Animal Medical Center of Southern California

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. One morning, a delivery driver noticed something peculiar on the loading dock—a small box wrapped in plain brown paper. Curious, he opened it and found inside a basket filled with freshly baked cookies, accompanied by a handwritten note that simply read, ‘For our furry patients.’ The delivery driver grinned, thinking maybe someone was trying to bribe him for faster service. He took a cookie, popped it into his mouth, and nearly choked when he tasted chocolate chips mixed with bacon bits—obviously not made by humans! The next day, another package arrived, this time containing a sign reading, 'Next time, try vegan treats!'

2. One night, after hours, an exhausted vet tech whispered to herself: ‘I’ll just leave one more patient, then I’m outta here.’ Suddenly, she heard a strange voice from behind: ‘Doctor? My turn next?’ The vet tech turned around and saw only a small terrier with big brown eyes. She smiled and said gently, 'Not tonight, little buddy—Doc's gotta go home.' The dog wagged its tail and walked away, followed by another voice in the distance: 'Hey, wait up! I'm not done yet!'

3. At closing time, a little girl approached the reception desk with her family's dog. She asked worriedly, 'Mommy said I could pet any animal here, but why is this one growling at me?' The vet looked down and smiled gently. ‘That’s not a regular dog,’ she whispered. ‘It’s our resident grump—a retired service animal who doesn’t like being petted.’ The little girl giggled, relieved, and walked away, leaving behind only the sound of the old dog’s gruff purr.

4. At midnight, when everyone had gone home, a veterinarian’s assistant overheard a voice whispering from the empty hallway: 'Is that you, Spot? I’ve been waiting for you.' The assistant followed the sound and found an old teddy bear sitting on a bench. ‘I thought my Spot was lost,’ said the bear in a squeaky voice. The vet tech laughed and picked up the toy, saying, “No, Spot is probably sleeping somewhere cozy.” They both smiled, knowing that some animals never really leave us—even if they’re just stuffed.