Compassionate Veterinary Care in Forest City, NC: Foothills Animal Clinic

Foothills Animal Clinic Introduce

As pet owners across North Carolina, we all share a common desire: to provide the best possible care for our beloved animal companions. From the playful puppy days to the golden years of a senior dog, having a veterinary partner that combines expert medical knowledge with genuine compassion is truly invaluable. In Forest City, NC, Foothills Animal Clinic strives to be that trusted partner, dedicating themselves to the health, comfort, and dignity of every pet they serve. They understand that each animal is a cherished member of your family and deserves the highest standard of care.

The journey of pet ownership can bring both immense joy and challenging moments, especially when health issues arise. It's during these times that the support of a compassionate veterinary team becomes critical. Foothills Animal Clinic aims to offer a sanctuary for healing and comfort, providing a range of services designed to address various pet health needs. Their commitment is rooted in the belief that fostering a strong human-pet bond through attentive and professional care leads to happier, healthier lives for our furry friends.

While every clinic aims for excellence, Foothills Animal Clinic highlights a particularly powerful aspect of their care through the experience of a client with their senior dog, Sophie. Facing severe arthritis and a back injury, Sophie received not just medical options, but also innovative, non-invasive laser therapy that extended her quality of life and precious time with her family. This testament speaks volumes about the clinic's dedication to exploring all avenues for pet comfort and well-being, even when facing difficult circumstances. Moreover, the profound compassion shown during Sophie's final moments underscores the deep empathy that the staff at Foothills Animal Clinic strives to embody.

For North Carolina residents in Forest City and the surrounding areas, selecting a veterinary practice means choosing a team you can rely on through every stage of your pet's life. Foothills Animal Clinic aims to be that consistent source of support, offering a friendly environment where both pets and their owners feel at ease. They emphasize clear communication, ensuring pet parents are well-informed about treatment options and care plans. This focus on both medical excellence and compassionate client relations helps to build lasting trust, making them a suitable choice for your pet's ongoing health needs.

Location and Accessibility

Foothills Animal Clinic is conveniently located at 126 Cherry Mountain St, Forest City, NC 28043, USA. This accessible address places them squarely in the heart of Forest City, making it a practical choice for pet owners within the town and those in the surrounding communities of Rutherford County, including Spindale, Rutherfordton, and other nearby areas in Western North Carolina.

Cherry Mountain Street is a well-known thoroughfare in Forest City, contributing to the clinic's ease of access. Being situated in a central location helps ensure that during routine visits, or more importantly, during urgent situations, pet owners can reach the clinic without significant travel time or navigation difficulties. While specific parking information isn't always highlighted, a local clinic typically aims to provide adequate parking to facilitate smooth arrivals and departures, which is a key consideration when bringing pets, especially those who may be unwell or anxious. This local presence means vital veterinary care is readily available, minimizing stress for both pets and their owners in the North Carolina Foothills region.

Services Offered

Foothills Animal Clinic provides a comprehensive array of veterinary services designed to address the full spectrum of pet health needs, from preventative care to advanced diagnostics and treatments. Their aim is to offer high-quality care that supports the long-term well-being of your beloved pets.

Wellness Exams and Vaccinations: Regular check-ups are fundamental to preventative care, allowing veterinarians to assess overall health, establish baselines, and administer necessary vaccinations tailored to your pet's specific risks and lifestyle in North Carolina.
Dental Care: Comprehensive dental services, including cleanings, extractions, and treatment for periodontal disease, are crucial for preventing oral health issues that can impact systemic well-being.
Surgery: They offer a range of surgical procedures, including routine spays and neuters, as well as more complex soft tissue surgeries, all performed with attention to patient safety and recovery.
Advanced Digital X-rays: Utilizing modern digital radiography, they can quickly and non-invasively gain internal views of your pet's body to diagnose illnesses, injuries, and other conditions.
On-site Diagnostics: With state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, including in-house lab tests, they aim to provide rapid and accurate diagnoses to guide treatment plans.
Microchipping: A vital service for pet safety, microchipping provides permanent identification to help reunite lost pets with their families.
Nutritional Counseling: Guidance on appropriate diets and feeding plans to support your pet's health, manage weight, and address specific dietary needs.
Behavior Management: Offering solutions and advice for various behavioral issues that pet owners may face, helping to foster a harmonious relationship between pets and their families.
Parasite Prevention: Essential preventative measures and treatments for common internal and external parasites like fleas, ticks, and heartworms, crucial for pets in North Carolina's climate.
Geriatric Care: Specialized care for senior pets, focusing on managing age-related conditions like arthritis, back injuries (as highlighted by laser therapy), and other concerns to maintain their quality of life.
Emergency & Urgent Care: While not a 24/7 emergency hospital, they are equipped and ready to handle various types of emergencies during business hours, advising clients to call immediately for urgent situations.

Features / Highlights

Foothills Animal Clinic distinguishes itself through several notable features and highlights, reflecting their commitment to both advanced medical care and a deeply compassionate approach, especially for the local North Carolina community.

Compassionate and Kind Staff: The most frequently praised aspect in positive reviews is the kindness and compassion demonstrated by the entire veterinary staff. This includes their ability to make pets feel relaxed and comfortable, even during difficult times like end-of-life care, offering dignity and respect.
Innovative Treatment Options: The offering of non-invasive laser therapy for conditions like arthritis and back injuries highlights their commitment to utilizing modern, effective treatments to improve a pet's quality of life and provide alternatives to more invasive procedures.
Dedication During Challenging Times: The empathetic support shown during end-of-life decisions, providing comfort and peace, underscores their deep understanding of the human-animal bond and their commitment to supporting families through all stages of their pet's life.
Focus on Dignity and Respect: The clinic's approach to senior pets and those nearing the end of their lives, ensuring they are calm and comfortable, showcases a profound respect for every animal's well-being.
Commitment to Client Education: While not explicitly stated in the provided positive review, the clinic's overall mission emphasizes educating clients on preventative care, good nutrition, and exercise, indicating a proactive approach to pet health.
Prompt Emergency Response: Reviews mention their ability to fit in emergency cases, such as a limping kitten, quickly, highlighting their responsiveness when pets need urgent attention.

Contact Information

For inquiries, appointments, or emergency situations, you can reach Foothills Animal Clinic using the following contact details:

Address: 126 Cherry Mountain St, Forest City, NC 28043, USA

Phone: (828) 248-2168

Mobile Phone: +1 828-248-2168

It is always recommended to call the clinic directly for appointment requests, especially given past feedback regarding communication, to ensure the most efficient service for your pet's needs.

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

For pet owners across North Carolina, particularly in Forest City and the surrounding communities, Foothills Animal Clinic offers a compelling choice for veterinary care due to its blend of compassionate service and commitment to modern treatment options. While recent administrative feedback points to areas for improvement in responsiveness, the overwhelmingly positive experiences regarding the quality of veterinary care, especially for challenging cases, highlight the core strengths of this clinic.

The profound empathy demonstrated by the veterinary staff, as exemplified by the care given to Sophie through laser therapy and her peaceful final moments, is a critical factor for any local pet owner. Knowing that your cherished companion will be treated with such kindness, dignity, and respect, especially during vulnerable times, fosters an invaluable sense of trust. This deep compassion, coupled with the availability of non-invasive treatments, shows a genuine dedication to improving the quality of life for pets in the North Carolina Foothills.

Furthermore, the clinic's comprehensive range of services, from routine wellness and vaccinations to advanced diagnostics and surgical capabilities, ensures that they can address a wide spectrum of your pet's health needs throughout their life. For families in North Carolina seeking a veterinary partner that is not only medically proficient but also deeply caring and committed to exploring all avenues for their pet's comfort and well-being, Foothills Animal Clinic remains a suitable and highly recommended option, ready to welcome you and your furry family members.

Foothills Animal Clinic Photos

Foothills Animal Clinic Location

Foothills Animal Clinic

North Carolina Rutherford County Forest City Cherry Mountain Street

126 Cherry Mountain St, Forest City, NC 28043, USA

Foothills Animal Clinic Reviews

We used to love this vet but the last two visits were terrible. We called multiple times for an appointment, then texted multiple times for an appointment with no response. Our dog needed a nail trim so my daughter brought her in. The lady at the front desk gave my teenage daughter an attitude and told her she would be charged extra for being a walk-in. It's not our fault someone is not doing their job on their end responding to appointment requests or answering the phone. They charged $17 for a 10lb dog and no filling. They used to trim and file for $10 with kindness and no attitude. They also made an emergency wait while they trimmed our dogs nails & they arrived before us. They should immediately take an emergency, any other pet owner would understand. We won't be back.
Jun 19, 2025 · Brian
The veterinarian staff was so kind and compassionate. My senior dog was suffering from a back injury and very bad arthritis. They gave me many options including non invasive laser therapy which gave us a little more life and time with our Sophie. They made her relaxed and comfortable. When the time finally came that her quality of life had gone, they gave her dignity and respect in her final moments - she was calm and went peacefully in their expert care. When I am able to open my heart again to another dog, I will continue to utilize the Foothills Animal Clinic. Highly recommend that you put your trust in their hands.
Nov 01, 2023 · Amy Ross
"RESOLVES" ISSUES BY DROPPING PATIENTS. UNEMPATHETIC. UNETHICAL. The vet called to personally apologize for an incident where the office staff responded rudely to a question. She said she saw the text and would talk to that person because their response was inappropriate. The vet proceeded to talk about doing another surgery on my pet and even mailed me info about it. We tried to schedule an appointment for our pet to find out the clinic is refusing service. I guess this is how they "resolve" issues - by dropping patients. I'm not even sure why they wasted their time apologizing and acting like they wanted us to stay with the clinic. Text is the only way to get in touch with the office, and whoever is in charge of responding to texts needs to be replaced. Not only do they not know how to answer questions without getting defensive, they do not have understanding and empathy for the patients or their owners and are in the wrong profession completely. Many people consider their pets like family, and sadly, I've encountered on multiple occasions the lack of care and consideration you would want them to have. There should not be anything wrong with asking for post-operation care instructions, nor should you - the patient - be expected to know what those steps are. What this clinic has shown me is that if you have any constructive criticism, they do not care to take it and make their clinic better. I should have went with my gut after our 1st visit - I've never been to another clinic where they carry your pet out of the exam room to give them their shots instead of doing it on the exam table. Shortly after that 1st visit, I received a voicemail from another pet owner who got my number from the clinic and wanted me to breed my pet with his - I did not authorize the clinic to share my contact info. I also received a voicemail from a man at the clinic asking me to call the other pet owner back about breeding. At the next appointment, the vet then asked me if I'm going to breed my pet. There was no need for all the solicitation as I had the pet owner's number and was not interested in breeding. On another occasion, we dropped my pet off in the morning for surgery and were finally contacted at 5pm to be told they were closing and were going to keep him overnight. There wasn't even time for us to pick him up because they contacted us so late. Their reason for refusing service is there has been a "breach of trust," but they fail to acknowledge that trust was never established in the first place and the breach of trust is by them, not us. We had doubts about this clinic from the 1st visit and kept trusting them to improve their service, but it appears their ego is bigger than their desire to provide quality care and service. The clinic letting us go as patients says more about them than it does us. We do not see it as a loss, but a blessing and look forward to taking our pet to someone we can trust.
Mar 11, 2025 · Anonymous
If I could give it 0 stars, I would. I was a client of this veterinary practice for two years, and my experience was consistently unacceptable. The front desk staff exhibits a clear lack of professionalism and helpfulness, frequently responding with unwarranted attitude rather than the respect customers deserve. Phone calls are never answered; texting is the sole means of communication, and the responses are invariably abrupt and dismissive. They provide pricing quotes initially, but in my experience, the final charges consistently exceed those estimates, which suggests a troubling lack of transparency.Following a particularly unsatisfactory visit, I posted a critical review online. The veterinarian contacted me with an apology, leading me to remove the review, only for me to later discover my account had been terminated—a move that strongly appears to be a calculated effort to protect their online reputation rather than a genuine resolution. Most troubling, they proposed using my dog for breeding, which I found entirely inappropriate, and I have strong reason to believe they disclosed my personal information to another client during a discussion. Based on these repeated issues, I firmly caution against relying on this practice; their unprofessional conduct and questionable ethics render them unworthy of trust with pet care.
Mar 06, 2025 · Lee Harden
Dr. Kelly is the best! She is kind and compassionate, and her whole life surrounds her devotion to animals! You will be blessed to bring your pets here! She supports a nonprofit animal rescue and helped get my dad's dogs rescued after his passing! We are forever grateful for her!
Jun 25, 2023 · Mia Bodnar