Sylvia Zapien-Garcia, DVM

We went to this vet a few times, but then stopped primarily because of the rude srevice from the receptionist and the vet tech. On one occasion we took in a dog we were fostering for an animal rescue organization and the vet tech first looked at the dog and began stating all sorts of baloney that was going to run a lot of money. When the vet came in it turned out to be a very simple situation that was under $ 100. The receptionist is rude and quite frankly just an idiot. She runs her mouth like she knows everything when she actually doesn’t know much at all. In general this place is really just not much at all. Monrovia is overcrowded with vets, so it doesn’t make sense to go to the Family Dog and Cat Hospital when you have a few other ones out there that are really stellar.

Fantastic Service with a great staff. We brought our senior cat to Dr. Garcia on short notice and they were able to see us right away. We needed a new vet after just having lost our other cat to kidney failure two months ago. Our experience with the other local pet hospital was not a happy one from both a service and cost perspective during that difficult time and we greatly feared a repeat of that experience.
The time spent and the gentile care provided was first rate. Our cat, very skittish at the best of times, was comfortable with the Dr and staff. Additionally the followup on the blood work was within 24 hours and the Dr. took a large block of phone time to walk me through the results and help me better understand the planned course of treatment.
Another poster has highlighted an issue with billing, but we were presented with an estimate before treatment that actually resulted in a bill smaller than was originally quoted. For example the whole visit and blood work was half as much as a comparable service for a senior cat panel at another large Monrovia Pet Hospital.
I would highly recommend the group at Family Dog & Cat.

Vaccination time for the dogs. Same care and wonderful customer service. If I could give Dr. Garcia more stars I certainly would. I only have had good experiences and have never been surprised when we received the bill.

Fellow Monrovians Beware!
We do not recommend this vet but if you do go there make sure you get in writing what you should expect to pay.
They have a «GOTCHA» approach when you go to check out. You’ll end up spending hundreds of dollars more then you expected. Major rip off!

Dr. Garcia was our vet at another clinic in Monrovia. She was always very kind and patient with all 3 of our dogs (one of which is very shy with strangers.) We recently found out that she has opened her own clinic and had our first visit last week. We love the new location! Dr. Garcia and all the staff are wonderful!