The Drake Center for Veterinary Care

We had a really tough day and had to put my partner's dog down. The whole staff went above and beyond to be kind and loving to us and our whole family.

Dr. Shotwell especially was so compassionate and absolutely amazing. The support she gave us was more than we could have ever expected and we will appreciate her and her team forever. ️

Fabulous Veterinarian Care Facility! I was greeted immediately (had an appointment) and taken to the exam room immediately. All of the Staff, Vet Technician and my Veterinarian, were the utmost professional, caring, knowledgeable and supportive. I’m so very happy I was referred to this facility and would readily recommend The Drake Center. Very clean & stress free environment! Give them a visit and see for yourself, you won’t be disappointed!

Drake has been great to us! Clean establishment, professional staff and great doctors. We make the 30+ mile drive to see Drake even though there are countless vets much closer to us. Won't go anywhere else at this point.

Hi Very clear precise helpful information Exactly what our Alsation is experiencing Just made appointment with own vet for Monday Many Thanks

Nice private rooms. No hard sell on products or procedures. In and out very quickly but felt like exam was comprehensive

Caring and excellent service from Dr. Tiglio and the friendly staff. Dr. Tiglio makes you feel heard and doesn't rush. Great follow-up. Responsive to messages/emails. Digital x-rays, bloodwork, surgery on site, meds, and specialty food pick up. I found their pricing reasonable. Convenient location. Parking is a bit tight and there is disabled parking. Parking at the annex is a bit easier.

Couldn't say enough good things about Dr. Madison VanWorth. I have a healthcare background so I can say with experience that Dr VanWorth is first rate. Our 15 year golden retriever is having some significant medical issues and she was able to help her with a good treatment plan. She was very professional, friendly, and compassionate. Great communication skills. Drake is lucky to have her.

Don't bring your dog here. Find someplace else to go. It's all about money with them.

Dr Janice Lee. Outstanding care for our 34lb labradoodle. Demonstrated. In office comprehensive diagnostic process and genuine listening skills. Then followed up with communications showing empathy for our dogs digestive issues. And the entire Drake staff is also to be commended. It's so nice to be able to call and have a quick pickup and competent service.

I love the Drake Center! They are so polite and friendly and they can always see us within a day or two. The doctors spend all the time you need in the exam room answering all your questions. You can tell they really care! Thank you Drake Center team!

We've really enjoyed working with Dr. Shotwell who has been the primary veterinarian caring for our three cats. She's kind and caring, really knows her stuff, and loves kitties. We also appreciate that she explains diagnoses and treatment plans clearly, asking for our input regarding options and making sure we are comfortable with the plan.

The vet techs and front office staff are very good as well. It's a busy practice, but they are friendly and helpful. This is our vet for the foreseeable future!

When we checked in our beloved family dog Cosmo, our five-year-old mixed terrier, for a week’s stay at the Drake Center for Veterinary Care in Encinitas this summer, we didn’t think much of it. Having stayed in dog hotels before, we knew that our friendly and gregarious Cosmo would be just fine while we were away. We had already used the Drake Center for veterinary services in the past and trusted that it would be an ideal place for Cosmo to board during our week away. When we dropped him off at the Center the evening before our travels on July 21st, he was his happy and healthy self, excitedly wagging his tail as we gave him hugs and kisses goodbye. As much as we were saddened that we couldn’t take him on vacation with us, we were comforted by the fact that he was being looked after by a place that bills itself as a “fun and loving environment. ”

But Cosmo’s stay at the Drake Center proved to be neither fun nor loving.

When we picked up Cosmo from the Drake Center a week later, we knew something was not right. Cosmo was uncharacteristically quiet and slept all day and night. He barely touched his food. He seemed glum and depressed, completely unlike his normal self. On the rare occasions that he got up and moved around, he did so with a limp. It became obvious that Cosmo was in a lot of pain.

We called the Drake Center to try and figure out what happened while Cosmo was in their care but were met with nothing more than vague replies. A few days later, we took him in for an appointment at the Drake Center and, after conducting an X-ray, discovered that Cosmo had a muscle sprain and inflammation in his right forearm. Cosmo’s doctors gave him painkillers and advised that we restrict his movement so he can rest.

We did as the doctor said, but Cosmo’s condition only got worse. By the following week, Cosmo lost the ability to hold himself up or move around. He stopped eating. Frustrated and desperate for answers, we called the Drake Center again and demanded to know what had happened to cause Cosmo’s injuries. Half an hour later, we received a call from the Drake Center’s manager, Chris, who finally informed us that Cosmo’s injury may have been the result of a “mishandling” during a nail treatment we had bought for him, during which Chris said that Cosmo had resisted and was restrained. After weeks of trying to find out what was wrong with our poor Cosmo, this was the first time that the Drake Center disclosed that he had been hurt on their watch.

We demanded that the Drake Center take responsibility for their mistreatment of Cosmo and for their failure to inform us about it in a timely manner. Chris agreed to schedule a consultation with an orthopedic specialist who could look at Cosmo’s X-rays.

The diagnosis was grim. According to the specialist, Cosmo suffered from right forelimb lameness and suspected neck pain, which was likely caused or exacerbated by the efforts to restrain him during the nail trim. We were told that Cosmo would need an MRI, which costs anywhere between $2,000 to $3,000. Potential surgery would cost as much as $15,000.

The Drake Center owns full responsibility for its failure to provide Cosmo with the safety and care that we paid them for. Unfortunately, they refuse to take it. Not only has the Drake Center declined to cover the costs of Cosmo’s MRI and treatment, but they have also stopped responding to our texts and emails. As a family, we are devastated by Cosmo’s suffering and stressed by the reality that we will not be able to afford the treatment he so desperately needs. Even if we could, we live with the painful reality that our fun-loving Cosmo—the very best boy who loves hikes, walks along the beach, and zoomies around the house—may never be fully whole again.

The Drake Center may claim to provide a service of compassion and care, but its actions have so far proven otherwise. If you are considering entrusting your beloved pet to the Drake Center’s boarding services, we suggest you think again. We wish we had.

We took our dog here for one week while my family and I went vacation. When we took him in he was healthy and happy. 1 week latter when we picked him up he looked depressed and was limping on his front leg. After a week of him barely being able to walk, having no appetite and very low energy we took him here to get checked up. They took X-rays and informed us that he had a torn muscle and inflamed joint. They gave no information on how this happened. They gave us pain medication and sent us home. Now, 3 weeks latter he is still not himself, constantly whimpering, not able to walk, barely any appetite, and in terrible pain. We have all been devestated seeing our dog in this condition. I recommend not taking your dog here, we have had a terrible experience.

We started bringing our pets to The Drake Center a little over a year ago. Since that time we’ve been unable to see the same doctor twice. Every time we go it’s a different doctor that doesn’t know us or our pets, other than what’s in a chart. There’s no attempt to form relationships with their clients. We may as well have taken our pets to an emergency hospital to be seen by any veterinarian on call. Recently one of our dogs became very ill unexpectedly and we were once again seen by a new doctor that we’d not seen before. After a few tests she sent us to the emergency hospital for more intensive care. 2 days later our beloved dog passed away due to a severe autoimmune response. She had not shown any signs of illness previously. Needless to say our family was heartbroken at the sudden loss. Since that time, not one person at The Drake Center (our primary vet) has ever contacted us to follow up or offer their condolences. The emergency hospital, on the other hand, has called, followed up by text, sent us a sympathy card, and delivered our dog’s remains to our home. The Drake Center lacks decency, compassion, and basic customer service.

I may be over cautious but I want to comes to my dog I want the best medical care and Dr. Borzac was absolutely incredible, thank you for making Jackson‘s tummy better! Absolutely exemplary service and care. I could tell my dog was a priority.

The doctor, the assistants and the girls at the front desk are amazing they make us feel they really cater about out 4 legged babies. Love this vet office. Can't say enough nice things about them.

I used to think they were great. I still love Dr. Shotwell, but the rest of them? Ugh, no thank you. Christine, the hospital manager, is perhaps the worst person there. They now care more about their bottom line than the health and comfort of the pets they are entrusted with. Christine says one thing then does another. They ignore calls/faxes/emails from outside pharmacies. They are LEGALLY required to give written prescriptions, so their workaround is to not respond to authorization requests when you try to fill them elsewhere. All they want is the $$; they don't care if your pet is in pain. If you do decide to buy the prescription through them expect at LEAST a 300% markup. Such a racket. They seem to have a pretty high turnover rate amongst the staff and even vets - I was a client of theirs for 10+ years and have seen so many come and go - so I assume they're not just money-hungry towards their clientele. Anyplace has got to be better than the Drake Center.

We were new to the Drake Center. Great staff & doctors, everyone very kind and caring.

Very thorough and get it right the first time

Wonderful vet. My dog was told by my previous vet she had fine teeth and gums, in August; later that year in December she had toothache so bad she was acting lethargic, not eating which is super strange, etc. I took her into Drake Center as it was the only one open on Sunday and they were highly recommended. Couldn't be happier with the outstanding staff! So knowledgeable, caring and professional - 11 (!) teeth extractions later and my dog is good as new - I love my dog so much and wouldn't trust her with anyone else - truly the last vet you will shop for just wonderful!