Sepulveda Animal Hospital

These guys are the best. Seriously, look no further for a vet. We took our new puppy in for a check up 24 hours after purchasing her from a breeder, and had full labs run on her to make sure she was in good health. She was not. Long story short, our puppy got sick, then her condition worsened, and as new pet owners, we found ourselves calling or visiting the hospital multiple times a day--as a result, we met many of their vets and vet techs. Everyone there was just great--very patient with us, and very reassuring. After our pup started to recover, the owner of the hospital (Dr. Yves Galea) wrote a letter for us to the breeder (who had become unresponsive), helping us to get some reimbursement for the cost of treating our dog who came to us already sick. We didn't even ask him to do this, he just volunteered to because he felt badly about what we had been through. I knew they were good that first day when I first met with Dr. Winters for our first "routine" visit--he patiently answered my barrage of first-time owner questions, and didn't make me feel "less than" like a lot of vets do. The real test however, was how they handled our first big emergency just a day after meeting us! As terrible as this experience has been, we feel incredibly lucky to have had Sepulveda Animal Hospital on our side throughout. The only down side is that once you've taken your animal to Sepulveda Animal Hospital, you won't want to take them to anyone else ever again!

Posted 11/05/09 | Report Abuse

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Dr. Galea had been Marta's vet when he was in the old place, down Sepulveda near the ice rink. Then he built the state-of-the-art facility on the corner of Culver and Sepulveda, and we followed right along. The waiting room is clean and airy, with built-in nooks so that you can keep your big dog from closely examining the kitty cat that just came in. The front-office staff and the hospital staff are all very kind to the animals and friendly to the humans. Dr. Galea is especially kind to his patients. Every time I bring her in, he spends more time with Marta than my own doctor does with me. One time, when the visit was finished and I had paid the bill, collected the medications and was walking to my car, Dr. Galea came running after me to tell me one more thing. Then when I got home, he called to make sure that I would start one of the medications right away.There are two other vets on staff there, and I've had to take Marta in to see them on urgent occasions when Dr. Galea was not available. They were both also very kind, caring and gentle with Marta. Dr. Galea's fees are not discounted but neither are they as high as some others. Marta is very important to me and I'm happy to have a great vet who provides high quality hospital care, and who is so good to her.

Posted 05/19/09 | Report Abuse

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I came to Sepulveda Animal Hospital late in the afternoon on the day before Christmas, after a bad experience at another vet. When I walked in I had a good feeling about the place -- the waiting room has a warm yet professional feeling about it.

My dog and I were put into an examining room and had to wait for a while. Then Dr. Galea came in and began to examine the dog. In the middle of the exam he was called out to see another dog. He was gone for fifteen minutes and I did start to get frustrated. But after he apologetically returned and I witnessed the quality of care he showed my dog, I realized that Dr. Galea is like Albert Schweitzer: completely devoted to his patients. If this makes for a delay I'll put up with it because I know that he would show the same solicitousness for my dog as he would for whatever emergency interrupted him.

The bill was very reasonable for the care provided. But most impressive was the fact that since that visit Dr. Galea has called twice to follow up -- once the day after we came in (in other words, Christmas Day), and another a week later to update me on my dog's lab results. I cannot emphasize how much I appreciate this follow-through.

I live a half hour drive from Sepulveda Animal Hospital but I will happily make the drive in order to bring my sweet dog to this outstanding veterinarian. I have, over the past ten years, used Blue Cross Hospital in Pacific Palisades, Brentwood Pet Clinic in West Los Angeles, and Brent Air Animal Hospital in West Los Angeles. Sepulveda Animal Hospital is way, way better than any of these. I am so happy that I have finally found a great veterinarian.

Posted 01/12/09 | Report Abuse

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Dr. Galea and his staff are the ultimate in caring, professionalism and expertise. They have love for animals and it shows in every phase of your pet's care. I live in Altadena and I'm sure there are wonderful vets in my area, but when you find a staff that you trust, Sepulveda Animal Hospital is worth the drive every time.

Posted 04/09/07 | Report Abuse

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I love the doctors at this vet. Dr. Galea especially is very gentle and caring with our cats. They take great care of all animals and are always very open about the options and possibilities.

Posted 02/20/06 | Report Abuse

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