Talking of heads in the sand...it's become horribly clear to me this week that when it comes to integrity and compassion for animals there are vets...and vets. I've learned from you wonderful list members over the past years that competence and up-to-date knowledge are definitely not givens where vets are concerned, but I still sort of had this naive idea that compassion was always going to be present in a vet's makeup. Here's a copy of an email I've been distributing to friends and acquaintances this week about a so-called animal hospital 5 minutes from where I live in Chicago. Any ideas to help put these people out of business is welcome. The "animal abuse" referred to included hitting a cat that had diarrhea, and mocking cats that were going to be put to sleep. They also used needles more than once instead of disposing after single use. I'm steeling myself to call the technician to get more information on the abuse that she witnessed. I had to ask her not to continue on Monday. Kerry >>>>>I don't know how much if anything you know about McKillips Animal Hospital, but after a conversation I had yesterday with a technician who worked there--she quit in disgust after 2 months--I'm passing on the word to as many people as possible. Please do the same! These people should be run out of business. I've never heard a single horror story about any other Chicago vet clinic (which is certainly not to say there aren't any). However, now I've heard 3 about McKillips--and the 3rd is by far the worst. I always stayed away from McKillips, even though they're only 5 minutes away and it would be a lot easier, as I'd heard a bad story about them 10 years ago. Recently, a fellow owner in our condo building related a bad experience with McKillips the first time she used them. She never used McKillip again. Today I heard really bad stuff about McKillips, from a technician whose word I trust and who worked there for 2 months until she couldn't take the animal abuse that she witnessed any longer. (She did report them to the appropriate authorities but was told they needed video tape proof from her.) The technician subsequently worked at Higgins for 3 years (where she says the clinic was run and the vets behaved with the expected professionalism). Please pass the word to all pet owners you know. McKillip (or McKill-it as they're apparently described by some in the business) is to be avoided.<<<<<< This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.
