ABUSIVE VISITORS

Re: ABUSIVE VISITORS

Fiona Leathers — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:36:51 GMT

When I read your first post Mary, I first thought that these people were out of line and understood where you were coming from. I did have to look up your profile to see that you weren't in a British vets.

I think the other posts are more worried about the treatment of the animal, rather than the abuse you took - which is wrong. No member of staff should be subjected to abuse.

British people are definitely a nation of animal lovers and wouldn't walk past an ill or injured animal if they could help it, BUT a lot of the public don't realise how expensive it can be to treat an animal.

I can fully understand why you request payment - we do the same - we will give first aid treatment but we do try to recoup fees from either the police or charities - which is getting harder and harder to do.

Re: ABUSIVE VISITORS

Mary Lyle — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:20:34 GMT

OOH I really didnt realise what a stir I might cause.

First I better explain we are in a fairly countryfied part of inland Spain. About 7 per cent of our clients are english speaking.

Locally we have not only abandoned dogs but a sizeable feral population.

There are a few charities but they tend to operate mostly nearer coastal regions and have dealings with specific vets.

The local authority will pay for animals to be put down ONLY if they themselves bring them in. This happens ocasionally when the streeet cleaners or the engineers department find animals.

If we were to offer any treatment free of charge we would be SWAMPED with well meaning people trying to get rid of the ferals. We have already had people trying to leave unwanted animals with us.

We do have telephone numbers for Vets who work with charities, the charities themselves and of course for the pound which will take in healthy unwanted animals.

Cats are looked upon as vermin while rabbits are nearly always for eating.

Like most of you I would prefer to treat the animal however as you can see it is an impossibility.

When it comes to abandoned animals the prime offenders are the British themselves. Fed up with a life in the sun. They pack up and go home leaving behind a collection onf dogs and cats that they have "saved" but cant be bothered to get passports for. I have lost count of the number of animals brought in, screened for microchips only to find out they are unregistered british animals!

Re: ABUSIVE VISITORS

sisterscope1 — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:41:23 GMT

I sympathise with your situation, nobody should be subjected to a barrage of abuse from anyone and I would be tempted to deck them, professional issues aside - however, I do also sympathise with the "finders" of the stray. The fact they were prepared to bring it to the vets to me speaks volumes, so many could walk away. I think they did the responsible thing. What were they expecting? Would I pay for the treatment of a stray animal, no. Euthanasia is a treatment option within RCVS guidlines. So, the moral dilema - does the practice PTS an otherwise 'healthy' animal because nobody is prepared to foot the bill? Is it better to rehabilitate a 1 yo RTA as compared to a 15 yo 1 legged cat with renal failure? Animal charities, sorry, but you get it wrong....a lot! There are so many degrees of morality, limp squirrels to dogs with brain tumours - there's always a treatment option, who's right...you decide...call 0800 180 230 your call will be held in a queue after 3 attempts of phoning, you'lll never actually know if you've done what you want to do yet you'll feel better after 35 hours of trying... NB feeling guilty and being prepared to foot the bill are two completely different scenarios!

Re: ABUSIVE VISITORS

christinam — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:20:52 GMT

ohh, like to point out, like most private practices that have responded here. WE treat strays!!! Think we have to by rcvs law, def when concerns wildlife. You give emergency treatment, even if this means euthansia.

Like to point out my boss has had to swollow the bills for a stray cat with infected wound (plus food while it stayed with us ( not including cleaning out/ littrer fees), domestic vol client catery fees overnight, a dog that as so far needed 2 fracture repairs, xrays, vaccs, chip, ETC and a puppy with tetanus, which apart from a lot food, has needed stupid amounts of drugs!! And this has happened all in the last 2 monhs.

Yes, hes too scared to say no to me(!), but he does have a heart!!!

Re: ABUSIVE VISITORS

Steph Worsley — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:45:46 GMT

I think I need to point out that the OP is working in Spain not here in the UK so maybe things are different over there regarding payment and treatment of "strays"

Re: ABUSIVE VISITORS

Nikki Graef — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:46:35 GMT

And kicking him is going to make him oh so much more likely to treat her cat!!!

Seriously i wonder what goes through peoples heads sometimes

Re: ABUSIVE VISITORS

loobylou — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:38:00 GMT

We would provide emergency first aid and try the charities for help.

Agree that violence is becoming more of an issue, I have been at my practice for almost 10 years and apart from the odd client getting a bit mouthy we havent had any problems. In last few weeks we have had a few incidents including us having to call the police after a client kicked our vet after a dog barked at her and she blew her top. She kicked him cos he said he didnt think it was a good idea to treat her cat after her outburst!!

Re: ABUSIVE VISITORS

les punton — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:24:16 GMT

I sorry to hear that you had to put up with this verbal abuse and hopefully the dog was ok in the end?

However I do feel that not ALL Brits should be tarred with the same brush. I know many many brits who are just lovely.

Re: ABUSIVE VISITORS

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:13:46 GMT

We are supposed to treat strays.....emergency first aid, and I would never ask or expect the memeber of the public to foot the bill!!!, still no excuse for their swearing, but I reckon I would be pretty angry too if I had been a good samaritan, then asked to foot a bill for an injured animal that was not even mine.

Re: ABUSIVE VISITORS

Jo Mackenzie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:02:26 GMT

We will give emergency first aid and pain relief i.e. we'll stabilise it and make it comfortable, but we won't do any more without either finding the owner or getting a reference number from the USPCA, Cats Protection or another charity (and finding out how much they will contribute)

Re: ABUSIVE VISITORS

Sally Seddon — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:54:35 GMT

we can treat strays but always try to get a log number from the rspca.

its disgusting that people think they can talk to others that way. i was always taught to treat others as you like to be treated. i think i would of called the police to be honest. before i worked in the surgery where i am now a man was arrested for threatening a member of staff and kicking one of the consulting room doors in a fit or rage

Re: ABUSIVE VISITORS

Kerry Spain — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:54:30 GMT

I thought we had to treat all emergencies too?

Anyway, this is no excuse for being abused in such a manner, I for one am sick of it and this is not the first thread on the forum about abusive clients.

We have a no holes barred policy at work now this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated!

I've been threatened physically and verbally over the last 16 years, one of the worst things I had to endure was a weekend on my own years ago where a man kept calling the surgery and threatening to kill me if I tried to leave!!

I've been smacked in the face too and in a few scuffles.

Sad isn't it...

Re: ABUSIVE VISITORS

Nikki Graef — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:42:49 GMT

I thought we were obliged to provide first aid treatment for "stray" animals?

I know the RSPCA wont pay for dogs but i thought we could then claim back a similar figure ie around £70 from the dog warden/council or whomever they work for?

Obviously there is no excuse for foul language etc that these people gave to you, but then it doesnt surprise me given some of the people in this country!! But we cant expect members of the public to pay for animals that they find on the street.

What do other people do in this situation?

At my practice we used to just treat them FOC and claim back what we could but usually the practice would absorb the cost