Re: the new Firehouse Animal Hospital at E. Colfax and Glencoe. Firehouse bought All Creatures and Colfax East Animal Hospitals, and consolidated them into this new location. Cold facility, with no human touch. Two stars are for the much-loved Dr. Paul Oberbroeckling and his remaining staff; otherwise no stars. An excerpt from my parting letter to Dr. O says enough, though not all: ""My dear Dr. O, After much thought, it is with an immensely painful sense of resignation and loss that I write to tell you that Tony is the last of my animals I will be able to let continue in your regular care. [In my opinion], Firehouse is such a negative entity that, from my perspective, it prohibits you from providing my family with your best care, on which we have relied so gratefully for over 20 years. My analysis is that Firehouse management, from its top on down to on-site management, is an incurable [corporate ] disease for which there is no hope; a rapidly metastasizing cancer. Staff turnover is appalling. Service has suffered in a way I never imagined. I've received the hollow corporate schmooze, from [NAME REDACTED] to [NAME REDACTED] to [NAME REDACTED]. I am disgusted. I have no illusions that leaving your care will make a bit of difference to Firehouse. It is the nature of the beast. I would rather have another [dangerous animal] in my home than support the Firehouse beast. In fact, while I will still tell people of your remarkable abilities and compassion, I will also be unequivocal about how sick an organization Firehouse is. I cannot ever say enough how important you have been to my life, and, of course, to my kitties. It's not like I won't see you again, but clearly the beginning of the end is in sight. The die has been cast. With great respect and affection, Jane""
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