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Sal the 1st — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 20:48:48 GMT

to be really honest this poor vet was a case of damned if he did or damned if he don't - and my take on it is that it stopped being about the cat even before that initial post was made, its not about the cat its about money. I am surprised amongst all the 'google vets' on there somebody hasn't come across the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 - or maybe they have and choose to keep quiet on that one.

I just find this desperately sad that people have acted with the best intentions and in the best interests of this cat and this is what happens, I also find it desperately sad that a child has been used in an act of calculated emotional leverage - I hope that in time her lasting memories of a much loved pet are not blighted by having her picture plastered all over the papers and social media

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Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 19:02:28 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]BTW Arlo I see this is on vetsurgeon now but on the part that nurses have no access - would you please consider letting the nurse members of vetsurgeon have some access to some of the vet posts.[/quote]

Hi Sal,

Problem is that opening up vetsurgeon.org would raise all sorts of privacy/security issues - ie I would have little or no way of realistically hoping to police it.

[quote user="PSA-David"]it was the practice decision to provide emergency/ stabilising treatment for strays, unless they were too far beyond the point return. thus giving the owner at least 24 hours to locate any animals.[/quote]

David, isn't that fairly common practice? Genuinely interested. I mean, maybe that's exactly what PAH normally does, just that the humane decision for this cat, being as ill as it was, was to euthanise immediately.

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JaneRVN — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 17:17:30 GMT

Agreed David. Have always urged this in private practices I have been in. After working at the RSPCA it can take people weeks to trace a pet, and not always through lack of trying or lack of a paper trail.

there was a similar case with RSPCA many moons ago with untreated hyperthyroid cat. Owner screamed and shouted and went to national press but the history of neglecting to treat the pet was released.... By another party

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PSA-David — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 11:18:43 GMT

I am not going to make any comment on what has occurred with the above situation.

but I have experienced a similar situation previously. it was the practice decision to provide emergency/ stabilising treatment for strays, unless they were too far beyond the point return. thus giving the owner at least 24 hours to locate any animals. of which a lot of owners were really grateful even if only it gave them the chance to say goodbye. yes if the animal was reunited with their owner the practice swallowed the cost, as a bag of fluids, giving set and a shot of meds is not a bank breaker considering the mark up these days.

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Sal the 1st — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 20:00:41 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]This is SO spectacularly unfair on PAH and the vet concerned. Just awful[/quote]

definitely and I sure hope PAH are taking screen shots of some of the owners comments which are not only inciting people to commit acts of violence but also encouraging others to join the slanging match

'Can't wait til i know the full story!! Until then yas can all crack on with your half stories & your abuse wink emoticon'

and all this because they didnt fold to her demands to pay for a cremation (and why should they?)

I hope that if any of these allegations are proven to be false that they get as much coverage as the smear campaign that is going on.

BTW Arlo I see this is on vetsurgeon now but on the part that nurses have no access - would you please consider letting the nurse members of vetsurgeon have some access to some of the vet posts. There are two on there currently that I have been involved in (one a clinical case that I have put a lot of work into)and I would really like to be able to read what is being said rather than the edited highlights via a vet who is rushed off their feet and you don't want to push them too far by asking a lot of questions.

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Ems — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 18:23:46 GMT

What a horrible situation for everyone involved. I agree this shouldn't have been done so publicly.

I can totally see the vets point in this scenario, there are so many stray cats out there and since it had no ID what are you meant to do with a cat that's suffering? Renal failure is meant to be incredibly painful and how long would you wait for someone to come forward? Would they be willing to cover the costs of all his treatment (I understand the cats welfare is more important) Too many questions, will be interesting to what the outcome is.

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Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 18:11:44 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]I know it's purely being used to inflame emotions, but exactly where would the Metro suggest a deceased cat be kept?[/quote]

The airing cupboard?

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Mark Hedberg — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 16:22:27 GMT

I know it's purely being used to inflame emotions, but exactly where would the Metro suggest a deceased cat be kept?

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Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 16:04:39 GMT

And now the nationals have the story:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/heartbreaking-picture-girls-tearful-goodbye-5273463

http://metro.co.uk/2015/03/05/pets-at-home-kill-pet-cat-and-put-it-in-freezer-less-than-24-hours-after-he-went-missing-because-vet-couldnt-find-owners-5090014/

This is SO spectacularly unfair on PAH and the vet concerned. Just awful.

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Ben Ogden — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 15:36:10 GMT

This is a prime example of how social media can backfire for a business. Think of the resources Pets @ Home have spent in addressing this issue! A small independent practice wouldn't stand a chance keeping this under control.

This article has got ugly fast and sadly the 'animal loving' public will always jump on things like this in a knee jerk fashion. This will invariably drag the profession into a negative light but it its a uphill struggle everyday managing public perception when 'Vet TV Shows' give such a sensationalistic image of veterinary life. The advice I can give Pets at Home is stop feeding the trolls, they will always come back for more if you feed them.

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Sal the 1st — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 11:27:24 GMT

well I see the story is now being touted around thenational press now - wonder how much they are paying for it?

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Mark Hedberg — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 10:51:29 GMT

Yowch. Horrible situation.

The only problem with 'never euthanize within a certain period' is that while 'in pain' is an obvious yardstick, there are other non-painful conditions that can cause severe suffering - it's a massive minefield, as we can see here.

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Ellie P — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 10:47:01 GMT

A lot of questions here, some needing to be answered by the vets, some by the neighbour and some by the owner. Arlo, you make some interesting points but as always, its so hard to know the full truth.........

Interesting how the owner then starts to post pictures of the cat in almost like poses and how this was not actually dealt with privately but so publicly?!

Will be reading it later in more depth........

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Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 10:37:54 GMT

Oh my god.

Haven't read all the comments, but what a dreadful story. My thoughts in no particular order:

Think it is wrong to post a picture of your child so publicly (and in such distress).
Why was the cat not microchipped, Mrs Neeson?
Cat clearly very ill, and I assume that euthanasia was the right call. But from what I've read, it happened very quickly (20mins). Perhaps the moral of the story is never to euthanise within a certain period of the animal being brought in (unless in pain). 24hrs?

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Sal the 1st — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 10:34:56 GMT

or the shortened version that kicked the whole thing off

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=613530888777892&set=o.64543005371&type=1

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Sal the 1st — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 10:19:06 GMT

Julie Neeson story - just scroll down the comments you cant miss it.

https://www.facebook.com/petsathomeUK?fref=nf

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Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 09:54:00 GMT

[quote user="Sal the 1st"]I am sure some of you will have come across the PAH story doing the rounds yesterday[/quote]

Erm, I didn't! Can you post a link to something?