Whether you own a rare breed of macaw or a common house cat, your pets are members of your family. You feed them, groom them, love them, and freak out when they become ill or injured. You would never take your children to a family doctor with a reputation for only becoming a doctor so he could buy expensive Port Perry real estate, and the same is true for your pets' veterinarian. It can be tough to choose a vet in a time of crisis, so make sure you have a regular vet BEFORE you need one. We can guide you in your choice.

A great place to start looking for vets is on the internet or in the telephone book. Any self respecting vet with an interest in attracting new clients will have an ad or a website. The size and attractiveness of the ad or website will give you a clue as to how much money the vet has to spend on advertising and therefore how successful his or her clinic is. Emphasize vets whose offices are located near your Bayview Eglinton condo, because you don't want to have to take a two hour drive to the surgery in an emergency.

Another way to get a line on a good vet is to speak to staff and other customers in the store where you buy your aquarium test kits and other pet accessories. Many people who own pets have done so for years and have tested out the area vets through trial an error. Birds are not a common specialty in vets, who tend mostly to see cats and dogs, but other bird owners in your circle will be able to recommend the vet they use and tell you how he or she is with their pet birds.

When you're making your short list, it's important to include vets that have vets on call 24 hours a day in case of emergency and a provision for treating your pet after hours if it's an emergency. Not all vets do all this themselves. There may be another vet further away from their King West condos who covers their on call hours or helps out with surgeries, so speak to a representative of each clinic to see what provisions they have in place for animal emergencies.

The ultimate test, of course, is how the vet handles your animal. It might be worthwhile to schedule a "check up" visit for your pet in a few of the vet clinics you have on your short list to see how they treat you and your animal. Choose someone you are comfortable with and who your pet responds well to, even if their offices are a little further away from your apartment in Granite Place, Toronto.