Chaos at the vet's office...

Sorry you had to go through this Moosmom but I'm glad your cat seems to be back to normal. I agree there should be a plan in action since this could repeat itself at any given time. I think the techs should have been coached about such incidents and should know how to break fights up without using a carrier with a cat inside.
The stupidity of some people never ceases to amaze me. I just can't believe someone would actually take a dog aggressive dog to the vet's without a muzzle. I'm also surprised at the techs. If this had happened at my vet's the owner of that rottie would have been asked to take the dog out and they would have handed the lady a muzzle. As for being a rescue I don't think that kind of dog belongs in a home where it could hurt someone. And that doesn't mean I'm against rotties, I rather like them but not this kind.

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Originally Posted by momcat

One would think a vet's office would have some standard proceedure to resolve things like this rather than reach for the nearest thing occupied by someone's pet!

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I was thinking the same thing, I would be VERY UPSET if MY cat had been in that carrier! :eek::mad:

and, if a known aggressive dog has an appt. the person on the phone should tell the owner to be sure to muzzle the dog before coming in, and the staff at the vet's office should be trained to know what to do in that case.

I have a feeling that after this incident, they may change their policy on muzzling dangerous dogs, like this one. I say dangerous only after looking it up online. The #1 dangerous dog is the pitbull, #2 being the rottie. The Alaskan Malamute is #9 on the list. *sigh*:rolleyes: Hey, I didn't make this stuff up.

I hope that they DO change their policies. I know that you love and trust this vet. But I have changed vets for less. I have used the Hodes group for over 30 years, and I still love the vets he get in that specialize in cats, they have all been wonderful. We still go there for any thing major. BUT since his facility is set up that he could have a separate entrances for cats and dogs, but does not I have started using other vets. The building had an edition put on to make a larger waiting and office counter, the old one on the other side is still there, so it would be easy to separate. over the last 2 1/2 years I've have switched to 2 other vats that have separate entrances, now my babies are not as stressed when we have a visit.
By the way Bart is still just a big lover, Demitri is getting a little chubby and is my lover, Precious (Pretty girl) is mine all the way, Did you know that she is deaf. She likes to sleep on my chest in the evening and will growl, hiss, and dig her nails in when I try to move her, but she gives great kisses and hugs.

for one the person holding the rottie was way irresponsible.. seeing the dog plunged at every dog coming around the corner..the dog should have been muzzled.. it was something you can see coming as an owner...

second.. Maya´s crate with or without her in.. shouldn´t have been used.. it´s YOUR property not theirs.. I do understand fast decisions but perhaps a note should be sent to prevent anything like this in the future...

fortunately the cage didn´t popped.. the door or the whole thing.. I can´t even think what would´ve happened...

and last.. what if the carrier had a smaller creature like a bird... with the shake and bump it could have killed it...

I called the vet hospital and the Malamute went home yesterday and is fine. They're trying to say that the owner of the malamute was at fault for having their dog on a retractable leash, that the rottie was just sitting there minding his own business. BULL!! That's what I told them. That rottie was lunging at every dog that rounded the corner. That shut them right up. Tracy didn't know what to say.

How they can possibly blame that malamute after it was an unprovoked attack is beyond me. Now I hope that the malamute's owner takes action against the rescue organization AND the hospital.

I asked Tracy why they didn't have a plan in place should it happen again. Her response was that it rarely happens. RARELY HAPPENS? It shouldn't have happened at all!!! She kept making excuses and apologizing for what happened, when in fact, they could've taken precautions to prevent it!:mad: I told her that I couldn't believe that the vet tech didn't know my cat was in the carrier. Turns out I was blaming the wrong vet tech. The one who hit the dog with my carrier is a newbie.

The ignorance of the employees at my vet hospital shocks me. I just might look into a new vet.

GILL,

I didn't know PG was deaf!:eek: I'm so glad she's with you. She's in wonderful hands. Dimitri deserves to be a butterball!!

I'm so sorry this all happened and I agree, the bottom line is the rottie needed a muzzle.

I've used the same vet for over 20 years, and, as far as I know, there is no policy in place for muzzles. I might ask, though, next time. There is a policy on cages for cats and small dogs. There is no way they could have separate entrances without reconstructing the front of the building. If they do take in aggressive dogs in the back it is not to my knowledge.

All this has made me think I should ask some questions!

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Originally Posted by Husky_mom

and last.. what if the carrier had a smaller creature like a bird... with the shake and bump it could have killed it...

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very true! and, can you imagine what the poor cat thought as it was being thrown closer to that dog? kitty didn't know the cage was between her and the dog! she probably thought oh my God someone is pushing toward the dog:eek:

Paizly went to the vet tonight for her shots and I did ask what they would do in this situation. The girl I was talking to said it has happened once while she was there and she freaked out and started yelling toward the back for help. Partly because she was in the reception area and the dogs were in the dog area. There is a counter between. But she is also a cat person so she had no clue.
But I told her this story and she said she was definitely going to tell the story and see about having a plan of action. I'll probably ask (if I remember) each time I go in there.

Taz Zoe,

Thanks for the great tip. I'm still thinking about getting another vet. It seems that all my vet's office has done is make excuses. I don't like that.