Ark Vets Galway

I have just left Ark Vets is Knocknacarra after a terrible experience with the practice manager. Our dog was admitted yesterday afternoon with severe gastric issues. I left him there with tears in my eyes, honestly not knowing if I would see him again. Our whole family was devastated when I got home without him. We got a call to say he had responded well overnight and we could come and take him home this afternoon. We were all delighted, it had been such a horrible 24 hours. The vet was great when she explained everything to us and really showed that she cared about her patients and asked us to call tomorrow and let her know how he was doing. The receptionist explained all his medication and then gave me the bill. €1300. This was in line with the estimate the vet had given the day before, Friday afternoon. I explained that I did not have €1,300 available to give them and as it was the weekend I could not sort a bank loan until Monday morning. She informed me this was against the practice policy and they would need full payment now. I said I understand this, but I just did not have that much money readily available on Saturday afternoon. She rang the practice manager who insisted on full payment. I said I cant but will on Monday but this was rejected. The manager said she would come in person to deal with this. I was escorted into a treatment room and told I had to pay in full, to which I repeated that I did not have the money but would get a loan on Monday morning. I was told this was not good enough and that I had been given an estimate when I brought my dog in. I told her I thought he was going to be kept in for a number of days and we were surprised he was getting out today so we did not expect to have to pay today. I said all I can do is walk out the door and she can get the guards after me, or wait till Monday to get paid. She said I was putting her in a terrible position, I said I was not. I was asking her to trust me for two days, I said I understood her concern but I reassured her I would keep my word. Again this was rejected. She suggested Humm finance which I agreed to. She said as it was Saturday afternoon we probably won't get clearance until Monday. It was bordering on the ridiculous at this stage. I said I could pay €100 now, the mortgage had come out the day before and payday was Thursday, this was rejected and she repeatedly told me I had received an estimate and they demand payment in full at discharge. The charade went over and back, while me 2 daughters waited outside with the dog. She eventually accepted that I pay €100 now and pay the remaining €1,200 first thing on Monday morning. I would like to thank the vets in Ark for their great care they gave our dog and my apologies to the receptionist who had to deal with this. We will never return to Ark Vets. We have been registered with the Knocknacarra practice since 2018, we have 3 dogs and 2 cats. Some people should not work in a place like this, where they deal with clients who are going through a potentially very traumatic experience. I never argued about the fee, I just asked for a few days to get it sorted as loan cannot be organised on a Saturday afternoon. Terrible experience when we were so excited and relieved and just wanted to get our dog home again. Look elsewhere for your vetinary needs, hopefully you will find a bit more compassion than you will recieve from the management in Ark Vets Knocknacarra. Read Less