Despite its admirable mission, Modern Animal suffers from deeply inexperienced senior leadership. Numerous reviews on Glassdoor describe a pattern of disconnected management, a lack of accountability, and a tendency to shift blame onto middle or lower-level staff. Unfortunately, this aligns closely with my own experience at the company. Leadership often avoided responsibility for systemic issues and instead created an environment where gaslighting and deflection were common tactics to maintain control.
Strategic planning and communication are also weak, resulting in disorganized execution and overextended teams. The Support team, in particular, operates under constant strain due to unclear priorities and reactive decision-making. Many of the company’s largest challenges - such as overspending, failed market expansions, and operational inefficiencies -could have been mitigated with thoughtful planning and consistent direction from the top.
A further issue lies in leadership composition. Many senior and executive roles are occupied by individuals without backgrounds in veterinary medicine or relevant operational experience. This lack of domain expertise undermines credibility and limits the organization’s ability to make informed, sustainable business decisions.
Favoritism is another persistent theme within the culture. Promotions and retention decisions often appear influenced by personal relationships rather than performance or qualifications. This dynamic erodes morale, fosters inequity, and disincentivizes high performance.
Employee experience overall is poor. Career growth opportunities are limited, burnout is often rewarded over balance, HR support is minimal, and performance evaluations are inconsistent and subjective. Constructive feedback is not only discouraged but sometimes met with retaliation, creating a culture of fear rather than collaboration.
Operational instability compounds these cultural issues. The company has closed multiple clinics, undergone multiple voluntary leave programs, and continues to burn significant cash, raising serious questions about its long-term viability. Additionally, clinic staff are increasingly pressured to upsell or meet aggressive revenue metrics, which compromises both the employee and client experience and undermines the company’s stated mission of compassionate, ethical veterinary care.
