St Francis Dispensary

St Francis Dispensary is an independent registered charity (established in 1926) providing veterinary care for cats and dogs, with a focus on offering treatment “at affordable rates” for owners of limited means. The clinic appears set up mainly for routine, day-to-day veterinary care and common procedures (vaccines, microchipping, neutering), supported by in-house blood testing (Idexx haematology and biochemistry machine) and a diabetes clinic.

From the latest reviews available to us, owners repeatedly mention

• •routine preventive care such as vaccines and weight checks
• •neutering for kittens, including clear pre-op expectations (e.g., being told a pet may be drowsy after anaesthetic) and specific collection times
• •staff being practical and non-judgemental with more challenging situations (e.g., calmly assessing a dog wearing a muzzle by asking questions about temperament)
• •quick admin support, such as sending pet records to another vet “in a second”

Services

Based on the clinic website summary and recent reviews, services mentioned include

• •Consultations on animal health and general animal care (cats and dogs)
• •Preventative healthcare
• •Vaccinations for cats and dogs (reviews mention vaccines and weight checks)
• •Microchipping (including microchipping arranged while a cat is in surgery, as described by one reviewer)
• •Neutering/spaying (reviews specifically mention kitten neutering)
• •Some surgeries (not specified beyond neutering in available reviews)
• •Diabetes care through specialised clinics
• •Sale of prescription foods
• •In-house lab capability: Idexx haematology and biochemistry machine

Out-of-hours emergencies: the website states owners should contact Veterinary Specialists Ireland or Dr Patrick Condren.

People

Individual staff members aren’t named in the information provided, but reviewers describe the team in ways that may help you decide

• •Practical handling of nervous/excitable dogs: one owner brought a muzzled dog and said staff showed “no prejudice or fear,” instead asking questions to understand the dog’s temperament.
• •Clear expectations around procedures: one reviewer recounts a vet explaining their kitten might be sleepy after neutering due to anaesthetic.
• •Efficient support with records: one long-term client said staff transferred their cat’s records to a new vet very quickly.

Reviews

Google rating: 4.8 stars from 337 reviews.

• •Preventive care is frequently referenced (vaccines and weight checks), with pets described as being welcomed and attended to.
• •Neutering experiences are described positively, including discussion of possible post-anaesthetic drowsiness and organised collection times.
• •Several reviews focus on staff approach and trust: owners say they felt comfortable leaving their dog in the clinic’s care.
• •Admin/helpfulness comes up too, such as promptly sending records to another practice.
• •Practical constraints are mentioned: one reviewer notes it’s a small clinic and suggests not arriving too early; on-street parking is described as limited.