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VCA Firehouse Animal Hospital

Updated 2026-07-09 · 1,245 reviewed · 181 listed · Scored from 451 Google reviews · How we rank ›

4.5(451) 76 composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Verified
General Veterinary CareSurgery & Specialty CareDental CareExotic & Avian CareLarge Animal & Equine
VCA Firehouse Animal Hospital
Services
General Veterinary Care, Surgery & Specialty Care, Dental Care
Reviews
451

What recent reviews say

Staff win genuine loyalty through kindness and patient care, especially with nervous animals. But pricing runs 2x higher than local competitors, vaccines are pushed without full informed consent, and turnover suggests inexperience. One patient discovered a surgical complication nine years post-spay. When the right vet is your match, the experience is exceptional; when staffing shifts or pushback happens, service falters.

Recent shift: One reviewer with a poor initial experience (vaccine side effects, lack of informed consent) returned and revised their rating upward after 5+ months, citing better communication and ability to advocate for themselves. However, another long-term patient departed recently due to staff disrespect and poor appointment management after a preferred vet (Dr. Longo) left.

Praised for
  • kind and compassionate staff
  • gentle with anxious animals
  • goes above and beyond for emergencies
  • follow-up care and handwritten notes
  • good with fearful pets
Watch-outs
  • vaccine side effects not disclosed before administration
  • prices significantly higher than competitors
  • staff inexperience and high turnover
  • surgical mistakes (ovarian remnant left in)
  • poor appointment management and communication
  • aggressive treatment of certain dogs
compassionate-staffgentle-with-animalsexpensivepoor-communicationcaring-bedside-mannerfollow-up-callsshort-staffedknowledgeable-vets
Best for: Owners with anxious or fearful dogs who value a calm, compassionate experience and can afford premium pricing.
Think twice if: Budget-conscious patients or those wanting transparent vaccine discussions upfront; high turnover means consistency depends heavily on which vet you see.

Strengths

  • Dr. Calloway and Dr. Farnsworth earn strong individual loyalty
  • handles emergency walk-ins despite being a standard clinic
  • sends handwritten follow-up cards after pet loss
  • gentle approach calms anxious animals

Worth knowing

  • Dr. Calloway praised for emergency care and emotional support after pet loss
  • Dr. Farnsworth praised for gentle first-visit care
  • Kaitlin and Terra (staff) named for kindness
  • Vaccines (e.g., lepto) quoted at $80-88 vs. $20 elsewhere
  • Ovarian tissue left after spay discovered 9 years later, required costly revision surgery
  • Staff turnover noted; Dr. Longo and other vets left during patient relationships
  • Bordetella record-keeping error documented

What reviews say by service

General Veterinary Care
Wellness exams praised for kindness but criticized for high cost (double competitors) and lack of transparent pricing on tests.
Surgery & Specialty Care
Positive emergency care; however, one documented surgical complication (ovarian remnant) discovered years later.
Dental Care
Advanced dental care listed on website; no specific review evidence.
Exotic & Avian Care
USDA certification for international pet transport offered; one reviewer noted this as a rare service.
Large Animal & Equine
No review evidence found.

How it compares

  • Rated 4.5 against a 4.59 average across the 167 general veterinary care businesses listed here.
  • Has more Google reviews than 67% of the businesses in this directory.

How we scored this

Scoring Method
Star rating 67
Review volume 100
Review recency 100
Review sentiment 46
Profile completeness 100
Verification 30

Rating breakdown

5
359
4
28
3
11
2
14
1
39

Common questions

Do you take walk-in emergencies?
Yes. One reviewer arrived looking for an emergency hospital by accident and was treated immediately, with a vet staying late to help.
Will you discuss vaccine side effects before administering?
Not always. One reviewer reported side effects were mentioned only during administration, not before consent was given. Another reviewer noted they chose to continue after learning to advocate for themselves.
Do you do USDA certification for international pet travel?
Yes, according to one reviewer's experience and the business's website claims.
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Last updated 2026-07-09