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Veterinary Clinic Serves Free Beer and Wine While Pets Get Checkups

By Janet Upadhye | June 12, 2014 6:47am
 Brooklyn Cares Veterinary Hospital in Clinton Hill serves local beer and wine to customers.
Brooklyn Cares Veterinary Hospital in Clinton Hill serves local beer and wine to customers.
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DNAinfo.com/Janet Upadhye, Facebook/Brooklyn Cares

CLINTON HILL — A veterinary hospital in Clinton Hill has the purr-fect prescription to take the edge off of waiting room anxiety — they offer libations to sip while you wait for your pet. 

Brooklyn Cares Veterinary Hospital and Dental Clinic serves complimentary home-brewed beer along with wine from a local shop to customers while they wait for their pets at the small clinic located at 944 Fulton St. near St. James Place.

A mini-fridge behind the front desk is always stocked with bottles of unlabeled beer — brewed in a Clinton Hill home, according to staff — and boxed wine from Olivino Wines that staffers serve in coffee mugs in the waiting area.

While the office does not have a liquor license, they say the small courtesy is a must for anxiety-ridden pet owners.

"It helps with the wait," said an employee who declined to give her name. "It can be stressful waiting for your pet in the waiting room. A small drink can be relaxing."

But don't plan on getting sloshed while you wait for your Shih Tzu — customers are limited to two half-mugs of booze.

"If people want to get drunk there's plenty of bars nearby."

The State Liquor Authority said any establishment that serves alcohol, complimentary or not, must have a license and could face violations resulting in a fine.

A spokesman for Brooklyn Cares did not immediately respond to an inquiry.

The clinic has been offering clients alcohol since at least last summer, according to Yelp reviews.

Customers seem to appreciate the liquid encouragement.

"It helps when you know your pet is in surgery," said Danielle Ward, 27, whose Labrador/pointer mix recently needed an operation after eating a rubber ball at a Bushwick dog park.