Tender Touch keeps long-term clients loyal with vets who treat anxious animals gently and staff who explain care without pressure. The clinic earns trust by declining unnecessary procedures and sitting with scared pets on the lawn to ease their fear.
Surgery, dentistry, and wellness visits are all handled by named vets (Barr, Koster, Hedlin, Audrey Barnett, Howard, Theissen) who reviewers describe as knowledgeable and truly animal-focused. Some mention high costs, though others praise the value. One recent review flagged ownership by private equity firm JAB Holdings and opaque pricing.
Recent shift: One recent one-star review (1 day ago) raised private equity ownership and pricing opacity, breaking the otherwise unanimous positive streak. No trend yet, but worth monitoring.
The business states it operates as an AAHA-accredited, cat-friendly practice in Baker offering general wellness, dental work, preventive care, and diagnostics. No individual reviews are available to verify patient experience.
Adopters consistently praise the staff's warmth during the adoption process and the shelter's commitment to special-needs animals, especially cats. The on-site vet clinic offers affordable post-adoption care. However, recent reviews flag unprofessional behavior from veterinary staff, serious diagnostic errors that harmed pets, and a gap between the shelter's no-kill promise and actual outcomes. Record-keeping errors and poor phone communication frustrate returning clients.
Most visitors appreciate the affordable care and kind vetting, with several praising Dr. O'Brien's skill and gentleness. A significant minority report serious issues: dropped medication deliveries with contradictory phone follow-up, nervous dogs pinned down without calming attempts, and one vet accused of rough handling and prescribing excessive sedation for a small puppy. Front-desk communication failures appear in multiple complaints spanning months, while some recent visits note dramatic improvement in clinic organisation and staff awareness. The clinic lists laser therapy, spay/neuter, vaccinations, and microchipping at transparent prices ($50 exams, $125-318 spay/neuter depending on species). Staff quality varies noticeably between visits. Those seeking budget-friendly general care with an appointment often leave satisfied; others experienced stressed animals, frustrated technicians, and phone miscommunications that wasted time and trust.
Last updated 2026-07-08