I was very upset to leave my last vet (but husband’s job dictates where we live). One year she sent us not only a Christmas card but a GIFT certificate for $25! If you think THAT doesn’t suggest how much I spent there that year... LOL But I loved her, she was awesome, she listened to me, but she always always told me what SHE thought as well. We were a team. I have had a more difficult time finding a vet I really like where we are now. Part of the problem is I have far fewer dogs so I see them infrequently and so it’s harder to build that relationship.
My wife is quite demanding of a vet: she insists on being able to be present at all surguries; likes to “go in the back” with the dogs, when they are taken out of the initial room; and does quite a bit of over-the-phone business. At our present vets, all the staff know our family by first name, and we have sold and given dogs to several of the staff. We also get a “breeder” discount, which is about 15% across the board, which is not something to sneeze at! Additionally, the vet’s son recently got hired as a weather person at one of the local TV stations, where my sister-in-law also works, who does Collies and rescues... Seems sort of incestuous at times....!