Regarding waiting for a dr. appt, I call ahead and ask how they're running, if they're behind or on time. If they say 'behind', I ask how far and if the answer is, say, 15 minutes, then I tell them that I'll be 15 minutes late. I will not sit in a dr's office and wait. I realize there are emergencies but aside from that, there's no reason to leave us sitting there. I used to do the same thing w/my old vet, too, but this one is on the ball and I've never had to wait. I started this practice when a dr. kept me waiting for a ridiculously long time only to find out that two other people in the lobby had the same appt. time. I sent him a bill for my time. He didn't pay it, of course, but he got the point. I didn't go back to him anyhow, though, but I felt good after sending that bill.