Oakpark Pet Hospital

I am compelled to share my thoughts in response to the reply received by my sister, Lorraine Kochelev, from Oakpark Pet Hospital regarding the passing of our beloved family pet, Dima. Unfortunately, their response failed to address Lorraine's concerns. She noted that the two mobile vets recommended by Oakpark, whom they claimed to have a great relationship with, were unhelpful. Furthermore, Lorraine is aware that Oakpark Pet Hospital handles emergencies on Saturdays alongside scheduled appointments. A responsible pet owner would likely understand if their appointment was delayed due to the admission of a critically ill dog.

On the morning of the incident, I personally reached out to VCA Hospital in Mississauga while Lorraine was desperately seeking assistance. I was informed of a minimum two-hour wait at VCA. Meanwhile, Lorraine continued to call Oakpark, living just a few minutes away from the practice. She pleaded with them to see Dima, and the front desk was fully aware of the severity of the situation. The solutions offered were futile, as we reiterated to the front desk, yet they still refused to assist a critically ill patient.

As an animal advocate, I am disappointed by the lack of compassion and responsibility behind the scenes. Their response deterred any blame and lacked accountability for the situation. I am a member of many animal groups and Oakville social media communities, some with over 30,000 members. The situation has deeply saddened me, prompting me to share Lorraine's unfortunate story. The community's reaction has sparked strong feelings of outrage and sadness, and I am determined to prevent this from happening to any other pet owner.

On Saturday, January 6th, at 10: 14 a.m, I made my first of three calls to Oakpark Pet Hospital as we had found our dog in critical condition. He was paralyzed, could not move, groaning severely in pain, and his breathing was extremely shallow. He was already under regular supervision with Dr. Kim Hester for a separate issue at this practice. Over the phone, I explained how critical the situation was, but they refused to see him. The person I spoke to at the front desk could clearly hear the severity of the situation. I pleaded, 'I think he is dying, please help, can someone see him. ' The only help she could give me was the numbers for two emergency mobile vets, which I immediately called. The first mobile vet informed me that they don't work in Oakville, and the second one I called only performed euthanasia.

I frantically continued to call back desperately for help, and I almost felt like I was beginning to annoy the front desk. At this stage, my dog’s condition was getting worse. We were afraid to move him, and we were not given any advice on what to do, apart from 'we can't help you. ' In desperation, we carried him out on a makeshift stretcher to my van, hoping that the VCA hospital in Mississauga could help us. Time was not on our side; by the time we reached the hospital car park, his heart had stopped. They immediately performed CPR and told me he was in a vegetated state because his heart had stopped for too long. If he had received care sooner, they wouldn't have had to perform CPR. If Oakpark had seen him when I called in the morning, he wouldn't have died this way. Instead, my poor baby died in a hospital car park.

I have already filed a complaint with the CVO because I don't want this to happen to anyone else. They failed to prioritize a current patient in critical condition. This so-called 'Oakpark Pet Hospital' has appointments as well as emergencies, so surely if they wanted to provide adequate care, they could’ve pushed back a non-urgent appointment and prioritized a critically ill patient like any other medical practice. Can you imagine going through this in such a distressed state, and the vet you rely on turns you away?

Nothing but great things to say about Oakpark. The staff is fantastic. The vets are excellent, and the prices are absolutely reasonable if not underpriced. I brought my dog in yesterday last minute to get some staples. They took him in right away, patched him up and they did it for half the price I was expecting. Our dog Nümn loves it there too. We never had to drag him in. Always a great experience! ️

I started taking my cat to see Dr. Lara after having bad experiences with vet clinics in Toronto. We have been navigating a cancer diagnosis with my cat and she has been incredibly compassionate, takes the time to make sure I understand all the treatment options etc. I am super thrilled with the level of care my cat is receiving and would definitely recommend this clinic to any pet owner in the GTA!

Our boxer had some major issues that our regular vet and 2 other vets couldn’t figure out. A friend recommended this clinic and we are so happy she did as Dr Lara and the rest of the team have been amazing. Definitely switching to this clinic for all 3 of our dogs.

I have two Bengal cats since they were kittens and are now 12 years old - seniors.
For the past 12 years I've been only dealing with one vet but thankfully didn't have any serious issues all that time. Last Fall one of my cats became very ill and the original vet really dropped the ball completely. As I'm watching my poor cat get sicker and sicker I decided to change vets after 12 years. Oakpark Pet Hospital was recommended by a girlfriend, as well I saw all the wonderful reviews. I am completely amazed and impressed by the level of knowledge, expertise and caring given by all of the vets at this clinic as well all of the staff and support staff. So far my cat is doing so much better!
In the meantime my other cat developed a nasty rash and once again this clinic has been amazing. They are beyond efficient, they are very kind and patient and no question goes on answered. I can't say enough good about this place! The level of efficiency and follow-through is amazing as well as the expertise of the wonderful vets. So far I've only experienced the incredible knowledge of Dr. Lara and Dr. Maria; hopefully there won't be much need for more vet visits however I do know now with confidence that this is the best pet hospital by far! I feel I can safely put my pets in their competent hands!
I highly recommend Oakpark Pet Hospital for all of your pet needs. What is normally a stressful and difficult experience when our pets get sick, this wonderful place makes it so much easier on all levels!
Thank you Oakpark Pet Hospital!

I am very happy with the service and dedication they provide. Ive been bringing my dog here since he was a puppy with Dr. Terry and she’s amazing. I also had my cat come in recently for an operation with dr. Matthew and he was wonderful with her. I only have great things to say.

The lady terry is a life saver and could be the reason that my cat could pull through in a few days. She had immediate action and did not hesitate to help her in any way. God bless you terry. I really home our little cat makes it. 100% recommend this vet compared to any of the other trash places in Oakville.

Oakpark is the best Vet I have ever been to! Dr Matt is very thorough and I didn’t leave with any unanswered questions! Everyone from the moment you walk in is VERY helpful and kind:) My pup was in good hands and I will definitely be back here.

They are awesome, my cat and dog always get the best care.
They follow covid procedures to a T.

Dr. Terri Lowe is a remarkably compassionate and caring doctor. She took excellent care of our sick cat, but unfortunately, the cat did not survive despite Dr. Terri's best efforts. Nonetheless, Dr. Terri did everything she could to help our beloved pet, and we appreciate her kind and attentive care during this difficult time. Thank you Oakpark, Dr Lowe and your excellent staff!

So happy they are accepting new patients! The staff is so friendly. My cat is terrified of the car and vets, the vet was good about reading her body language and respecting her as to not cause more anxiety than she was already experiencing with her adventure.

I was recommended this vet 7 years ago by long time clients and I’ll never go anywhere else. The Doctors & Staff are all amazing, kind and helpful. They truly are looking out for the client & pet best interest. I’ll always recommend this vet & I’ll always be a client here.

I had a wonderful experience when I brought in my new kitten for her wellness check up. Dr. Kayla was gentle and knowledgeable. Her assistant was also super friendly and made us feel super special.

Literally saved our dog's life. They're honest with you in regards to not getting unnecessary operations or procedures. Very knowledgeable.

I had a great experience here. The staff is fantastic and took the best care of my little cat, when she required some help. I would highly recommend Oakpark for all your animals:)

Nothing but good things to say about this clinic! This was the first vet clinic my partner and I had our cat in, and they've provided us with great care every time. All the staff is very professional and friendly, and the clinic is bright and clean. During the pandemic, we felt really safe and cared for, which unfortunately can be quite rare these days. When our cat had an emergency during the clinic's off-hours they made sure to reach out and check-up on us promptly and let us know we knew they were open to us asking for more guidance while our cat was going through recovery. The email reminders for annual examinations and vaccine schedule has been very helpful as well. I would have no reservations with recommending this clinic to anyone in the GTA! Thank you so much for your care:)

Phenomenal pet hospital. We confidently entrust the health and well-being of our dog to this great pet hospital. We go there for everything from check ups to surgery and it’s been nothing short of exceptional service every time. Highly recommend them. The whole team, from Dr. Matt to the other vets, to the technicians, to the reception and support staff, are great. Thank you!

Amazing staff, educated team/extremely compassionate, professional.they helped me save my puppy when hope looked dim. Absolutely love & respect this group of amazing people~ they are making an absolute difference.

Friendly staff, and very knowledgeable. I feel like they may add some things that we could go without, but I don’t want to take a chance with my dog’s health.

My dog had her teeth cleaned and had extractions. The vet was very attentive and staff were friendly.

Compassionate, indeed. We had to say goodbye to our puppy a few days ago, and I never realized how much a vet also has to be a funeral director. Dr. Kayla was amazing - professional, understanding, and extremely compassionate in a very sad time of our lives. I'd give 6 stars, if I could.

I can't say enough about how kind the staff and veterinarians are at Oakpark. You owe it to your pet to bring them here.

The staff and vets here are always so friendly! They really are knowledgeable and take the time to explain everything so you understand, and they are so gentle with your pets. Wonderful vet!

I’ve been bringing my pet here for years, they take care of him like he was there own, they care to any case with professionalism!

Staff is always so amazing with Hemi and myself. They are so understanding, kind and help in anyway they can! 10/10 reccomend for your fur babies

The doctors and techs are all so great and gentle with our large (90 lbs) dog who is typically quite anxious at the vet!

Oak Park has been by my side for 3 of my dogs. My older 2 passed away 5 years apart. Oak Park was a huge part of diagnosing and helping us manage some really difficult canine diseases such as Hepatocutaneous Disease (1st dog), and then a combination of Kidney disease and degenerative disc disease for my 2nd one.

Such a wonderful veterinary clinic.
Dr Matt is awesome and his staff.
Having a senior rescue dog who is a bit reactive can be stressful
I must say they handle our Blue with ease and kindness.
He had dental surgery and came home a new dog.
Thank you for caring so much and we are grateful for how quickly you took him in

Fantastic staff, wonderful doctors, This is the first place my dog has ever been happy to go to the vet, he's genuinely excited to be there!

I've been going to the Oakpark Pet Hospital for almost a year with my kitten (now full grown cat) Monty. After our first wellness check - in which the vet was open to answering all my questions and assuaged my worries that came with being a first time pet owner - there have been several occasions in which Monty has gotten into trouble and needed to be seen quickly and they have always been able to squeeze me in and get him seen as soon as possible. Dr. Terri has been incredibly helpful and informative in answering email questions, helping me pick a flea medication and food for Monty and I couldn't be happier with his care. I highly recommend Oakpark Pet Hospital, if you're looking for a vet, this is the best!

Not bad, I've been taking my dog there for a year now, the staff are generally friendly staff. However the prices are quite expensive, they charged my 75 dollars for a 5 minute phonecall with a doctor who didn't give me any answers.

I’ve owned many dogs for many many years and this place is the place you want to take your furry friend. They are patient, compassionate and extremely professional. Dr. Matt is amazing and his staff is outstanding and during COVID everything is hard right now. They made it easy and convenient service. Thank you for always great service!

I've been coming here for a couple of years. More recently, I got two kittens that turned out to have ringworm. The team has been extremely gentle with the kittens and ensuring they keep the station sanitized before and after the visit. Dr Angela and Dr Terri have both been extremely responsive via email and I really trust and rely on their professional advice. I would highly recommend this place to others. They truly care about the pets and their customer service is exceptional.

Dr. Matt and his staff are amazing. I have been going there for 13 years with 3 different dogs and have recommended him to family and friends. I am not the easiest client as I prefer a more natural approach to health care. Dr. Matt always takes my beliefs into consideration and gives me his expert opinion but allows me to make the final call on how we proceed without any judgement. Wish more doctors that treated humans were more like him!

We take both our dogs here and after having experienced other veterinary clinics Oakpark stand head and shoulders above all! They are professional, efficient, informative and good value. I don’t feel I am being upsold and I truly trust they have the best interest of my pets in mind. Well done Oakpark staff!

I have been waiting for some time to write this review because there is truly so much to say. Dr. Matt Croskery is the best Vet I could have asked for. The passion to be the best at what they do as well as deliver the best service for the animals along with their owners that cross their doors is unreal. Dr. Matt has been our family vet for the last 12 years and I highly recommend everyone to go to him because of his compassion. He isn't one of those "in it for the money" Vets you hear about. He says things as they are because he really cares. From multiple surgery with our family dog who has now passed away to now our 9 Month old puppy's Rocky start to life, Dr. Matt has been a continuous support. Our puppy had been showing issues with walking and joints cracking and just not being puppy like. Dr. Matt had his doubt but advised us a CT Scan to see what it could be. Turned out our puppy has elbow and hip dysplasia. Dr Matt then went above and beyond by reaching out to an Orthopedic Surgeon who recommended we get surgery done; which we have now. Dr. Matt has helped us by understanding our wants to keep our dog as long as possible, healthy and happy. This is where your pets should be treated!

Dr. Matt and the team at Oakpark are compassionate and kind. They have a high level of professionalism and are very reputable. They will provide exemplary care to your fur family member and I would highly recommend them.

Oakpark hospital is wonderful vet. The staff and doctors are very friendly and very helpful. They answered ALL the questions i had (and i had alot), being very patient and full of information for me as a 1st time cat owner. They were loving toward my fur baby Max, and looked after him as if he were theirs. They put my nerves at ease and gave me excellent guidance in looking after my Max. Im so happy I found them and will continue to use them for all my fur babies in the future. Dr Angela was amazing, professional and full of great insight and information. A lovely lady by all accounts! Thank you Oakpark staff and Doctors, today's visit was amazing and i look forward to many more) Highly Recommend this practice to all fur mommies and daddies out there)

A great Vet experience each time. All the Vets are caring, professional, informative and have a super supportive staff. They take great care of my cat “Monster” and Great Dane “Mango”.

I’m very thankful for having Dr. Matthew and his staff providing amazing and compassionate care for the last 20 years. Dr. Matthew is always there and goes above and beyond, especially at a time like this with Covid-19.

Love,
Moe & kids (including Lucky, Buddy & Scruffy)

I've been going to Oakpark Pet Hospital with my dog for over seven years now. I moved away from the Mississauga / Oakville area in 2015 but still travel out there for this vet! They are hands down the best.

Tremendous place.the Doctors and all of the staff care so much and really go the extra mile to take great care of my puppy. Thanks everyone at Oakpark.

Does this clinic & Dr Matt C. (DVM) need any more kudos than what's been said before, here and elsewhere? Prob.not, he's a superstar. If you are within driving distance this should be your clinic for your loved ones. The knowledge, patience, friendliness, and total honesty & care, gives you & your special pet, the know-how that you are getting the best care in town.in the province, country. If you love your little ones, give them the best care they would ever get.

Our dog Jake had ACL operations on both legs by Dr. Matt. He is the best surgeon and I highly recommend him, and the whole staff at Oakpark. We have been taking Jake there for all his 6 years, feeling very confident that he is getting the best care possible.