PAWS: Report Animal Cruelty

Veterinarians and Vet Clinic Complaints

Following are steps PAWS suggests in order to resolve complaints involving veterinarians or veterinary clinics.

Have you attempted to resolve the issue with the veterinarian? Or work with the vet who owns the clinic (if different from the attending veterinarian)?
If yes, what were the results?
If you are unsatisfied with the results, do you wish to file a complaint? If yes, see next steps.
File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Washington State Department of Health’s Veterinary Board of Governors (VBG). The Attorney General's Office can handle complaints on services not performed, charges for services not received, etc. The vet clinic may also be accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association, and if so, file a complaint with them as well.
The BBB will contact the clinic in an attempt to resolve the dispute and notify them usually within 25 days. The BBB does not have enforcement capabilities, so the clinic may not respond to the dispute. If this happens, the BBB will notify you of your options.
Have you sent any correspondence to your vet or received any in return? If yes, please include copies for the VBG when filing your complaint.
Have you received copies of the vet reports, test results, necropsy report (if animal died)? If yes, the VBG will need these also.

Contacts to make complaints:
Washington State Attorney General's office 1.800.551.4636

Better Business Bureau (Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington)
P.O. Box 1000
DuPont, WA 98327
206.431.2222
Fax: 206.431.2200
info@thebbb.org

Veterinary Board of Governors
P.O. Box 47865
Olympia, WA 98504
360.236.4700
Fax: 360.236.4818
hpqa.csc@doh.wa.gov

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