Hi all

I hope everyone is well.

Well what I witnessed at a veterinary practice sickened me to the core today. I thought I would tell you all about it as it should never have happened and I would like if possible some advice on which authority I should report this practice to as the particular womans behaviour was outrageous and she should never be allowed near animals!
I took my sisters cat to the vet for her as she was unable because of commuting to get her cat to the vet at the appointed time for his appointment. I had taken him yesterday and he had to go again today for blood tests. Arrived at the practice and sat in the waiting room. I noticed that under the desk was a dog which I can only presume was a "practice dog"? ( If there is such a thing) or maybe belonged to a member of staff I am not sure. A customer came in with her dog... on a lead as you do when visiting your vet. She spoke to the woman behind the desk and said she had an appointment for her dog for a check up. Yes the woman said its with me. At this point the dog who had been laying under the desk got up and walked round to the front into waiting room. No lead. The woman from desk shouts at dog "get back ere!" Dog flinches and returns behind the desk. The woman then walks round to examine visiting dog which from there conversation I can only imagine is a post op check as they are discussing creams tablets etc and how much she has left of each. She crouches down to look at dog for his check up and says to owner "right to have a look at him we need to lay him down and roll him over so I can see!" This is is in middle of waiting room with several people waiting, me with a cat and two other people with dogs! The practive dog  pokes his nose out from under desk, receptionst (well I guess probably nurse as she is examining dog) Shouts at dog through gritted teeth "Get back!!!!!" Dog cowers and backs off, i am not feeling happy about the way she is talking to dog but bite my tongue. Few minutes later the dog cant stand it any more and comes out into waiting room to have a look, again the woman shouts get back get back there, get back!!! Dog does not listen and steps forward wanting to sniff other dog. At this point she shouts at the dog "WILL YOU GET BACK THERE!!!" She proceeds to push her hand into the dogs face and shoves him backards so he goes skidding across the floor and cowers back behind the desk. I am shaking with rage at this point not quite believing what I am seeing. The dog again sticks his head out from under desk so woman gets up shouting at him goes behind desk grabs hold of dog and drags it off into a backroom. She comes back and carries on examining the other dog!!!!! At this point I get called through to see vet. I go into get bloods done thinking I cant wait to get out of here (an take that poor dog if I could) the vet after scrabbling through draws and cupboards says oh dear cant take X type of blood as I dont have the right vials for you to take to hospital!!!!! ( I should point out I had offered to take blood samples to vet hospital to get analysed to save some time, cat v sick) I will have to use different ones which you cant take and I will have to post them!!!! UNREAL! The appointment was at 6pm. They had known it was for bloods did someone not think to have things stocked?!At this point she goes off to get help to take the blood. In walks the cruel nurse! She is ranting and moaning about dog vet said whats wrong and she said oh he was being naughty so I shut him out the back!..... That was it for me I told her that the way she had just treated that dog was appalling and there was absolutely no need for such cruelty. She looked at me and said "Well I disagree"  I told her that "For a dog to do as its told you do NOT need to shout and shove him around what the hell did you think you were doing!!!??? She said "oh right well actually he was about to bite the dog I was examining so you think I should have let him do you " I told her of course not but why on earth was she doing a post op check in the middle of a waiting room and if she knew the dog was likely to bite other dogs why on earth was it there among sick animals which would not be in the best of moods in all likelyhood free to wander around it should have been on a lead.... She told me not to be ridiculous!!!! NOONE but NOONE has the right to lay their hands on a dog and bully it like that its sickening enough but at the VETS of all places!!!!! Sure as hell did not make me feel I was at a kind and caring practice. The vet meanwhile stood and said NOTHING! Bully said do you want help with this cat or what...thats if she will let me touch it (meaning me) Vet cant get carrier out of basket anyway cat starts panting, bully leaves room. Vet says to me cat is distressed he has started panting, I dont want to upset him anymore because of his heart murmer if he collapses we dont have oxygen here to recusitate!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!.... I left and rang my vet, he is booked in tomorrow.
Sorry I have rambled but this woman is beyond contempt! Who on earth thought she could be trusted with animals. I have written to practice manager but I feel more should be done it makes me sick to my stomach......and that poor wee dog :-(
Any thoughts on what steps to take from here would be appreciated. I guess there must be some form of governing body?
Thanks
Lou Lou

[url=]
http://www.rcvs.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=92575&int2ndParentNodeID=89737&int1[/url]

http://www.provet.co.uk/Petfacts/Dissatisfied%20with%20your%20Veterinarian.htm

Above links will help. How awful. I would be furious if I had been treated in the totally unprofesional way you did with the cat. As to examining a dog in the middle of a waiting room...(((roll eyes))). The lose dog should not be allowed to wander round, it could cause all sorts of problems but the way this woman treated him. Well. :(

As many of us have said, vets and those who work there, (exceptions to those on here) know very little about dog behaviour. 

Some people are very strict with their animals, I commend you for speaking out to her face to face with what happend. :-)

Shouting in a practise is likely to upset other animals there,  the poor dog being examined whilst hearing the nurse shout at the dog must have been feeling extremely nervous aswell, and it was extremely unproffessional to examine a dog in the reception area, short staffed or not. The dog concerned would be better off in the kennels for the day rather than being asked to be a carpet rug under the reception desk, obviously not wanted there, when it purely was not the sort to just lounge around with no interest in what is going on.

If a dog were every misunderstood it is that one.

I would never return to that vet, but agree you should report this incident, if not for the sake of the dog not being brought to a place where it is treated as a hinderance.

Good on you for speaking up :)

You did well, I would have my lost my temper completely I think.
I would complain to the practise manager, their head ofice and the RSPCA, no dog deserves to be treated like that and her behaviour and attitude was disgusting.

Good for you for standing up to the bully.  No animal should be treated poorly.

And this vet nurse, shouldnt have examined a dog in the waiting room, espeically with it having to be on its back on the floor.  Such a vulnerable position for a dog!!! 

I would steer clear from this vet practise!!  It looks as though, even though it shouldnt have happened, that the actual vet was to much of a coward to say anything to the vet nurse!!!

well done you for speaking out! first things first, get your sis to get a new vet! then definaely make a complaint

good for you speaking up. i would of too, that poor dog cant imagine what home life he must have and dont think i want to.

Hi all

Thanks for your replies. Many thanks to you Calm Storm for the links, I am going through the complaints procedure with RCVS!!! For the sake of that poor dog I will not let this go!!!!! If I ever get through to the RSPCA I shall be telling them too!
The good news is I took my sisters cat to MY vet yesterday, he has had his blood tests my sister now knows what his problem is and she has the correct medicine for him so a happy ending on that score!!!!
I will keep you posted and hopefully this awful woman will learn the hard way you DO NOT treat animals like that.
Regards
Lou