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Mastiffs => Neapolitan Mastiff Discussions & Pictures => : smohr December 14, 2005, 01:05:45 PM
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I took Petra to a vet outside of town; she called my vet. They admitted to NOT euthanizing Petra. They were going to "test" her to see if she was so violent that she had to be put to sleep. This other vet that saw Petra was horrified too. She didn't want to make a lot of "noise" about another vet, but she said they were at least "unethical" but "didn't do any harm" since Petra wasn't given euth drugs. They are all protecting each other's butts because I think they all might do this in some cases!
When they (MY VETS) got their messages the night worker left they never called me; they were waiting for ME to call THEM!! They gave apologies but didn't sound apologetic. I told them to send my check back and I'd decide what actions I would take against them.
Petra is doing ok, but she is going to her crate and only coming out to pee. She ate a few bites of food and went to her crate. I am not ready emotionally to put her to sleep again right at this moment. I know I will have to eventually, but after staying up with her and holding her all night with no sleep and worrying about her, I am just exhausted and not thinking straight.
Thanks for the prayers and well wishes...My vets are $@%! to say it nicely!!!!! I'm gonna lie down for a few hours.
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The whole story is so incredible...s o UNBELIEVEABLE! I'm SO sorry Sherri! You have to be just beaten up, emotionally!
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Wow. Just..... wow.Â
I am so sorry for all that you have been through. I don't blame you for needing a break before you reconsider what to do next...Â
I seriously hope that you are investigating what legal actions can be taken against these vets - in my eyes, what has been done here is a crime. Not to be morbid, but were they just going to give you some other dog's ashes and let you think it was Petra? Did they give any explanation as to what justified them to do this, or what they were planning to do with Petra? Unethical barely begins to sum this up. This is a horrible thing they have done...
Get some rest, and when you have a clearer head, then you can start to make some decisions about what happens next. What a nightmare you have been through....
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God! You're right, Mari. UNBELIEVEABLE. I CAN'T even believe this. Wow.
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Oh, Sherry! What a nightmare - for you and Petra. I'm not sure I would have the strength or the heart to take her to be put to sleep again, either. What a horrible, awful thing these vets put you through. Please, call the police, a lawyer, the Better Business Bureau and the American Veterinary Association immediately! You should be compensated for your pain and suffering and these vets should go on record as being highly unethical!
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I would definitely talk to a lawyer, action needs to be taken against this vet. I hope you and Petra start feeling better.
This is unbelievable! ???
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Smohr- please respond to your pm's.
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I think she's probably resting - if she can! I want to go to West Virgina right now and give her some in-person moral support.
Darn my lack of independent wealth!!
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No harm done??? What about the emotional upset they've caused you? Thank goodness that Petra has nothing worse than a 'hangover'. I don't blame you not being able to go ahead and make arrangements to put her to sleep again so soon after this ordeal.
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maybe until Sherry comes back and gives us more details we shouldn't get this topic heated up. I feel for her...really, but let's stay composed for her sake. :) Thanks
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This just makes me want to throw up! I worked in vets offices for several years and we NEVER did anything like this. In fact, I had to leave one vet because I was the tech of choice to do ALL of the euthanasias and I just couldn't handle it. I wish I could go there and beat the living snot out of him/them! Please, please, please report them. They have no business in this business.
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I just got to thinking about this some more and thought of something important.
Sherry, if you decide to pursue this legally - and I definitely think you should, you are undoubtedly going to be portrayed as the bad guy for asking to have Petra euthanized. Please, remember first of all that you have all of us behind you to not only support you, but testify to the fact that you tried everything you could and explored every possible option for Petra.
Go back and print out every single post on every single thread that mentions your problems, successes and setbacks with Petra to back up that this was not an easy decision for you.
Unfortunately, this is not going to get any easier for you, but Petra - and the overnight attendant who called you - are heroes for bringing the unethical practices of this vet clinic into the light. I sure hope that woman doesn't get fired for blowing the whistle. Petra was sent to you for a reason. This must be it. Embrace it and let us help you any way we can.
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Those vets are covering their butts. I called to ask for my original check back (thought they might be sending a counter check instead of mine) and they said they would. They pointed out that I had only put "Petra" on the FOR ____ line and there was no proof of what procedure was to be done. They said her booster shots were due and she was wormed.
They said there was nothing written on her card about euthanazia and she had been given her boosters and wormed! They said they had to sedate her because she became too excited in her cage and could have hurt herself. It's my "word against theirs" so to speak.
Jerks!!!
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But you were there and held her until they told you her heart stopped beating, right?? You called days ahead of time to make an appointment specifically for euthanasia, right?
The attendant who called you last night was told by you why she was there, right?
Why would you take her in for her shots and to be dewormed then be upset when someone called to tell you she was alive???? Why would you leave her there overnight for shots and deworming???
Sounds to me like it's their word against yours, not the other way around! Don't let them push you around! Don't let them scare you! There HAS to be one sympathetic, rational, moral person at that office that will stand behind you. Be strong, Sherry!
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I know at our vet, they give you a print out of all services performed. Did you not get a receipt of any sort when you left? You could use that as proof of what the visit was for.Â
a lot of times the vet in the case where you're puttinga dog to sleep, will mail you the reciept instead of having you stand there in tears paying them that day. They know it's emotional and they will overlook "payment due upon services". My vet has done that to me twice.
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And, again, you have all the posts on here regarding
1. debating on whether or not to have her euthanized
2. taking her in to be euthanized and describing her passing
3. asking about sending her head in for testing because the vet called and told you they were going to do that
4. your discovery that she was still alive
And, all these posts are dated and time stamped! They have NO recourse!! Thank GOD for BPO!!
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This is just getting stranger by the minute. I would think that if you gave them a cheque you would have a recipt. There has to be a way to get the truth out of this situation. Even without a recipt Im sure there is a big differance in the prices for a few shots and being put to sleep. There has to be a way to prove that someone is lying here.
How is Petra doing Sherry???
Coonie
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The blood test at the other vet, showing that she was given an anesthesia to mimic death should prove that she was not there for such routine care. Generally an animal is not "snowed" to the point of being insensate for hours for shots and deworming.
Stella
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This is just getting stranger by the minute. I would think that if you gave them a cheque you would have a recipt. There has to be a way to get the truth out of this situation. Even without a recipt Im sure there is a big differance in the prices for a few shots and being put to sleep. There has to be a way to prove that someone is lying here.
How is Petra doing Sherry???
Coonie
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This is the craziest day I think I've ever had; twilight zoned. Petra has been sleeping almost all day. When I talk to her, she wags her tail and she gets up, but still shakes all over. They must have given her a lot of anesthesia. I've got blankets on her or she shakes like she's cold.
The vet that saw her today said she'll have to sleep it off. The drugs given was anesthesia and sedatives on top of the sedatives I gave her to take before I took her into the vet to have her euthanized. She said maybe I ought to think about keeping her; it's a "sign" but this vet has all this earth, moon and stars stuff all over her office.
I just have to have a few days to get thru this haze and think straight and see how Petra is going to react.
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I'm so, SO angry about the whole situation! >:( I'd love to have a royal, boiling over, stomping my feet temper tantrum in that #$%^^ vet's office. I've never, EVER heard of a more $%^& situation. WHO are these people???? GOD, I'm angry!!! POOOOR PETRA!!!! She just didn't deserve this! I'm totally flabbergasted!!!!
Poor YOU!!!
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In my wildest imaginings this couldn't happen. I need a nerve pill... :-\ I think I'll scrounge the house in my old purses and see if there are any left over from my surgery. :P
I have never gotten a receipt from my vet; they just write it all down on the "PET'S CARD" and keep record that way. The lady who found Petra last night and looked at Petra's collar found my phone number on Petra's collar, and tried to look up my card, tried to call one of the vets, then found Petra's card on the vet's desk. She called me to see what kind of treatment Petra had, because she didn't see a cage Petra came out of because there was no name of "PETRA" on any of the cages.
Petra waking up like that at that time she was there and the woman not reaching a vet and calling me - that was meant for some reason. When I literally picked up Petra, Petra wagged her tail a few times. Talk about feeling guilty...
I tried to call a few numbers and left my number. Hopefully I'll hear from some people and turn in this group of vets. My attorney called and said to let it go! He said the dog was going to be ok and the vets did no other harm, blah, blah, blah. He said suing them would be a small claims court issue and an animal cruelty issue and it's a no win issue on anyone's side. In other words, no big money involved for him. I don't care about the money side, but since that's his goal, he's not interested in a lawsuit. Apparently the attorney doesn't care about animals or the feelings of animal owners.
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When we had to put Sadie to sleep my Vet made me sign a permission slip saying that I authorize for them to perform the procedure! She told me that legally she couldnt do it until the paper was signed! Did you have to sign any documents like this? I hope this all works out and I would have to agree with everyone by saying this is a complete nightmare! I wish you and Petra the best!
cuttles
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Okay, so you say you have never gotten a receipt from your vet, well go get them for not keeping their paper in order. As a licensed vet. aswell as other medical facilities, they HAVE to give you a receipt, it is not optional, they need to show every bit of it in their books and is is "open book keeping" that is standard which means you have every single bit of information and evidence of costs and icome. I bet also if they never give receipts they have a highly unethical accountant.
And I cant believe the attorney, It is ILLEGAL for Gods sake, I would think an attorney would dive into something like this, because it is not only going to be a good bit of money for you, it is going to be press and publicity and that is something attorneys love.
And well the vet you went to who said it was no damage done, what planet did she come from?
Man I am getting more and more upset by the minute here
Marit
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I agree, I would call the police and find out about filing charges against them or maybe even call your local news channels and telling the story. There has to be something you can do about this. They are unethical on every level, from what they did to Petra to their blatant admission that it would be easy to cover up!! I would record any conversations I had with them and make records of all of your posts regarding Petra on this website as some evidence (it is all date and time stamped!)
Good Luck and I hope this vet pays!
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I am so sorry to read this & the other threads about Petra's & your last few days. This is just awful!
Check your state's gov't website for a Veterinary Board. Report this to them! Every (human) medical office is supposed to have a sign/notice about which Board to call with complaints, I can't imagine a vet office being any different. I would also get a different lawyer. This really sounds very illegal. You should have signed a consent that they gave you a copy of.... You should have gotten reciepts for any vet care given for whatever reason... If the state Vet Board isn't interested in your complaint (and even if they are), call your local TV station. Many of them have consumer advocate services and can help when no other services that are supposed to help this kind of gross negligence seem to care about it.
This is negligence. Is there a way to cite both vets for malpractice (I hate that word - but that is what this appears to be to me!) That other vet that said "no harm done" was just as much in the wrong as your original vet was!
Again, I'm so sorry this had to happen after all you & Petra have been through.
-lauriew
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I agree. Please, please find yourself another lawyer. Just the publicity that it will cause should be enough to get one interested.
This is definitely illegal in every sense of the word. Just like human doctors, vet's cannot perform any procedure without your permission. In the same way, they must perform the services that you paid for. I find it highly suspicious that they never give you a receipt for paid services, nor have you sign anything for a euthanasia. Euthanasia's need a signed waiver by the owner so that the vet won't get in trouble for putting the animal to sleep if the owner changes their mind later, or tries to sue for wrongful death.
Please keep us updated as to who you are contacting. Get ahold of as many organizations as possible so you can cover all avenues, and leave no stone unturned. This vet made a horribly illegal and unethical mistake, and he and his staff (besides the night person who notified you) should be punished. Obviously some staff must have known what he was doing. And I agree wtih what someone else said. That he has probably done this before, as he seems to think he can get away with it.
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Sherry
What is going on with Petra?? We would love to know if she is doing OK. I know there were a few things said that likely didnt sound too nice but I think all of this was really stressing everyone out. I cant imagine what you must be going through. You should come on and defend yourself. If you never say anything and leave us all hanging then everyone will figure all of this was a lie. As you said " How could anyone make something like this up?"
Hope Im not offending anyone I would really like to know how Petra is doing.
Coonie
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Coonie, it looks like smohr has pulled off the site. Neither she nor Petra are listed any more..... :-\
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Thanks Newf
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I think that her feelings were very hurt. I feel bad for her, and I hope that she makes it through this very rough time. Sending good vibes to her and Petra and praying for them both.
Nina :)
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I'm sad too. The whole situation is very, very sad, and confusing and overwhelming and unbelieveable! The one I feel saddest for is Petra....poor, poor Petra!!! I hope she finds peace somehow! :'(
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Sorry if I sound insensitive, but this whole topic is just getting old. I've never seen any other topic go on this long without any sort of conclusion. The whole story is weird, I've read most of the posts and talked to a couple people about it and it's just too much drama for me. Smohr, I hope you get some sort of resolution out of it and can move on. I guess this is a case where Truth really is stranger than Fiction. I'll just stick to the dog pictures and fun stuff, uh, 'tis the Season to be Jolly? ???
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oh mi goodness that is so sad.