The Drake Center in Encinitas is Here for Your Pets

Need to Schedule Your Pet's Appointment?

New Clients

The Drake Center in Encinitas is Here for Your Pets

Need to Schedule Your Pet's Appointment?

New Clients

We Are Proud to Have Exceeded AAHA's Quality Standard since 2005!

Proudly Serving the Encinitas Area For Over 20 Years!

Our Staff Has the Experience and Expertise to Treat Your Dog and Cat!

Putting Pets First

We are dedicated to providing the best medical and surgical care, in a compassionate environment for our patients - and unsurpassed service for our clients.

Dr. Michele Drake, Founder and Dr. Kathy Boehme, Partner

The Drake Center Difference

The Drake Center isn't like any ordinary veterinary clinic in Encinitas, CA. We are an expert team dedicated to giving your pet the best medical care available anywhere.

  • Safety First

    Safety First

    The strictest protocols for surgery, pharmaceuticals and exams - for the protection of our patients.

  • Patient Comfort

    Patient Comfort

    We provide multimodal pain control and individualised pain management to ensure your pet's comfort.

  • Cutting Edge-Medicine

    Cutting Edge-Medicine

    Proud to offer the latest advancements in medicine, diagnostic equipment, digital radiography and laser therapy.

  • Nurse-to-Patient Ratio

    2:1 Nurse-to-Patient Ratio

    Our surgical teams include one doctor plus two registered veterinary technicians and one assistant - assuring safety and quality.

love your pet

Welcome to the Drake Center

For People Whose Pets are Part of the Family

At the Drake Center for Veterinary Care, we believe that pets are part of the family - yours and ours. And family deserves the very best care. For over 30 years, we have been providing high-quality, compassionate pet care to families in Encinitas, CA and the surrounding areas in North San Diego County.

AAHA Accredited for Over 15 Years

We are an AAHA-accredited animal hospital committed to providing the highest standards of care in anesthesia, dentistry, pain management, preventative care, surgery and more. Our staff also meets regularly to learn about the latest medical advancements in companion animal care and how to continually improve our customer service.

Voted Best in Encinitas

The Drake Center was voted Best of Encinitas in 2024 by Pet Owner's Choice (Vety)! We are extremely proud of our facility and the quality of care we provide.

Best in San Diego

In 2023, The Drake Center which is located in Encinitas, CA, was voted Best Veterinary Clinic in San Diego by the readers Ranch & Coast Magazine for the fifteenth year in a row.

Our Mission

“To provide the best medical and surgical care in a compassionate environment for our patients and unsurpassed service for our clients.” Everything we do supports our mission statement.

Our Clients say...

The staff is a conscientious and well-trained team that is both accommodating and knowledgeable.

David S.

I sincerely thank Dr. Shotwell and the entire team at The Drake Center for always providing the best of care to my very precious Lulu.

Dana M.

The veterinarians and staff at The Drake Center truly understand the significance of the relationship we share with our pets.

Ted & Kristina M.

Dr. Hamlet always gets on the floor and actively interacts, examines and listens to our concerns. She is calming, reassuring and always offers options if something doesn’t work as we hoped the first time.

Richard R.

...As long as Dr. Shotwell is our dog's veterinarian, he will live a very long and happy life. Thank you, Drake Center!

Brittney C. & Brian N.

We would like to take a minute to thank you for all the excellent care and continued fantastic customer service. We have been so impressed with every member of your very cohesive team.

Krista & Terry F.

I've been bringing my beloved pets to The Drake Center for almost 20 years. All of the doctors and staff are caring, kind and very professional.

Marcie P.

The care and service we have received at The Drake Center over the past 20 years has been the finest I could ever imagine.

Deborah H.

I have been very pleased with The Drake Center. The doctors are great and the staff is always friendly and helpful.

Chris & Len G.

Great staff. Wonderful docs. Great follow-up. A+++

Julie C.
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The Drake Center For Veterinary Care in Encinitas, CA

Your trusted veterinary practice for over 30 years, The Drake Center believes that your pet is a part of the family, yours and ours. That is why we have made it our mission to provide comprehensive and compassionate veterinary care and that is in the best interests of you and your furriest family member. If you are in the Encinitas area and are looking for a caring veterinary team to help make sure your pet remains in good health, we are nearby and ready to help. To learn more about the many services our veterinary clinic offers, or to schedule an appointment, please contact us at (760) 456-9556.

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About The Drake Center For Veterinary Care

Our experienced doctors and staff treat each patient as their own and each client as a friend. We combine sound medical expertise, exceptional client service, and a deep passion for animals to create a veterinary care experience that is truly one of a kind.

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