| Veterinary medicine, like human medicine, has its | | | | emergency room with her little dog because he |
| share of good and bad practitioners but I've been | | | | was worse yet! "I was definitely having an |
| seeing an alarming trend in the area of veterinary | | | | anxiety attack," Hines said. |
| medicine. There was a time when vets treated | | | | Here the dog had been 'treated' and sent home |
| animals for the love of animals and because they | | | | twice to a total of $434, after Hines expressly |
| cared. Veterinary medicine had gotten as bad as | | | | told the vet that she was on a fixed income and |
| human medicine and in some ways even worse! | | | | could only afford $100. To me, a reputable vet |
| At least many people have medical insurance and | | | | would have done a little better at ascertaining the |
| there are programs for people who need medical | | | | situation and honestly let Hines know what was |
| care. For pets, yes, there is medical insurance | | | | wrong with the dog or if he didn't know, at least |
| available but compared to the numbers of pets, | | | | tell her that he would not be able to treat the dog |
| coverage is not wide spread yet. And yes, there | | | | within her financial restraints and allow her to see |
| are some low cost programs available but they | | | | if she could find other options. He would not have |
| are mostly spay/neuter programs and vaccination | | | | repeatedly 'treated' the dog, charged her and sent |
| programs. | | | | the dog home only to have her bring the dog |
| Veterinary medicine has turned into 'big business,' | | | | back for additional 'emergency' treatments! |
| revolving door, 'bottom line' watchers. Most vets | | | | This last time she was unable to pay the bill and |
| require 75% upfront payment for any kind of | | | | had to leave her little dog at the vet's office |
| surgical procedure and if there's any doubt about | | | | because, of course, they couldn't let her take him |
| paying the bill, which can easily mount in the | | | | home. Five days later Hines gets a letter in the |
| thousands of dollars, they won't touch your pet. | | | | mail. |
| Vet visits and surgery cost dog owners almost | | | | "Telling me that if I did not pay within 12 days, |
| $800 and cat owners $500 last year, according to | | | | they were going to kill the dog," Hines said. |
| the American Pet Products Manufacturers | | | | The actual wording of the letter was, "We intend |
| Association. And this is just an average! Few vets | | | | to dispose of the animal," wording taken directly |
| are willing to set up payment plans. | | | | from Texas law that allows vets to dispose of |
| I've come across several stories in the news | | | | abandoned animals. |
| lately that have really bothered me, vets holding | | | | The vet did say that contrary to Hines' belief |
| dogs 'hostage,' threatening 'death' over bills. People | | | | based on the wording 'dispose of the animal,' that |
| doctors don't even do anything like that, so how | | | | they try to find a home for the animal, not kill it! |
| can vets get away with it? Because animals are | | | | Luckily for Hines, before her little companion could |
| considered nothing but 'possessions?' | | | | be 'disposed' of, a friend paid off the vet bill and |
| Josh Gomez of Gwinnet, Georgia, say that his | | | | now she and Macho are reunited and she can |
| vet, Dr. Garry Innocent of PetFIRST Animal | | | | repay her friend over time. |
| Hospital in Duluth is holding his black border collie, | | | | That's two stories of pets being held 'hostage' |
| Pilot, hostage and is threatening to send him the | | | | with vets threatening to 'dispose' of them if they |
| an animal shelter where he could be euthanized. | | | | don't get their money. I have no doubt that |
| Gomez has already paid Innocent the agreed on | | | | Jacqueline Hines would have agreeably worked out |
| amount of $1,125 for the treatment of the pup's | | | | some kind of payment plan with the vet if that |
| virus in August. The next thing he knew there | | | | had been an option, after all, she's worked one |
| were all kinds of additional charges that had not | | | | out to repay her friend. |
| been agreed on. The bill jumped to $1,640 and | | | | And here's just one more. No dog is being held |
| has been increasing daily, with the vet holding the | | | | 'hostage' but because the owner couldn't pay |
| puppy, because of a $27 a day boarding charge. | | | | up-front, a dog in grievous pain was turned away |
| As of the 14th of September, Gomez owed | | | | at the door of numerous vets even though the |
| almost an additional $1000 over what he initially | | | | owner offered to set up payment plans with |
| agreed to pay Dr. Garry Innocent and PetFIRST | | | | them to get her dog treated. |
| Animal Hospital. As a 22 yr old, at home music | | | | Loraine Standifer of Fort Worth, Texas, was |
| teacher, Gomez says he just can't afford to pay | | | | moving and asked a friend to watch her |
| the outrageous charges. He's already run up $400 | | | | shepherd-mix dog, Amir. All was fine until one day |
| on his girlfriend's charge card and used a $750 | | | | her friend got home from work and found that |
| loan from his employer. | | | | someone had poured some corrosive liquid, like |
| And just what does Dr. Innocent have to say | | | | acid, on the dog's back. Standifer rushed over and |
| about this, "He's being such a twit, he just needs | | | | tried and tried to find a vet who would work out |
| to pay his bill." | | | | a payment plan for the extensive and costly |
| How's that for understanding and compassion? | | | | surgery that Amir would need. The dog was in |
| On Tuesday the vet plans to send Gomez's dog, | | | | pain but all the vets she contacted turned her |
| Pilot, to an animal shelter. Gomez has filed a | | | | down. |
| lawsuit in Gwinnett Superior Court this week to | | | | Luckily for her and Amir, the rescue group that |
| block Innocent and PetFIRST Animal Hospital from | | | | she adopted Amir from did put her in touch with |
| handing Pilot over to animal-control authorities. His | | | | a vet that actually did the surgery and cared for |
| lawyer, Ed McCrimmon, says the Georgia law is | | | | Amir for free. There actually are still some vets |
| unconstitutional because it enables pet clinics to | | | | out there who work from the heart rather than |
| take people's property without 'due process.' | | | | with wallet. |
| In another story from San Antonio, Texas, | | | | Veterinary salaries have risen, and newer |
| Jacqueline Hines rescued a little Chihuahua off the | | | | veterinarians are demanding higher starting salaries |
| streets. She was just being a Good Samaritan, | | | | before they even walk in the door. A new |
| helping an animal in need. And of course when the | | | | graduate will start at 60,000 dollars a year. Higher |
| little dog, who she named Macho, got sick, she | | | | end corporate practices will pay even more. |
| took him to the vet. | | | | Those practice owners earn in excess of 100,000 |
| Hines, a 76 year old widow on a fixed income, | | | | dollars a year. I do know that veterinary medicine |
| told the vet that she couldn't pay more than $100 | | | | has changed and become much more specialized. I |
| and the vet told her ok, treated the dog and | | | | realize that there are overhead costs and salaries |
| charged her $93. Sounds pretty good so far, | | | | and equipment but I also feel that medicine, |
| right? | | | | whether animal or human, should be practiced |
| Well the next morning Macho was even worse so | | | | from the heart and not the wallet. What would be |
| Hines took him back, another $341! | | | | the harm of adding a little compassion, at no |
| Then two hours later she was back in the | | | | charge? |