Customers and Staff Blindsided after Vet Hospital in Oakland, CA Abruptly Closes

April 29, 2022

Montclair Veterinary Hospital in Oakland, California shut down last week, leaving clients scrambling to find care for their pets according to the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE (Why the abrupt closure of a Bay Area vet clinic was seen as ‘slap-in-face treatment’ for staff and pet owners (4.27.22)).

The Oakland hospital was purchased by Thrive Pet Healthcare four years ago (formerly Pathway Vet Alliance, the company’s controlling shareholder is private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners). The hospital group owns about 340 veterinary practices nationwide. In 2021, the company had approximately 10,000 employees.

According to Dr. Rachel Moulton, the medical director of Montclair Veterinary Hospital:

“We were all completely blindsided and flabbergasted,” said Dr. Rachel Moulton, Montclair’s medical director. “I’m devastated for my clients. So many lives got upended by this: the staff, the clients, the animals.”

CALIFORNIA VETERINARY MEDICAL BOARD: California Code of Regulations
CHAPTER 11, DIVISION 2: Record Keeping; Records; Contents; Transfer.

  • Records shall be maintained for a minimum of three (3) years after the animal’s last visit. A summary of an animal’s medical records shall be made available to the client within five (5) days or sooner, depending if the animal is in critical condition, upon his or her request.

There is NO California law to prevent the closure of a veterinary practice.

COPY OF NOTIFICATION EMAIL SENT TO CLIENTS ABOUT PERMANENTLY CLOSING ANIMAL HOSPITAL AS OF APRIL 22, 2022.

  • “The announcement gave no reason for the abrupt closure” according to the Piedmont Exedra.

RELATED:

  • Montclair Veterinary Hospital closes, blindsiding staff and customers (4.27.22)
    https://oaklandside.org/2022/04/27/montclair-veterinary-hospital-closes-blindsiding-staff-and-customers/

    • “After 61 years in business, the new owners of Montclair Veterinary Hospital closed the clinic, giving just a few days notice to staff and customers.”
    • According to Bridget Rollins, Thrive’s VP of operations for the company’s west region: “Despite our efforts to support the practice through the investment in people, training, and technology for the last several years, continuing to operate the practice was no longer sustainable. The decision to close Montclair was not made lightly or without consideration for our team and pet parent community alike.”
  • Vet hospital in Oakland hills abruptly closes (4.25.22)
    https://www.ktvu.com/news/vet-hospital-in-oakland-hills-abruptly-closes

    • Gary Richter had owned the clinic until selling it four years ago to Pathway, now known as Thrive Pet Healthcare, based in Texas. “I have no knowledge of what their finances are, and I also have no knowledge of what was the motivation behind closing the hospital,” Richter said.

RECENT NEWS ON THRIVE PET HEALTHCARE: