was highly impressed with the care they put towards their animals.

When I went to Lanark to pick up Bear the assistant reviewed all the necessary care instructions in detail and even pre-booked my physiotherapy and post-op appointments with Dr. Bacon. , all of which were covered in the surgery cost.  Chris ensured me that I could call day or night if I was worried about anything!  This put my mind at ease, knowing I could turn to them if I was worried or needed help with anything.  They were there to help and support me through the entire process; I knew I could count on them!

Would you believe that only 4 weeks later, Jade, our female, needed the same surgery!  She was running through the trees with the kids and torn her knee too; very common in this breed of dog.  I went straight back to Lanark Veterinary Clinic and she was in surgery that week.  Dr. Bacon, once again reviewed all the details, since not all dogs are exactly the same.  Everything went well; as planned and I was still treated with the same courteous and knowledgeable service as I had received on my first visit.

Jade and Bear are recovering very well and are back to their normal activities!  I have recommended Lanark Veterinary Clinic to many of my friends and neighbors who own pets.  They truly go above and beyond to help their patients.  They care and provide excellent quality, and knowledgeable service.

Thank you Lanark Veterinary Clinic!