I signed up for the Optimum Wellness plan at the Banfield Hospital because I am disabled and it was a way I could make sure my puppy was properly cared for. When I signed up I was told that it would also cover her being spade and to think of it as an insurance for the health of my pet. Last Friday, we had her spade. At the time she was to come home we asked if their was a cone for her and the vet told us there was no need for one they did not believe in it. I thought this was strange but hey you want to trust your vet. This Monday morning we woke up to find our dog bleeding and one of her incisions had come open. We immediately took her back to Banfield on Chippewa. They told us they would need to stitch it back up and would be right back with us. So we were expecting them to come back to do the work. Instead a nurse came in and said, "That will be $241 today." I said to her, "We are on the plan." She said to us, "That is the cost with the plan. The plan is not an insurance." She said this shaking her head at me and acting like I was saying something wrong. I called the St. Louis Humane Society and they were horrified when I told them what just happened but they could not help me. At Banfield they told us that it would heal on its own if we were not going to pay. We had to close the incision ourselves with medical glue. Now this is not what was sold to us and their complete disregard for my pet and the work they did was unbelievable. You expect a surgery to be backed up with full care not just the care they deem okay for them. That is not what they sell or how they sell it. Please take your pet to the Humane Society or somewhere else. Do not fall into this trap they have set up there. They do not care for your pet and they do not stand by the work you have paid them to do. It is a scam on the largest scale.

We've been taking our pets to this hospital for over a year now, and we are always pleased with our experience. The staff is kind & helpful, and they always have helpful answers for my questions. Dr. Mattes in particular is one of the best vets I've had, and the wellness plans are well-worth their weight in overall savings.