This is a long overdue review of my experience with the amazing veterinary staff here. In September, my cat Luna experienced a medical emergency resulting in a need to have to make the decision to put her to sleep. She had been experiencing some health issues for a few months prior that were being managed by her regular vet when the situation turned dire one morning and a rush to the emergency vet had to be made. Our regular vet at Elmhurst Animal Care Center called ahead to let the staff here know of the situation. They welcomed my husband and our cat Luna, with open, compassionate arms. They waited until I could arrive from work in Chicago before any decisions were made. We never felt rushed or like a burden. The vet on staff that day, Dr. Heather, went over all of the information as many times as we needed to process. The tech that day, Jenny, sat with us and comforted us while we made the hardest decision we’ve ever had to make. They were compassionate and we could feel that they were loving, caring people. I think we all cried on the floor that day. The euthanasia procedure was explained clearly and Dr. Heather was kind and gentle with Luna and with us. We were allowed all the time we needed. They offered cremation and memorial packages. It’s hard to grasp after such a difficult day but it’s so appreciated. Jenny explained this all so well and she was great comfort to us during this very difficult time. An emergency euthanasia is HARD and emotional but the grace, class, care and empathy of the staff here is exactly what you need on a day like that. Thank you all, truly.

Dr. Smith and her team were awesome! Everyone was so friendly. Super professional and attentive. There was no wait and my doggie got taken care of with gentleness. Everything was explained in detail and they made sure I knew that they would be available if I had any other concerns or questions.

Love is an action. Love is patient, kind, humble, gentle, selfless, understanding, truthful, never giving up, never losing faith, always hopeful, & enduring in all circumstances. The women at EVS demonstrated true love through their actions. Not only were they professional and highly knowledgeable, but they were also caring & compassionate. People can be taught textbook things, but they can’t be taught integrity and care. I am very thankful to have met such a group of strong, professional, and caring women who took amazing care of my little dog, Animal. They saved his life. You all were a true blessing to us both.Animal, my 15-year-old Morkie, was transferred to EVS due to dangerously high kidney levels/ renal values.The wonderful staff I met:Brook - What a wonderful and lasting first impression I had of EVS from Brook! She welcomed me at the door with warmth & compassion. She was approachable & kind; she was easy to talk to about hard things. I felt comfortable opening up to her & asking about awkward financial things. She answered my hard questions with grace & understanding. She was sensitive to my situation; professional but personable. It's clear Brook has a high emotional IQ. She's a genuine person who simply cares & is generous too.• Dr. Amy Smith - I felt in good hands right away with Dr. Amy. Professional, sweet, smart, & knowledgeable. Above all, I admired her patience with me and her ability to plainly explain technical things, while also being sensitive. She never displayed one hint of irritation with all my questions & fumbling over my words. A true model of patience. Also, the notes Dr. Amy took were so thorough & detailed. What care & integrity, from the medical side to the bedside!• Abby - What an asset to the team! I needed Abby’s positivity, confidence, & encouragement. I called several times, and Abby was so encouraging each time, even though the situation looked bleak to me. She encouraged me not to lose hope, & I needed those words of comfort & courage! Abby made me feel heard & understood. I was able to go back to sleep soundly after talking to Abby at 3am. Abby was also one of the main technicians who closely watched over Animal and took excellent care of him.• Dr. Heather Hlad - With all her technical knowledge and expertise, Dr. Heather still spoke to me like a true friend. She was very down to earth. Heather shared her expertise & words of wisdom with me, & she was also supportive in whatever I decided to do. What a gift Heather has; to be able to talk to you both as a professional and as a real friend in a time of distress. The level of energy Heather gave to me (especially in the middle of her busy shift), was something I’ve never experienced before from a doctor. Heather truly cared, not only for Animal but for me. I admired her confidence too. Also, Heather’s notes were as thorough as Dr. Amy’s. Very professional.• Jeni / Jenni & Miranda – Wonderful interactions with Jeni & Miranda! They too gave me words of encouragement and were also very understanding. Also, the fact that they genuinely cared to see the reel I made of Animal, said a lot about them. They expressed genuine interest for someone else’s interest. That’s rare. Most people would pretend to watch and care, but not Jeni, Miranda, (Abby and Dr Amy too). Sincerity is always felt. They truly wanted to see what I wanted to share. That small act of kindness said a lot; another thing that reassured me that my dog was in the right place.• Dr Graves was also professional & warm-hearted. Thank you Dr Graves for your expertise and care for Animal!I felt like all these women were my girlfriends. Whoever has these women as friends or sisters in everyday life, you are blessed. Thank you again, for saving Animal’s life and for being a good friend to me for those 48 hours. I'll never forget my experience at EVS with you all. Praise the Lord that He gave me more precious time with Animal through this amazing team of kind-hearted women! God bless you all!Love,Jenna & Animal1 Corinthians 13:4-7 • John 14:16 • Acts 4:12

I brought my cat here seeking treatment for a severe heating pad burn that he sustained during a dental procedure with his primary vet. We came two nights in a row to receive wound care. Dr. Jessica Graves was a very kind, competent advocate who finally got my cat what he needed. Dr. Amy Smith was very sweet and compassionate. No one has fun at the vet ER but we were treated very well here. Most importantly, my cat is finally starting to get better.