Odd Pet Vet

Dr. Mertz was able to diagnose the problem with our Dumeril's boa right away. Other vets had the wrong advice fir three times the price. It's important to go to a specialist like this for reptiles. Makes all the difference. We wouldn't go anywhere else for our snakes/gecko. Highly recommended with VERY reasonable fees. 5 stars! Read Less

Dr. Mertz and his colleagues are wonderfully experienced! The only Vet I will trust my sub Saharan hinge back Tortoise to. They are kind, welcoming, gentle and wide ranging in their knowledge. The center is a beautiful place to bring children to to learn about all of New England‘s wild life. Read Less

I came for the first time recently to bring my new baby tortoise to see the vet.  What a neat place!!! The garden center had really interesting plants and a very knowledgeable staff.  It's really cool to be able to walk in and see so many of the animals they're caring for/rescuing.  It's a great place to bring kids, but also really interesting for an adult as well.  Dr. Trout was fantastic! I've never owned a reptile before and wasn't sure what to expect with this type of vet visit.  She was so patient with all my questions and was great with my little guy.  You can tell she really genuinely cares about the animals and loves her job.  I can't say enough good stuff... definitely recommend!! Read Less

My dog found a hurt baby bunny in some leaves. We did not know what do to because it was on it's side and not doing well. This was 9:30 am on Friday morning so we waited half an hour till this place supposedly opened as per their website. Well I called at 10:00, 10:05, 10:10, 10:20, and finally left a voicemail. I thought maybe they could take the bunny to rehabilitate, or if not, at least give me some advice as to what to do. Called a bunch of times after and never got an answer or even a call back. Called their odd pet vet and other number as well. Came home later and the bunny had died. Great work NEWC. Not even a call back, pathetic. Read Less

I'm a nurse employed in the NICU at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton, Ma. For each of the past three years a pair of male and female Canada geese have spent a month with us in the spring. The male goose aggressively guards his mate as well as the eggs she produces. Our hospital personnel look forward to their interactions and especially the birth of their goslings. Many photo's, selfies, and videos have been taken over the years from the hospital windows.  Recently the female was observed to be either ill or injured which upset all of us. The Animal Rescue League sent a rescue team trained in animal handling and capture techniques to St. E's. She was triaged and diagnosed with lead toxicosis. Presently she's at the New England Wildlife Center for medication and rehabilitation. Once recovered she'll be released to St. E's and hopefully reunited with her mate.   I can't thank enough both the Animal Rescue League as well as the New England Wildlife Center for all the valuable work they do for our sick, injured, and orphaned animals. Read Less

Had my 3 year old's birthday party here.  I was so excited when told that there were a few hawks and tons of animals available to see.  We had two hostesses.  Neither helped to set up or clean up the party.  I ended up doing it all myself.  The party room was a little cluttered and dirty, so I was glad to have tablecloths.  There was a big, clean fridge to put your cake or other items into.  You were also given a pizza delivery menu, but you had to have a cell phone to call and get the pizza delivered.The two hostesses took us upstairs to see some animals.  We saw a python, tortoise, skink and a bunch of turtles.  Unfortunately, no explanations were given.  Also, a young boy was there showing the animals.  I expected adults to show and explain the animals.  After that we were taken downstairs to see more turtles.  We were never shown a hawk or any of the animals that we were told would be there.During the party the hostesses spent most of their time texting on their phones rather than engaging with the kids.  I was really, truly hoping for a clean party room, help setting up and cleaning up, and a really good animal show.  I don't know if I would want to go back for another party. Read Less

This is my all time favorite small pet vet when I moved and 1hr. 30min. away, I still traveled here. I only had one issue in the 4yrs I have been bringing my rabbits and rats here. They are fair and up front with their prices. The customer service is amazing and they really care about getting your pet the best care from the correct and most knowledgeable vet. The only problem I had was when I brought my rabbit in for a visit when he had ear mites they gave him medicine and he seemed to be recovering then suddenly only 3days after my visit he past away in a near by vet emergency room. This is not the fault of the great staff at Odd Pet Vet... I just wish they could have warned me that this might happen. Regardless of my loss I still would recommend this vet to anyone seeking an affordable, knowledgeable, kind, caring vet. They even will advise you via email if an appointment isn't available right away. Thank you Dr. Mertz my raties will miss you, now that we are too far to travel to you. Read Less

Awful experience. BEWARE... Contrary to everything written on their website, this place does NOT currently accept injured wildlife for rehabilitation. Since these rehabs are few and far between. I found myself traveling a great distance to drop off an injured bunny. Only to be told I couldn't even walk into the building because they didn't have a veterinarian staffed to inspect the injured animal. And their 'dr odd', the vet plastered all over their website, only takes appointments and wasn't in. Spare yourself the headache and go anywhere else.  They'll tell you they're "at capacity" anyways. Read Less

Extremely disturbed to hear of the experience my new client (pet sitting) had with her ferrets at the clinic.   Contrary to current veterinary best practice, the ferrets were vaccinated for both rabies and canine distemper during the same visit.  Contrary to current veterinary best practice, it was not recommended to the client that they wait a while before leaving in case one of the ferrets had a bad vaccine reaction.             One of her ferrets went into life-threatening anaphylactic shock in the car on their way back home to Boston.   Luckily they hadn't driven far and were able to get back to the clinic in time to administer emergency care, or this ferret could have died.      Clients should not have to be educated *Before* a vet visit on issues like this of which they may be unaware-- It's the Responsibility of the Veterinarian to be informed and up to date on current best practice and to have appropriate protocols in place.  Because this vet did not, the client now does not know which vaccine nearly killed her pet and therefore must avoid both. Read Less

Every parent should consider this AMAZING location for their children's birthdays. My children have had all of their birthday parties here. Our hostess was Karen. We love Karen. The party starts off in a spacious room downstairs with so many tables and chairs for many guests. We had a table just gifts and another for sandwiches, and then a counter for cake. You can also get pizza delivered if you'd like. There's also an empty and clean fridge for a huge cake, catered foods, and drinks. Karen's sets everything up too. Karen interacts and engages the children as well as their parents with animal facts. We then tour the veterinary  facilities around the second floor. We saw animals being cared for from birds to a huge tortoise who was on his own personal vacation and even a baby raccoon being bottle fed. We go to the third floor to get a hands on lesson about bones and fur upstairs near their homemade gigantic teepee. Lastly, we go back to the bottom level and get to see and feel a bearded dragon, more lizards, snakes, turtles and so many tortoises. There was even a hawk during one of my children's parties. Karen also reminds us of photo opportunities and never seems to rush the intrigued kids and parents who may have questions. She really takes her time and has a passion for what she does at the center. We sanitize our hands and have food with cake! Not only do you get to throw a one of a kind party, but you also learn so much and the memories are priceless. Thank you Karen for sharing your time and passion. Read Less

Every parent should consider this AMAZING location for their children's birthdays. My children have had all of their birthday parties here. Our hostess was Karen. We love Karen. The party starts off in a spacious room downstairs with so many tables and chairs for many guests. We had a table just gifts and another for sandwiches, and then a counter for cake. You can also get pizza delivered if you'd like. There's also an empty and clean fridge for a huge cake, catered foods, and drinks. Karen's sets everything up too. Karen interacts and engages the children as well as their parents with animal facts. We then tour the veterinary  facilities around the second floor. We saw animals being cared for from birds to a huge tortoise who was on his own personal vacation and even a baby raccoon being bottle fed. We go to the third floor to get a hands on lesson about bones and fur upstairs near their homemade gigantic teepee. Lastly, we go back to the bottom level and get to see and feel a bearded dragon, more lizards, snakes, turtles and so many tortoises. There was even a hawk during one of my children's parties. Karen also reminds us of photo opportunities and never seems to rush the intrigued kids and parents who may have questions. She really takes her time and has a passion for what she does at the center. We sanitize our hands and have food with cake! Not only do you get to throw a one of a kind party, but you also learn so much and the memories are priceless. Thank you Karen for sharing your time and passion. Read Less

They are so understanding and caring towards your animals. I take my guinea pig there and I trust them. They make you feel secure with leaving your animal. My guinea pig that's is now 3 years old got a bladder stone removed there. I appreciate their business and it's worth it, because it's non-profit. OPV IS AWESOME!!! Read Less

They are so understanding and caring towards your animals. I take my guinea pig there and I trust them. They make you feel secure with leaving your animal. My guinea pig that's is now 3 years old got a bladder stone removed there. I appreciate their business and it's worth it, because it's non-profit. OPV IS AWESOME!!! Read Less

Dr Mertz and the entire crew at the Wildlife Center and the vets are absolutely outstanding. I can't say enough great things about them. They have taken care of all my exotics for years and have always been gentle, caring, and knowledgeable no matter what the species. I highly recommend them for any of your reptiles, birds, or mammals. Debby Swiechowicz Jungle Jewels Reptiles Read Less

The life of my tegu was saved by veterinarian GREG MERTZ. I now can't see me ever bringing any of my pet family members to any other place. You can tell that the whole staff actually cares about your pet. I live in lowell Massachusetts and there are a lot of places between my home and the odd pet vet and I pass them all to go where my pet and I are treated better. Go there one time only and see the difference. Their a lot more than just a vet office. They have a lot of things going on there. So, if you have to bring your pet somewhere for whatever reason just try them once. Read Less

Poeple  forget that there's not a lot of wildlife facilities in Massachusetts. Yes there pet  veterinarians but most want take snake, lizards and other wild animals. They work with volunteers and will take any donations that they can get,(Including food). They have all types of animals that come in.  for the size of their facility they take as many animals as they can. We need to cherish these kinds of facilities and the more we can help, more we help the animals Read Less

The first time I visited the center it was to request respite care for a baby bird that had been brought to me by a neighbor who found it outside a Cumberland Farms store.  It had fallen out of a nest in an overhang and could not be put back due to lack of access. It was featherless and had just hatched.  I cared for it for ten days, but was scheduled to be away for three days and had no one to care for the bird.  The center first refused to take it under any condition, but changed their stance after I begged, with the condition it would be permanent and they would not give the bird back.  I was grateful they would would care for the bird that was healthy and would be reaching fledgling stage.  Now I question if it ever did.  At that time they required a minimum $25 donation.This past week, I was driving on a numbered highway at approximately 10 p.m. when the car in front of me came to a stop.  It did not move and I approached to see if the driver was ok.  I then saw a young raccoon in the middle of the road.  It appeared disoriented from the lights or perhaps had fallen out of a tree limb above.  There were homes and businesses on both sides of the road and no location to relocate it safely on this busy stretch.  Due to the amount of traffic, I scooped it up into a box and brought it home.  The next morning I returned to the location but still could not find anyplace safe to leave it.  Clearly it was still in need of parental care and appeared to be 5 to 6 weeks of age, or a few weeks shy of being able to fend for itself.  I called NEWC which was closed, and drove thirty minutes to the center which was to open for drop offs at 10.  When I entered with a cat carrier, I was immediately told by the receptionist that they did not take large animals because they did not have appropriate cages.  I told her it was a baby raccoon and she then asked where it was found. When I told her Stoughton, she stated they only accepted animals from Plymouth and Norfolk counties!  I told her Stoughton was in Norfolk county and then she said they had no room and I would need to find another rehab facility.  At this point I was pretty frustrated and emotional.  I asked her repeatedly for other rehabbers with no response.  I was approached by a women who said she was the fundraiser and tried to console me by whispering even though I told her I was hearing impaired and could not hear her.   Finally, the doctor whom I met the the first visit came out and said they would take the raccoon but it would be euthanized.  His tone was severe and he was clearly angry and seemingly wished to make me feel bad.  He succeeded.  He never even looked into the cat carrier to determine the age or condition of the raccoon.  In fact, no one even laid eyes on the animal.  It was simply stated they did not take raccoons. When I balked that they display them on their webpage and Facebook page,  one of the other workers tried to clarify this position by stating they were full.  I was standing next to " The Baby Ward" that is showcased to the public with glass windows and could see it had only one creature in it.  I stomped back to my car in an effort to locate another rehabilitation center on my cell phone, but could not find one within means.  I then returned to the receptionist and asked again for an alternative rehab facility.  She needed to look it up, but indicated there was one in Plymouth, a non option for me as it was another 1.5 hours round trip in the wrong direction.  With no other options, I left the poor baby raccoon with this place to be euthanized.  They actually asked me if I wanted the cat carrier back and made me wait another ten minutes to secure it.  During this time the fundraiser once again tried to hush my displeasure  and suggested we sit down and discuss the issue in private even though she was well aware I was late for work due to this process and bizarre hours for drop off of 10  to 2.   I would love to talk to her further as I strongly suspect they are misrepresenting their functions and operations.  I have been a follower of their Facebook page and I find it hard to believe that all the similar and exact creatures photographed and displayed as being rescued by them had the same start as my two creatures had, but I wonder if they had the same end?  I question their ethics, compassion and professionalism, when they make a determination about the life of an animal they've never laid eyes on.  For these reasons, I will no longer be making donations to this facility, nor will I be visiting them in the future. Not because they can not take every creature that comes through their door, but because they had no intention of even considering the care of this creature in the first place; a needy animal that very likely could have been released into the wild in a matter of one to two weeks.  Not to mention the atrocious way I was treated as well. Read Less

I can not say enough wonderful things about Dr.Mertz he was my vet for about 20 years and would still be my vet If we did not move. He helped  me care for 2 pet rabbits that I had had over the years. My last pet rabbit passed away very tragically and the entire staff of the NE Wildlife center call me to say they were sorry. I LOVE Dr. Mertz  and his boys as well !! Who now are following in his footsteps!!!! I can NOT say enough  WONDERFUL  things about him and the staff at the Wildlife Center!!!!! Read Less

NEWC is the top place for your exotic pets or injured wildlife. I can personally attest to the greatness of the Center. I bring all my exotic pets to Dr. Mertz and I've had a lot of exotic pets. To date, he's treated my budgies, snake, hedgehogs, doves, and Quaker parrot, and that's just in the past few years. I wish I found him earlier. Basically you got, he can fix it! He regularly treats a cute little pig! He's very honest and casual- nothing like some of the vets I've known. As for the wildlife hospital portion: the wildlife get daily intensive care and hand-prepared diets. The waterfowl get daily swimming time (if they're able) and once an animal is healthy enough, it's usually put outside in an enclosure for a few days to get used to being outside again, especially if it's cold. They have an amazing flight cage for the raptors out back. THERE'S NO CHARGE FOR BRINGING INJURED WILDLIFE. I know there's been some instances of people dropping an animal off in a box by the back door because they think they'll be an admissions fee. No fee, just a simple paper to fill out saying where you found it, etc.During the "baby" season, interns are working around the clock to feed the baby mammals and birds. They start at one end of the room and work their way around. By the time they get to the end, they have to start all over again! The Center also offers boarding. I've taken advantage of this for my vacations. I feel much more at ease leaving my pets with knowledgeable experts who know what to do in an emergency than a friend. I boarded two budgies and my snake for a little over a week and it was $60. Very reasonable! This is a great place to take a weekend trip with the kids if they're antsy and you don't want to pay for the movies, etc. You can tour the facilities for a small donation, or pay a little bit more for a guided tour by a volunteer or intern. I think it's $5 per person (or $10 per family) for a self-guided tour, $15 per family for a guided tour. I strongly recommend the guided tour. Usually your guide will bring out some animals from the reptile room (where all the educational animals are) and you get much more info than just walking around. Read Less

Dr. Mertz was so wonderful and knowledgeable! After just a glance at our ferrets and their movements, he was able to accurately pinpoint their personalities, and when one of them was sick, he was able to quickly look at him and reassure me that it wasn't anything serious. He's super casual and willing to explain anything to you, if you ask about it. The fact that they are open past normal business hours and on weekends is also super-helpful for people who have to work all day. Read Less

I highly recommend the Dr. Mertz, the Odd Pet Vet, and the staff of the NEWC. We took our guinea pig there for a check up when we first got him and noticed some health issues and was very satisfied with the care and time the Dr. took to explain things to me. Dr. Mertz is very knowledgeable about exotic pets, and seems to be someone who just really loves animals. Everyone who works there gives off the impression that they are dedicated to the welfare of the animals they take in and treat.  I felt very comfortable using their boarding services too (only  $10/day) And you can't beat the prices! I really appreciate that they keep vet care and boarding very affordable.ETA: Dr. Adamski operated on our guinea pig to remove a huge tumor growing on his face. He did an amazing job with the surgery and the follow up care. While other vets wanted to charge us $1K+, NEWC only charged $250. We have taken the tour with our kids a few times and was shown so much attention. The volunteers took their time to educate us about all the animals there. The tour itself makes a great field trip for kids. My kids loved the exploring the top floor that has loads of things to explore. A simply amazing place and group of people. Read Less

EXCELLENT & COMPASSIONATE VET. Dr Mertz saves our chinchilla's life. Previous 2 vets that we saw already told us to put the chinchilla to sleep. Can't thank Dr. Mertz enough for his caring and brilliant diagnosis.I won't trust anyone else anymore when it comes to my chinchilla's health. He truly cares about the animal's well being. I have never found other vet who's so compassionate, knowledgeable,  and willing to go above and beyond to care for the animal. I would highly recommend him to anyone else! Read Less

Best care I could possibly have gotten for my pet rat Nebi. Dr. Mertz genuinely cares about the pets, the wildlife, and the humans. Everyone at the NEWC/ Odd Pet Vet are great, his youth crew of volunteers/interns are some of the most caring and professional young people I've ever encountered. I am so grateful for the Center, Dr. Mertz, and his team! Read Less

I have been going to Dr. Mertz for care of my exotic animals for over 10 years (long before there was a NEWC) and I cannot say enough about how amazing he is not only as a vet, but as a human being. He has consistently gone above and beyond caring for all of my animals (gerbils, rats, ferrets, cockatiels). His wealth of knowledge is unrivaled and I would never trust my fuzzies and feathered loves to anyone but Dr. Mertz. Know that all of what you pay to have your animal seen goes straight to the NEWC, which is a fantastic place. I cannot urge you enough, if you are looking for a vet for your exotic animal, with Dr. Mertz your pet is in great hands. Read Less

Dr. Mertz is amazing.  He knows his reptiles, which is a welcome relief in a area where there seems to be nothing but dog and cat vets.He will see any animal-so long as it is not a dog or cat.  He is very casual and knowledgeable, and is quick to determine what might be wrong with your pet.  I brought in my hatchling bearded dragon after she had been vomiting and lost weight.  He weighed her, looked her over, and diagnosed her within 2 minutes.  Doing a fecal confirmed - MBD and pinworms.  He de-wormed her and prescribed a calcium supplement, and we were out within 15 minutes.  Within a month our little girl doubled in wight and length!The only downside is the commute and the hours.  They really aren't your 9-5 place and most times you must leave a message for Dr. Mertz before you can make an appointment.  But the quality of care you receive when you get in is well worth the wait and the drive! Read Less

Angels run this place for sure.  So here it is Sunday early evening and my husband comes home with an orphaned baby squirrel that he found lying inert but alive in a parking lot.  Fortunately we had had great experiences with the NE Wildlife Center twice in the past having brought  them both an injured bird and injured rabbit for care, However on this Sunday night they were closed.  We made do with a few tips from their web-site about how to care for this baby until they opened the next day.  You would have thought we gave birth to this squirrel ourselves, getting up hourly to feed it with a dropper ..(oh yes we did)...but Fred, as my husband took to calling him, not only survived the night but in fact seemed down-right frisky in a few hours.  A phone call to the Wildlife Center the next morning got us a "drop-off time-slot" and Fred was released to caring and loving hands by noon.  How can you not love a place that will accept any injured wild animal you might find and then care for it with the incredible vets and techs?The Center does other great things like host educational programs both on-site and at schools and they give tours of the interesting facility.   They do this all with donor support and so we have gratefully renewed our family membership.  I can't say enough good things about this place. Read Less

We came across the Wildlife Center because we were looking for vets specialized in exotic pets. Dr. Greg Mertz, aka The Odd Pet Vet, came up as one of the results. We always bring our guinea pigs to him when they are sick and he is an excellant source of knowledge and truly cares about animals. He sees pets to raise money for the Wildlife Center. This gave us the idea to check it out. They do a great job in educating about wildlife and visiting their center is a joy. All the volunteers there are happy to answer any questions you might have. They even offer birthday parties for kids there. It is a great way to spend an afternoon with your kids. It only costs a small amount to get in and it's very hands-on. Read Less