We're first-time cat owners and Bayside Veterinary Center is where I took Stewie to get his shots and to be neutered and dewormed (he was a stray). That visit was wonderful- the female vet was very k... Read More
We're first-time cat owners and Bayside Veterinary Center is where I took Stewie to get his shots and to be neutered and dewormed (he was a stray). That visit was wonderful- the female vet was very kind and explained what she'd done and how I was to take care of his stitches. The next time I took Stewie in was an extremely unpleasant experience. This time, the owner of the clinic, Dr. Andrew Kaye, examined Stewie. The cat was having roundworm issues, either because his initial round of meds had not gotten rid of the worms he'd already ahd or he'd somehow contracted them from a (leashed) romp on our front lawn. It was NOT a good experience. While waiting for my appointment with him, I noticed how disrespectful he was to his front desk staff, who are very thoughtful and pleasant. Dr. Kaye was rude, snotty and dismissive of my concerns and questions when he saw Stewie. I chalked his attitude up to his probably having a bad day.A year later, I brought Stewie in for his annual shots. Same snotty attitude. You'd think I'd learned my lesson by this time, but I'm that sucker who gives everyone the benefit of the doubt over and over again. The next time I came in with Stewie, it was an emergency. Stewie was listless, and his belly was distended (I later found out he had a urinary obstruction). Dr. Kaye was again dismissive and snotty, and this time, I knew he wasn't just having a bad day; clearly there was something about me that he found offensive because he'd been chatting very amiably and charmingly with the clients before me. When it was my turn, he turned off the charm and was again disrespectful and snotty to me. I was struggling financially at the time and asked him if we could work out a payment schedule for what he said was an intestinal blockage. He snapped, "No!" and dismissed me from his sight. So there I was, crying over my dying cat, and he didn't even TRY to be kind.I raced over to the Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital where they immediately whisked Stewie into the back and Dr. Mimi Kim saved his life. Ever since then, I've willingly and gladly schlepped Stewie on a bus, two trains and a hike up those UES hills because I KNOW they care. Dr. Kim rocks and I'm sad that she moved out of the area. Wherever she is, her clients are extremely lucky people to have a wonderful vet like her. This place gets a star for having a pleasant staff and for being somewhat convenient for me. BVC lost the other four stars because its owner is an a$$hat and treats his staff and me like dirt, not to mention he misdiagnosed Stewie as having an intestinal blockage when it was a URINARY blockage! Read Less