Hello everyone,

My fiancé and I are reaching out for help. We made the mistake of trusting Banfield Hospital at PetSmart, believing they would provide the best care for our 10-month-old puppy, Ahsoka.

Ahsoka has always been a healthy and happy pup until recently, when she got sick after finding and eating an old bully stick she had hidden. We took her to PetSmart, where Banfield ruled out pancreatitis but prescribed the wrong medication—costing us an outrageous amount and leading to a severe reaction. This forced us to rush her to Apex Hospital Emergency Care, where they corrected her medication, treated her nausea, and advised us to follow up with Banfield about their miscommunication.

Just as we thought she was finally out of danger, Ahsoka began experiencing a severe allergic reaction. Unfortunately, Apex Hospital was closed for the night, leaving us with no choice but to take her to yet another emergency clinic—paying another entrance fee and likely more testing.

We now realize how mistaken we were in relying on Banfield for her first year of care before getting pet insurance. Despite how careful we’ve been, one bad treat has put us in a difficult situation—emotionally and financially—as we try to keep Ahsoka safe while also settling into our first rented home together.

We hope to raise awareness about the importance of pet insurance, careful supervision, and informed veterinary choices. If you can help or simply share our story, we would be deeply grateful.

Celina & Chris