Dr. Detlef-Walter Gräfe

Recently, our 5-month-old puppy stole and swallowed a dish sponge. We knew – it had to come out! Since we can reach the Gräfe veterinary practice in 5 minutes by car, I called and explained the problem. I clearly stated that it was an emergency and our dog needed an injection to get the sponge out! It wasn't some complicated treatment. Instead of telling me I could come in immediately, I was only asked if I was a regular customer. I truthfully replied that I wasn't anymore (Note: I had been for many years, but I had good reasons for finding a different vet, especially for my horses!). When asked where I usually go, I said that our veterinary practice is in Lüdenscheid. However, the drive there takes a good 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic, and we had an emergency! But the unfriendly woman on the phone couldn't have cared less. They wouldn't treat the dog; I should go to Lüdenscheid. I don't know if that's legal, but that's not really the point. What's unacceptable in my eyes is refusing help to an animal and dismissing a desperate pet owner like that. Absolutely not!

Our daughter's dog wasn't feeling well, so she had an appointment and I took her there. I have to say I was immediately impressed by the whole team and the vet. She got straight to the point with the diagnosis. Then, weeks later, I had to take our older dog there, and even though we'd never been treated there before, we were able to come in immediately. I was just as impressed as I had been with our daughter's dog. They ask all the necessary questions and then, again, give a precise diagnosis. I'm so grateful to have finally found the right veterinary practice. I would give them 10 stars!

I've been taking my dogs exclusively to the Gräfe practice for ages. Over all these years, even decades, we have always been treated by Mrs. Gräfe Senior and Mrs. Hansen in a friendly, humane, competent manner, and with absolute regard for animal welfare. Thank you for that! But times have changed since Mrs. Gräfe Junior joined the practice. Today was the second time I was treated by Mrs. Gräfe Junior in an absolutely unfriendly, rude, and unreasonable manner. Despite my efforts to rectify the situation, I was ultimately shown the door with my dog, who was suffering from shortness of breath, at 5 p.m. on Friday without any treatment! I am absolutely stunned, sad, and angry about such behavior! What happened? During the night from Monday to Tuesday, my dog ​​had very shortness of breath for the first time, so I called the Gräfe practice on Tuesday morning and explained the problem. My request for a morning appointment, as I had to work afternoons during the week, was not possible. So I accepted an afternoon appointment, but immediately stated that I had to check whether I could get time off for that appointment. Unfortunately, I couldn't get that day, so I had to cancel the appointment and only got another one for Friday at 5 p.m. Since I was, understandably I think, worried about my dog ​​and didn't want to leave him without veterinary care until Friday, I went to the consultation hours of a veterinarian in our immediate neighborhood (we live in Lüdenscheid). He roughly clarified the symptoms and gave the "green light" that everything else could wait until Friday. Since I am an honest person and hadn't expected such an unprofessional reaction, even with the best will in the world, I reported the same thing to Ms. Gräfe Junior. She then became very, very unfriendly and said very snippy: "They would like something like that. After all, that's their daily business, and what they make their living from." But then call them in the emergency room! All my attempts to explain that it was due to scheduling difficulties and the situation, that I was here now because they were supposed to take over the treatment as usual, etc., couldn't save the situation that led to our "kick-out." I couldn't even bring myself to add that in the decades I've been a customer at the practice and spent a lot of money there, I haven't called there even once outside of opening hours. I'm truly sad and appalled by this kind of treatment of long-standing customers. Not to mention the disregard for animal welfare, as my dog ​​still hasn't been helped as of Friday evening! It's a real, real shame that such a great practice, where we felt so well cared for for so many years, is now being run in this manner. Why on earth would you become a veterinarian if you are obviously only interested in maximum profit with minimum effort and are incapable of dealing with people and animals in a friendly and empathetic manner?

We had an acute emergency and wanted to use the emergency service. Unfortunately, we received no help – we were simply told to contact our own vet again. For an emergency service, this feels incredibly disappointing and unhelpful. In a stressful situation, you at least want clear help or alternatives. Overall, it was a very negative experience for us. Absolutely unacceptable. The animal could die, and she didn't care. Such a... and one star is still too much. This should be reported to the local newspaper... It's ridiculous.