R. Takalo, DVM

Medical Director and Emergency Care

Dr. Takalo was born in Monterey, California and spent her early childhood in Naples, Italy. The daughter of a Naval Aviator, she moved to Pensacola with her family when her father retired. She earned a degree in Pre-Professional Biology, graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of West Florida. She then attended Auburn University’s prestigious College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2011.

With a passion for emergency medicine, Dr. Takalo returned to the Gulf Coast to practice and has been an emergency doctor at VERC since the fall of 2011. In her spare time, Dr. Takalo enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

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Rebecca Warner

Oct 24, 2024

"Dr. Eyles is a literal saint. I had to rush my 10 year old Maine Coon in at 10:00pm one night. He had been hiding for a few days, which wasn't out of the norm. However, that night I found him hiding in the bathroom, his feet stained yellow from urine, and his eye was covered in black gooey stuff, his eye was basically glued shut. I immediately put him in the bathtub, ready to face the consequences. He didn't move, just laid there and let me bathe him. Payton was a good cat but not that good. After getting back into the room they took Payton back, put him on oxygen and did their thing. Dr. Eyles was kind enough to take me to the back so I could see the x-rays they had taken. My poor boy's chest was full of fluid. When we went back to the room Dr. Eyles gave me the medical and layman's terms of what was going on and, unfortunately, the poor prognosis. I, at the time, worked at a regular DVM office. I said, "I know the answer to this- I have to tell people the same thing all the time, but what do I do?" Dr. Eyles was extremely kind and explained to me what could be done but how he didn't want to cause Payton anymore stress or pain and ended it with, "If you were my sister, I would tell you it's time." He reassured me multiple times that I was a good 'cat mom' and gave me plenty of time to say goodbye. The clinic was lovely enough to hold his body overnight and when I picked him up in the morning to take him to where I worked (cheaper cremation) the box had his name written in beautiful calligraphy and a heart drawn on it. I don't know who did that, but it the kindness was appreciated. Dr. Eyles made what was extremely heartbreaking a lot more comfortable with his kindness and compassion. I could never thank him and the team that night and the next morning for the kindness. I know Payton was extremely loved by me, but he had nothing but kind hands in the end as well as my own and that is something that you can't put a price on."

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Rebecca Warner

Oct 24, 2024

IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY OR UNSTABLE PATIENT PLEASE CALL 850-477-3914!