1. The clinic that took over
Most closures are sales or mergers, and the buyer inherits the records. Search the old clinic’s name and address; a notice on the door, the old website or its social media usually names the successor.
2. The state veterinary board
States require closing practices to arrange storage or transfer of records for a set number of years and to tell the board where they went. Call or email the board with the clinic’s name; they can point you to the custodian.
3. The vet personally
A retired vet often keeps custody of the records or knows who does. The board has their license contact details.
4. Everyone else who saw the paperwork
- The county or city that issued the license, which may have the rabies certificate on file.
- Any kennel, groomer or daycare that copied the records when you booked.
- Your pet insurer, if a claim included the vaccination.
- The breeder or shelter, for the earliest shots.
If nothing turns up
Your new vet will treat unverifiable vaccinations as absent and recommend re-vaccinating, or a titer test for the DHPP diseases. Rabies has to be repeated. Then keep the copies somewhere that does not close: photograph them into PawPass.