Boston Veterinary Care

Dr. Clarissa Williams "is a graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her clinical year at Purdue University. Before joining BVC she worked in Rhode Island in a general practice setting which included routine appointments, urgent care and emergency. Dr Williams's professional interests are shelter medicine, behavior, rehabilitation and pain management."

Joanna Riley is the Practice Manager (she/her/hers), described as "a seasoned leader in the veterinary industry with 16 years of experience," who "began her career as a veterinary assistant" and has been "serving as a practice manager since 2017."

BVC is the clinic arm of the Animal Rescue League of Boston, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. ARL separately runs adoption centers, field services, pet behavior programs, and community veterinary programs such as the Spay Waggin', the Wellness Waggin' and a Community Surgical Clinic in Dedham. Those parent-organization programs have their own locations, phone numbers, eligibility rules and fees and are not the same as booking an appointment at the Chandler Street clinic. For BVC itself, contact (617) 226-5605 or bvc@arlboston.org, at 10 Chandler Street, Boston, MA 02116.

The site does not publish license numbers, board certifications, hire dates, or staff counts beyond the three people named above.

What makes BVC different, in the site's words, is where the money goes: "While we offer the same comprehensive services as any top-tier clinic, there is one big difference: 100% of our proceeds go directly to helping animals in need." The page adds, "When you choose BVC for your pet's wellness exams, care for illness or injury, dental, or surgery, your vet bill becomes a life-saving donation," supporting ARL's work for animals awaiting adoption.

Not published on the site

prices, cost or fee schedules for any BVC service; any list of specific procedures beyond the six categories above; whether species other than dogs and cats are seen; and any statement about appointment availability. For anything the website does not cover, the clinic asks people to call (617) 226-5605 or email bvc@arlboston.org.

On where the money goes, the clinic page states: "100% of our proceeds go directly to helping animals in need" and "your vet bill becomes a life-saving donation." That is a statement about the nonprofit use of revenue, not a discount, a subsidy, or a reduced-fee program at the clinic. The BVC page publishes no income eligibility, sliding scale, financial assistance or subsidised-care terms for the Chandler Street clinic.

The Animal Rescue League of Boston runs separate low-cost programs with their own published fees and eligibility rules (for example the Wellness Waggin' and the Spay Waggin'), but those are ARL parent-organization programs with their own neighborhood or voucher requirements, not BVC clinic pricing, and their terms must not be applied to a BVC appointment.

The Animal Rescue League of Boston is listed on the site as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Tax Identification Number (EIN) 04-2103714, CFC # 37718, MA Shelter/Rescue License #: 0221.

Before the visit, the site asks clients to "review and complete the appropriate pre-appointment form(s) in advance," and links to an Appointment Sheet, a New Puppy Appointment Sheet, and "Prepping for surgery info."

The clinic also publishes a confirmation policy, quoted here in full: "PLEASE NOTE: We request all clients confirm their pet's appointment by responding to our confirmation email, phone call, or text by 2:00pm on the business day prior to your visit. If we do not receive your confirmation response by 2:00pm, we will release your appointment time for another pet in need of medical care. Thank you for your understanding."

The website does not publish how far out the schedule books, what appointment slots are open, or how long a booking or wait takes. Anyone asking about scheduling should be pointed to the phone number, email, or the request form rather than given an estimate.

The clinic's online appointment request page adds: "Please note, this form is not intended for emergency appointment requests. If you need immediate assistance, please reach out to us at (617) 226-5605."

The website describes BVC as providing outpatient services and does not describe the clinic as an emergency hospital or an urgent care service. It publishes no triage guidance, no symptom lists, and no instructions on deciding whether a situation is an emergency. No assessment of a pet's condition, seriousness, or urgency should be offered on the clinic's behalf; a caller with a concern about their pet should be given the clinic's phone number (617) 226-5605 during open hours, or the after-hours contacts the clinic itself publishes above.

Boston Veterinary Care is located at 10 Chandler Street, Boston, MA 02116, in Boston's South End. The clinic's published hours are Monday-Saturday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, and Sunday: Closed.

Contact details listed on the clinic page are phone (617) 226-5605, fax (617) 482-5113, and email bvc@arlboston.org. The same address, phone and email appear again in the site footer under "Boston Veterinary Care - A clinic with a mission."

On getting there, the site says: "We are located at 10 Chandler Street Boston, MA, 02116. FREE on-site parking available. BVC is conveniently located off of I-90 and I-93; and is close to the MTBA Green Line, Orange Line, and Silver Line." A "Directions to Boston Veterinary Care" link is provided on the page.

The area served is described as the Greater Boston Area: the clinic "provides a full range of high-quality outpatient services to pet owners in the Greater Boston Area." The appointment request form asks for the pet owner's zip code.

Note on the parent organization's other locations: the Animal Rescue League of Boston also runs Animal Care and Adoption Centers in Boston (10 Chandler Street), Dedham (55 Anna's Place, Dedham, MA 02026) and East Brewster on Cape Cod (3981 Main St / Rte 6A, East Brewster, MA 02631), plus administrative offices at 10 Anna's Place, Dedham. Those are ARL programs at their own addresses and phone numbers, not the BVC clinic. The clinic itself operates only from the Chandler Street address above.

The website does not publish holiday closures, lunch-hour closures, drop-off hours, or any statement about how busy the clinic is.

Spay Waggin' and Community Surgical Clinic (ARL programs). The Spay Waggin' is "a mobile veterinary surgical unit" providing "low cost spay and neuter services to animals and people in Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod." The Community Surgical Clinic at ARL's Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center "provides low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for cats and dogs by using a voucher provided by the Massachusetts Animal Fund. Vouchers are available based on need through your local animal control officer." It accepts "Dogs between the ages of 2 months and 7 years of age and up to 100 lbs" and "Cats between the ages of 2 months and 10 years of age." Surgeries are by appointment only, booked by calling (877) 590-7729 or emailing spaywaggin@arlboston.org. The page notes the clinic does not issue vouchers.

No fee, discount or eligibility rule from these programs applies to care at the BVC clinic on Chandler Street.

Ask anyway — the agent will say plainly that it is not published rather than guess.