Wolf Creek Veterinary Hospital - Grass Valley, California

Kathleen Medley Music

We have been thrilled with the care of our pet cats by Dr. Barker. She assisted, as our former cat, Shadow, grew older. Shadow passed away at home, of old age. Next we adopted 2 Tuxedo kittens, from a wonderful local rescue. Dr. Barker really took her time with both of them. The smaller boy suddenly had trouble leaping & climbing. She gave us exact instructions on what to do and to bring him back & what could be done, if he didn't recover. We did & also bought cat stairs, which he only had to use a short time. We have only had our pets seen @ For The Love of Pets, since 1990.

Savannah Denzin

First time here, have a sick Frenchie puppy. Doctor was great, his son was great. They got me in right away because I was concerned about his health they didn’t waste my money running unnecessary tests. Doc knew what was wrong and I felt very happy when I left. 10/10 would recommend

Russell Hermans

Dr. Abbie Barker LIED about my dog's diagnosis, COERCED us into an UNETHICAL surgery she was in no way competent to perform that RESULTED IN HER DEATH, then LIED AGAIN and tried to COVER UP THE TRUTH.

- Dr. Barker diagnosed Mia's front left elbow with osteosarcoma. HOWEVER, she failed to disclose that she detected the presence of a Mast Cell Tumor near the surgical site that presented extreme risk, and failed to disclose additional masses detected in other limbs that would have disqualified Mia as a candidate for amputation surgery. Instead, I was told that Mia's other limbs were arthritic but healthy and of no concern. All 3rd party veterinarians who have now reviewed the case have stated that it was unethical and never should have been performed based on this concealed information and Mia's age. It has become clear after reading the statements of the state medical board complaint FILED BY HER OWN EMPLOYEES that she knew alternative treatments would not be profitable for HER, so she coerced us into the $6,000 surgery. Dr. Barker has been overheard by staff members saying that she "only wants cash cow clients", clearly demonstrating that her decision making processes are completely financially motivated, not ethically motivated.
- Dr. Barker withheld the fact that a surgery of this caliber was beyond her professional abilities and that her facility lacked the necessary resources to manage any complications.
- Prior to surgery, Dr. Barker's staff repeatedly expressed their concerns over the ethics of the surgery and whether Dr. Barker should be attempting it at all. She ignored these concerns.
- On the day of surgery, Dr. Barker stated to her staff repeatedly that she shouldn't be doing the surgery as she recognized it in the moment to be beyond her abilities. She chose to attempt the surgery anyway.
- Dr. Barker started the surgery, cut Mia open, then panicked, left Mia hemorrhaging on the operating table for 45+ minutes while she then called in an outside surgeon to come to her facility to complete the procedure. Mia lost a lot of blood during this time. None of this information was disclosed to me. Instead, I was told "the surgery went very well and there were no complications or concerns."
- After the 2nd surgeon completed the procedure, Mia failed to return to consciousness and her heart rate remained elevated to 220+ BPM with falling blood pressure for over 3 hours. I was never contacted during this time. I had to just show up to the facility out of gut feeling that something was wrong to learn this.
- Dr. Barker told her staff that she recognized Mia's post-operative condition as critical and that she needed to be immediately transferred to another facility to save her life. None of this was communicated to me until after I had been at the facility for close to an hour, costing us precious time. She also failed to disclose to me that she told her staff that Mia would need a life saving blood transfusion due to blood loss after she abandoned the surgery.
- I asked Dr. Barker repeatedly why this was happening - she failed to disclose any of these details and just said "I don't know."
- I was then forced to put my dying dog on a stretcher into the back of my truck and drive her over an hour through rush hour traffic to attempt to save her life. By the time we reached the other facility she was in very critical condition. She died hours later.
- I returned to FTLOP days later to ask Dr. Barker again what had happened. She continued to conceal the truth and pretend that nothing out of the ordinary had occurred during Mia's surgery. She also stated to her staff "I'm worried about what's going to happen if he finds out the truth."...
- HER ENTIRE STAFF OF 10 PEOPLE WALKED OUT ON THEIR JOBS JUST DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS and filed a complaint with the state medical board due to these events. All statements here are taken directly from that complaint and my direct interactions with her.
FB: Justice For Mia Meatball

Gwendolyn Knause

When Doobie doo was brought to me as a rescue, I had just recently became homeless due to health issues and waiting on my SSI decision. I knew it would be difficult to handle any vet bills, but my love and concern for his well being and happiness out weighed any rational thoughts. LOL. Two months after I got him, he was attacked by a pitbull at the motel we were staying at. FTLOP was the only place that agreed to see him in an emergency without wanting up to 200 dollars for walking thru the door. The staff immediately helped me call a couple of organizations that authorized up to $1500 to help Doobie. I just hope that he received all his shots as I was told. I didn't know about Mia until today . I am so very sorry for your loss.i can't imagine losing Doobie. He is barely a year old. For Doobie is having tummy troubles and I need to take him somewhere and I am at a lose as to where to go now. I have less than $3 dollars iny account and am very worried about my dog. Every where else I have called wants money up front before they will even answer any of my questions. I have googled and researched it, but nothing is relieving his discomfort. I don't know what else to do ?
Would like to give an update!! Doobie was seen by a man that calls himself a vet. Didn't even touch my dog, kept calling him a her, was quite rude. Gave a guesstamation of my furry baby's problem. Charged $93 for 6 anti inflammatory pills!! My dog is 3 times worse and is exhibiting new symptoms. When I called today I was told to take him to a specialist in Roseville. If I could afford that I would have done that first!! We will not be going back there!!!

Jodi Lewellyn

My 12 yr old cat Simba recently had a very unfortunate thing happen to him which resulted in a fractured jaw and him unable to eat or drink for several days, the Dr also found some other medical issues which made options for treating him more limited. The Dr suggested an Etube to provide him the nutrients needed to help him recover. I can’t begin to express my gratitude for her and the wonderful staff at For the Love of Pets.They were compassionate, kind, accommodating and highly skilled. I feel Simba is with me today because of the Doctor and all that she and her staff did for Simba. They worked tirelessly until late in the evening on a Friday night putting the Etube in and I am beyond grateful. I am happy to report he is once again a healthy, happy and very loved cat and I have tears of gratitude as I type this. Huge hugs and sincere thanks to you all and please know how appreciated you are and all your hard work does not go unnoticed.

Love Jodi & Simba

Mike Mike

HER ENTIRE STAFF OF 10 VETERINARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS then came together in solidarity after witnessing these events, walked out on their jobs just days before Christmas, and filed a complaint with the California State Veterinary Medical Board. I was contacted anonymously by one of the staff members and only then notified of the extreme details of this case that Dr. Barker has been trying to keep secret.

Misha Herrera

The doctors and staff are wonderful to work with. They always make my husky boy feel comfortable and are so compassionate. We have had to have a few procedures which are never fun for the patient but they treat our boy great, he recovers quickly and they always come in on the low side of their quote which is a bonus.
Someone is already feeling good after his procedure.

LISA ANDREA BANKS (ANDI)

Everyone there is awesome. They really do have love for your pets. Dr. DeCarlo is the best, and all the girls there are so fantastic. I wouldn't take my baby Preston anywhere else.