Am I wrong to feel so bitter and angry?

[Marydoll]

No need to defend the employers, it is their responsibility to train staff and to employ a suitable person, it is not difficult to asses if a client [a person who help to keep them in employment] is stressing out about an animal, I would NOT use a practice which was not available 24/7.

I agree, but you cant blame the vets in this instance if they didnt know

 

[Marydoll]

Personally the last thing I'd have done with a dying bird is troll it round to the vets. I'd have necked it quietly and calmly at home without adding to its suffering.

RIP goose.

Not everyone can, or would want to do this which is why the op went to the vets

 

[Jemima_P]

So sorry to hear this. Must have been awful.
I would be angry too and shouted at a receptionist not long ago that left our old cat (mauled by dog) 20 mins in a waiting room dying while they treated a dog with a small cut!
Our current vet is brilliant. Even though his practice isn't 24hr, he gave us his mobile number to call anytime of the night. He also checked my pony with lami every day for a week, no charge and he's now good as new. (1st vet opinion was PTS)

Definitely write to them when you're up to it.

 

[Goldenstar]

You must write to the practise at once .
It is receptionist syndrome and is common everywhere where health is involved .
I had a similar thing but not in a such a serious situation some years ago my old dog had a bad heart and I stupidly ran out of pills ( a very common drug in small animal practice) I ran to order some and was told they needed 24 hours notice so I asked them if they had them in stock and she said yes but it was there protocol that they took 24 hours to do it I told her it was not the NHs and was a customer and I did not accept that she refused to have the pills ready before 24 hours at that point I thought I was seriously going to lose it and let myself down so I said thank you and hung up.
I had the mobile number of one of the senior equine vet and seeing our bills at that time where circa £12000 per year whenI had calmed down a bit I rang and said can you help me and explained what had happened she said leave it with me,
Within two minutes the senior small animal vet rang me back and said what time would it suit you to pick the pills and when I went he apologised said it should never have happened and the person involved would be retrained.
The recepionists are cautious with me now and where hostile for a while and I am still glad when the person involved is not there when I go in.
I take no crap from them now but I never lost my temper and the other person did whenI just kept saying I would not accept waiting 24 hours that gave me the moral high ground.
I would write in the first instance keep a copy and if you don't get a satisfactory response I would write to the royal college . Vets must give certain service to be in practise and emergency cover is part of that.
I am so sorry your goose did not have the end she deserved but write and have your say and stop it happening to someone else.

 

[Nettle123]

So sorry about your poor goose. Definately a letter to the Senior Partner. I would be livid too.

 

[milesjess]

Go to your local paper and see if they'll do the story... I certainly would as that is disgusting!

 

[Holidays_are_coming]

I would be so angry too, defo write a letter, I'm very lucky my vets receptionists are amazing, 9 times out of 10 they know it's me calling it gives the practice such a good atmosphere and they always ask after my other animals! That's what all practices should strive to have

 

[Goldenstar]

Go to your local paper and see if they'll do the story... I certainly would as that is disgusting!

It depends if OP wants to maintain a working relationship with the practise and seek prevent this happening in the future or whether she what's to embrass them because of a sense of bitterness.
People rarely amend there behaviour when they are in defensive mode I am not saying that it would not serve them right if she did write to the press but writing to them in the first instance is more likely to produce the best result this not happening to someone esle.

 

[FairyLights]

You need to write to the Royal Collage of Veterinary Surgeons and complain otherwise they will get away with not attending.

 

[My_Eeyore]

It depends if OP wants to maintain a working relationship with the practise and seek prevent this happening in the future or whether she what's to embrass them because of a sense of bitterness.
People rarely amend there behaviour when they are in defensive mode I am not saying that it would not serve them right if she did write to the press but writing to them in the first instance is more likely to produce the best result this not happening to someone esle.

I agree with Goldenstar although if it was me, if I had another option I would change vets.

So sorry about your goose, what an awful experience for both of you. I had a very similar experience with a chicken and with hindsight wish i had just left her with her friends too. Its so difficult as you just want to put them out of their misery :-(

 

[Spyda]

I wonder if they would have reacted differently had it been a very ill dog you'd walked in with? Expect so.

 

[HashRouge]

I can't believe this!! I thought vets were supposed to care about animals
Surely they wouldn't have minded their meeting being interrupted if it was to help an animal?!? I can't believe the receptionist wouldn't go and get one of them!!! I would complain if I were you - make it 100% clear why you are taking your business elsewhere because that is just not on

 

[Dubsie]

It is a shame you were treated like this but unfortuantely what is urgent to one person is not to another, and it must be difficult for a receptionist with little veterinary knowledge to know which is which.

 

[Spyda]

It is a shame you were treated like this but unfortuantely what is urgent to one person is not to another, and it must be difficult for a receptionist with little veterinary knowledge to know which is which.

Better to err on the side of caution I would have thought, though.

 

[Marydoll]

It is a shame you were treated like this but unfortuantely what is urgent to one person is not to another, and it must be difficult for a receptionist with little veterinary knowledge to know which is which.

I agree, and thats why the receptionist should have asked a nurse to assess, who in turn l hope would have interupted the vets at "the meeting" to see to the bird.

 

[spottybotty]

I work as a veterinary receptionist and I am appalled at what happened to you! 0) I would loose my job if I did that to a client! Please write a letter of complaint to the head of the practice. If that does not get you a response right to the RVC.

 

[Ranyhyn]

That's why these practises should strive to employ receptionists with a good knowledge of animals!

 

[OWLIE185]

I was very sorry to read of the treatment you received by this veterinary practice.
The veterinary surgeons are resposible for the training and actions of anyone within their employment during their working hours.
Veterinary surgeons have to provide 24/7 emergency care or deputise it to another practice or locum.
I would write a letter addressed to the principle of the practice headed 'Private and Confidential' and explain the situation that occured.
If you do not receive a satisfactory response then contact the disiplinary committee of the Royal Veterinary College and make a formal complaint and they will be happy to investigate the matter.

 

[Archangel]

I would be very angry and write a letter, clearly the receptionist was not trained in how to deal with an emergency or overstepped her authority. She should have got your goose seen quickly by a nurse and then interupt a meeting or a lunch. I had a similar thing with a cat. Given the benefit of hindsight I would have just stayed at home with him and comforted him in his final minutes but I had to make a snap decision and he was very distressed and I just wanted to help him, just like you did with your goose. I'm so sorry, it must have been absolutely horrid.

 

[monkeybum13]

Whether the receptionist knows what to do with a goose is irrelevant, you don't need to know the anatomy of a goose to alert one of the vets that there is an emergency. Meeting or no meeting I expect the vets would treat the goose if they were told.

OP I am very sorry to hear your story and its perfectly acceptable to be bitter and angry, a letter to the surgery would be my first plan of action.

 

[Fantasy_World]

I agree that the receptionist did not act in the best interest of the bird and TBH I would be quite horrified if someone was employed at the front of house situation at a veterinary practice and could not recognise an emergency when presented with one.
Shame on that person! If it was me employed there, meeting or no meeting I would have bitten the bullet and gone in and asked for assistance.
What a pity this person did not have the same ethical code!
As for the rather tactless comments of why didn't you neck the bird yourself and an explanation on how to do it, FFS have a bleeding heart will you!
Now is neither the time or the place to preach your views or a post a detailed explanation of how to dispatch a bird. We are on a horse forum and this is not an edition of a poultry breeders weekly FGS!
OP I am very sorry to hear about your bird and I reward you for your efforts in trying to give her dignified and painless death. Please don't beat yourself up over this though as you tried what you could for your pet and that is what matters. I would have done exactly the same in the circumstances. Hugs ((( ))) x

 

[Dolcé]

Personally the last thing I'd have done with a dying bird is troll it round to the vets. I'd have necked it quietly and calmly at home without adding to its suffering.

RIP goose.

Necking a goose is very different to necking a hen, it is not something I have ever done and I wasn't about to start practising alone with a bird that was already suffering. I also wasn't 100% sure that she had to be culled, I was hoping the vet would tell me I was wrong about just how ill she was, the birds are pets first and foremost and see a vet when they are ill just like the other pets do. I must admit I wish I had just called out the horse vets so yes, there is plenty of guilt there for me to carry - does that make you feel better!

 

[Dolcé]

It depends if OP wants to maintain a working relationship with the practise and seek prevent this happening in the future or whether she what's to embrass them because of a sense of bitterness.
People rarely amend there behaviour when they are in defensive mode I am not saying that it would not serve them right if she did write to the press but writing to them in the first instance is more likely to produce the best result this not happening to someone esle.

I don't want to maintain a working relationship with them, I will never set foot in the place again BUT I do think the most effective thing as far as the receptionist is concerned is a letter of complaint. I wouldn't even consider going to the press and agree with what you are saying, it isn't about embarrassing them, it is about making sure nobody else/no other animal ever gets the same treatment.

 

[rhino]

I don't want to maintain a working relationship with them, I will never set foot in the place again BUT I do think the most effective thing as far as the receptionist is concerned is a letter of complaint. I wouldn't even consider going to the press and agree with what you are saying, it isn't about embarrassing them, it is about making sure nobody else/no other animal ever gets the same treatment.

I think that's a good plan OP. I also agree with you re: necking geese. Hens and smaller ducks are 'easy' with Dee's methods, but larger ducks (Aylesbury's etc) and geese are NOT that easy and I would not choose to neck one myself again. I am pretty sure I'd have done the same as you in the circumstances. RIP goose

 

[Ladydragon]

Outraged on your behalf, hugs your way, I would be making a serious complaint!

This...

Unacceptable! I would put in a formal complaint to their governing body too (Royal College of Vet Med, I think!) Just cc the RC with letter of complaint. That should make them sit up and take notice!!

And I would probably also do this...

Maybe it was the receptionist getting above herself but the vets (partners) are responsible for the behaviour of their staff... And ensuring an animal brought to them isn't left suffering in breach of the law and basic morality...

I'd be hopping mad...

 

[Janah]

My OH 'did' poultry at college many years ago. He killed many a hen but he said although he could despatch a goose he would not want to. Different ball game.

I really feel for the OP.

 

[vieshot]

I would be switching to a different vets and writing them a strongly worded letter to explain why! May even consider writing to the paper tbh!

 

[rockysmum]

Good god Heather, which vet was it, PM me as I hope its not one I use.

Its not the practice that wouldn't come out to your foal when it got caught in the fence is it. I remember that one wouldn't do weekend call outs.

Cant believe how things have changed, I used to really trust my vets when I was younger, seems there are more and more bad ones around these days.

 

[cellie]

No you are not wrong at all to feel bitter and angry, anyone would. We put our trust in our vets to do the right thing in an emergency especially - as this clearly was.

A stern letter you should send, I think ... but wait a few days until you're less angry as it will have more impact and come across as more reasonable devoid of intense emotion.

Are your vets so arrogant and tyrranical that they frighten their receptionist? It sounds so but if not, the silly cow will require additional training in how to deal with emergency procedures.

as above couldnt have put it any better

 

[DragonSlayer]

Unacceptable! I would put in a formal complaint to their governing body too (Royal College of Vet Med, I think!) Just cc the RC with letter of complaint. That should make them sit up and take notice!!

This.