Park Slope Veterinary Care: Vinitsky Leah DVM

I needed to find a vet for my new dog and was confused as to where to go = first time dog owner. Without mentioning names, the vet choices were: prospect park west, 7th avenue, 6th avenue, and Park Slope Veterinary Care on 5th avenue. Talking to customers in the waiting area and meeting Dr. Vinitsky, I am sooooooooooo glad I choose Park Slope Veterinary Care. Citysearch reviews also helped make my decision. Full disclosure on prices and no pressure discussion on procedures. I trully feel confident in their suggestions and can concentrate on enjoying my newest family member. Pros: Real pet people taking care of your pets. more

These people love animals, and care for their owners too. All the doctors at this clinic are exemplary. They saved my cat's life and have taken great care of her for 7 years. I found them through a friend's recommendation, and have recommended them to many friends, all of whom had a great experience here.\r They make sure that you understand your animal's needs, take time explaining absolutely every option, and are unfailingly kind - from the front desk clerk to the most senior vet. The cost is very reasonable, both for treatments and supplies. \r I don't live in the area anymore, but I make the trip at least twice a year for checkups, because I can't find another clinic that is so trustworthy. Pros: Excellent vets, great support staff, reasonable prices. more

I have taken both of my dogs to Dr. Vinitsky. She is extremely thorough and will answer any of your questions. She is down to earth and clearly a dog lover -- I have often seen her dog visiting the office. I only met Dr. Madden briefly, so I can't speak much about him. He performed surgery on one of my dogs and it has healed beautifully, however. Dr. Vinitsky and all the vet techs were helpful, friendly, and so sweet to my dogs on every visit. She followed up by calling us personally with various test results and really seemed to care about the health of my animals. In addition, my two dogs had not been to a vet in awhile and Dr. Vinitsky did not make us feel guilty about it. I have heard that the place gets crowded evenings and weekends, I was lucky enough to be able to have all my visits so far on weekdays. However, it is worth the wait. These are great animal people. more

I took my dog for the first time to Park Slope Veterinary Care. I called fairly last minute to try and schedule an appointment during the weekend...they were able to see me Saturday morning, which was fantastic (especially since I called other vets and either couldn't get an appointment or didn't even get a response to my voice mails). The staff, vet techs and vet are fantastic. Dr. Leah Vinitsky, who is a new vet there is wonderful. She is professional, experience and has a treatment philosophy that I appreciated. She took the time to explain things to me (a first time pet owner) and I felt that I was able to make an informed decision as to my dog's treatment. Both her and Mike, the vet tech, were great with my dog. The entire experience was good and my dog was never nervous there (indicating that the environment was caring). Since our visit, I have called the office many times with questions and each time, the staff have given me knowledgeable advice (even based on their own pet experiences). Everybody there is helpful, skilled and friendly. I am very happy we found them. Pros: professional, able to make appointments, clean, caring, helpful more

I too brought my cats in after many years of not seeing a vet - they were older and both had issues. Not once was I made to feel guilty about it. Dr. Maddon can be a bit brusque, but he answers all questions and gives a complete and thorough exam to my cats and he's not brusque to them at all (which is the most important thing) more

This vet was strangely confrontational with me. He suggested that I was lying about my cat's age (WHY would anyone do that?). He took some tests and repeatedly lectured me on how horrible I was for not having brought my cat to a vet in such a long time (my cat was visibly healthy, I had been struggling financially for years). Later I was called AT WORK and told, very gruffly, that my cat was dying from chronic kidney failure and that she might not even live another six months. I was scolded and treated incredibly badly on the phone, and again lectured on how bad I was for not having brought her into the vet for so long. I was told that I needed to start thinking about a kidney transplant, and I really felt that I was purposefully treated in a way that would make me feel that I was bad unless I paid all kinds of money for a sonogram and transplant and draining bags of fluid into a hole in my cats back. Later, when I had a question about this phone call, I was not able to get a vet to call me back. In an attempt to try to get my questions answered, I went into the vet office. The doctor --who I could see drinking coffee and talking and laughing in the back room-- ignored me for eight hours (and kept asking if I was ""gone yet""). After that I went to a different vet. That was about three years ago, my cat is not dead, but has lived for quite a while on her own, without sonograms or kidney transplants or bags of fluid being drained into a hole in her back. I feel that this vet used scare tactics, and other tactics bordering on abuse, to try to push very expensive techniques to which I personally don't feel a cat should be subjected. more

Unbelievable. I have 3 kitties and I've never owned cats before. I went to a place in Prospect Heights and my cats were getting worse, not better. After 3 visits there I became really concerned and made an appt here. One of my cats had become really ill (pooping bld and mucous). They gave me an appt the same day that I called. When I arrived they were so sweet. Tiffany the tech talked to me for 20 minutes. Then Dr. Maddon came in. He was fabulous. He cared about my cat and spoke to me like a human being (not condescending at all). He explained to me what was going on with my cat, the treatments he needs to undergo and what was wrong with his previous treatments. I really liked him. It's so rare to get any doctor to talk to you like a human being, so one that spends over 45 minutes with you just talking about your pets is a real treasure. I would highly reccomend Dr. Maddon. My cat is significantly better under his care (he's currently running like a psycho behind me).He probably saved his life. Pros: great staff including admins, techs and physicians Cons: expensive but so is everywhere else more

I used to see Maddon and Parker when they worked at Prospect Park Animal Clinic and followed them when they opened their own practice. Their personalities are polar opposites, Dr. Parker is softspoken, unfailingly polite, and very diplomatic. Dr. Maddon is less reserved, speaks bluntly, and tells it like it is. They are both excellent vets and have been wonderful to me and my pets. During hard times they have let me make payments and never try to pad their bill. They treat my animals like their own, try to make them feel at ease and have never given me bad advice.\r \r I've had 2 major crises in the time I've been going there. One cat needed her leg amputated due to somewhat bizarre circumstances. Dr. Parker was the one who handled everything. He didn't worry about money, only my cat's health. They ended up charging me less than they should have. My wonderful dog was very sick, Dr. Maddon did his best to figure out what was wrong and he eventually discovered a tumor the size of an orange next to my dog's heart. The only decision that needed to be made was when we would put him to sleep. Dr. Maddon was very caring during the ordeal and made a horrible experience more bearable.\r \r I will never take my pets anywhere else and I will always recommend them to anyone with a pet. Pros: They actually care about animals and don't price gouge you more

I love this place. The assistants are always so sweet...and they always remember my dogs and come out to the lobby to greet and pet them. The doctor is very informative and funny. We were interested in putting our dog on a new a new medication, and he gave us tons of information about it, and other alternatives, having our dogs best interests in mind. Its pretty easy to make appointments there, and they usually always put you in on time. also they make appointments as late at 7..which is nice so me and my fiance can go together after work. Pros: nice and informative doctor, friendly animal loving staff, easy to make appointments Cons: anoyying pet owners in lobby. ha ha thats it. more

Dr. Parker was recommended to me by a friend. My pets are always seen as scheduled which is good for me, and handled with the best of care which is good for them. The office is nice, clean and comfortable for humans and animals alike. The hours accomodate even the most difficult of schedules. Best of all the staff is helpful, caring and in my many years of owning pets, I have never seen such gentle and loving techs, receptionists and doctors. I highly recommend Park Slope Veterinary Care for the on-going care of your pet. more