This is an excellent store, small, but with very high quality foods and supplies. The staff are knowledgeable and helpful. However, you have to go in person, because the website for PetValu is pretty useless: hard to navigate, and often without any image of the product you might be interested in -- if you could see it. It is also easy to overlook because it is near a much larger franchise pet supplies place, and tucked around a corner in another mall. But it is worth the trip for the quality of goods.

The VEC exists to handle emergencies and provide services unavailable at the regular clinics. One comes to VEC because there is a serious problem. We came from another city because our town did not have access to the equipment we needed to diagnose our rescue cat, and it was clear he was in trouble.

I found the staff excellent with clients and animals: not just us, but all the clients that went through while we were there, which was most of one day. The front desk staff did talk extensively about possible costs. This was not moneygrubbing, this was making it clear to the client exactly what was going to be involved in the procedure and how much it would put them out of pocket. Given the emotional state many of us were in, they really needed to be very clear, because not everyone was taking things in.

Our little guy got the very best service, and everything was explained every step of the way. Yes, it cost a lot. No, it didn't work. But that was not the fault of the vets: they did everything possible to deal with the multiple problems created by early toxin exposure. When it became clear that he was doomed to increasing pain and a long drawn out death, the vets were gentle with us, and him.

Would I go there again? In a flash! But I really hope I never have to. That said, I will remember the staff with the greatest respect and gratitude. Their professionalism and compassion did not lessen the pain of losing the battle for that one life, but it assured me that we had done everything that could be done, and that this was the best outcome for the cat.

I have been taking cats - my cats and rescue cats - to Bytown for 27 years. Together we've saved lives and lost lives, more saved than lost, treated emergencies and long term conditions, and there has never once been a time when the veterinarians or staff were less than professional, willing to give their all for the good of the cat. I recommend them to everyone who needs a vet for their cat.