I had another vet for 24 years, and loved him. He did very well with my dogs, often having to deal with a scared and sick dog that had not been socialized. When he told me he would be retiring, it made me sick with worry, but then he gave me names of several other vets that he said he KNEW I would like. The first one, not so much, but the second one yes. He checks my dogs over thoroughly, listens to what I have to say, throws his opinion out there, and then we decide together what should be done. He gave me his cell phone number a year or so ago, but I've only used it once, when I couldn't get a pharmacy to fill a prescription for pain meds for DeeOhGee. My vet showed up at my door 2 hours later (10:30pm) with the needed medication.