Dale, the most impressive vet I ever had, was in San Antonio TX.  I found
this little kitten by the roadside when jogging.  Oh, I thought 'near full
grown' but read on.

This little bundle was about 4-5 lbs (guessing here, it was 1983 and dont
think I was ever told the weight then).  Eyes closed, leg dangling, looked
like broken ribs and bleeding from one ear.  No one wanted to even see him
except to put him to sleep.  Must have called 20 places.  Finally one was
willing to at least see if it was possible.  One of those high end folks who
normally dealt only with fancy blue ribbon award winning pedigree show dogs
and cats (and yes, the real award winning show animals with enough money to
have real leather seats and sofas in his waiting room for pets). I was real
scared of the price but it was the only place willng to at least look at
him.

So I went and the Vet took one look at me and my tearful face as I presented
this little thing in a cardboard box laying on my softest pillow with a
blanket and a brand new baby bottle I'd gotten at the local Kroger and
filled with water and set there trying to see if he could manage that, and
he said 'he'd try'.  No charge if it didnt work and how much could I afford?
We worked out a plan for 750$ with payments.  (1/2 my monthly takehome pay
just then and no savings but he wanted to be sure I was serious as he later
told me he'd have reduced it even further if my income was less).  I am
quite sure it cost him 3,000$ or more in meds etc but didnt know that then.

8 hours later I came home with a cat, a bunch of cat milk he had provided,
droppers to feed him with, and a cat I had named Bobby who was in a body
cast and had to be fed hourly.  Work gave me leave for a week then allowed
me to take him with me (became the shop mascot fast and folks would fight on
who's turn it was to feed him).  Slowly as he grew and casts got replaced or
were reduced, he grew to be a lovely happy healthy fellow.

Bobby lived to be 17 though I had to give him up when he was 3.  I found him
a perfect home before being transferred to Hawaii and got letters and
pictures every Xmas.  He was very happy at the farm on 50 acres with the
fellow who loved large dogs and the wife who had violent allergies to dog
hair.

Oh the size and eyes?  Little me had never had a cat.  I was unaware of why
his name was so funny to the vet til he was 6 months old.  See. Bobby was
part Bobcat. Pretty common to the area and the 'closed eyes' wasnt because
of the injury, but because his eyes were not yet open.

Not here, they either do not know or will not answer or answer
incorrectly. Someone different seems to answer the phone each time at
most clinics here. The whole impression is a lack of professionalism and
competence. Not all clinics, but most of them. Many of these guys might
be good veterinarians, but they do not know how to manage a clinic,
imnsho.

Never assume anything. First mark of an open-minded and good clinician.
I know what you're saying is true in the main.

<snip for brevity>

This WILL change, it is only a matter of time. When consumers start to
wise up and we get a better government, there will be more oversight and
regulation of the veterinary profession. It is long overdue. It is being
held up by corruption in the form of lobbiests infleunce over our
governments, both state and federal. Same holds true for the AMA.

<snip>

Yellow pages. Usually what they brag about they are the exact opposite
of what they claim. The louder they claim it, the more the opposite is
true, in my experience.

I know there are good vets out there. I just have been suprised myself
as to not meeting any where I live now. I think it has to do with the
general over all poor quality of services in Arizona, due to the
transient nature of the population here and virtually no government
oversight.