RE: opinions wanted please

[MacKenzie, Kerry N.]

Title: Message

Thanks for sharing your story Jo---helps me gird up my loins to deal with them when I say 'my cats don't go anywhere I don't go'! I'm very sorry you had to go thru this but at least there was a happy outcome thanks to your perseverance. Wouldn't it be great if the majority of pet owners began to quietly but firmly put their collective foot down,---vets would have to change their policy and have owners accompany their animals as a matter of course. Kerry

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 8:01 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: opinions wanted please

Kerry,
I don't post here often, but I had a similar situation so I'll tell you how I handled it.

Earlier this year I was in the hospital with a very sick kitty with multiple problems (CRF, diabetes, pancreatitis, hyperT). Corky was an incredibly sweet soul and tolerated all procedures without a flinch, purring thru even the nastiest. Now, I'm adamant that blood be drawn with me & my kitties in the same room. (The reason is another story.) A tech came in (not our usual one) and started to take him to "the back" to draw blood. I asked if I could go with him and she said NO. I calmly replied that Corky didn't go any where I couldn't go. She turned stoned-faced, left the room and came back with another tech. Then she proceeded to grab his paws and pull them over the edge of the exam table, meanwhile shoving his chin skyward. All this was to draw blood from his jugular. Before I could grab my baby they had a needle in his throat so I had to freeze.

I stewed over the entire incident until our next visit (same week) when I noticed the Demon Tech in the lab with her face bandaged. When our vet came in she explained that the tech had been bitten in the face by a dog, to which I blurted out "GOOD!" Doc was taken aback and stared at me wide-eyed until I told her what happened. I added that DT should be instructed that brute force was NOT the appropriate way to handle a deathly ill, 5 pound cat.

Nothing more was said, but Demon Tech did not come into our room again. When Corky passed away (June, 2004) I sent a card with Angel Corky on the front, thanking the vet for her kindness during those awful months, and praising specific techs that went out of their way to show kindness during those visits.

Demon Tech now occasionally helps us with procedures, but her attitude is completely different. She is very gentle now, and although I watch her like a hawk, I truly think she has seen the error of her ways.

So my advice? Talk to the VET. Its important that you express your concern. You can bet that what they do to YOUR pet is done to OTHERS. And sometimes, an individual may just need a "wake up" call.

Hugs
Jo

In a message dated 11/17/2004 5:13:33 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

Any of you wonderful, wise people got any ideas on what you would do faced with a similar situation? I'd really welcome your opinions!
Thanks for listening! Kerry

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