Dr. Martin,

This is in regards to the attached letter you sent your former employee, Katy Kirkner, after her dramatic termination from Midtown Veterinary Clinic in December 2004.

I felt some responsibility for what occurred, so I feel it necessary to respond.

I want to acknowledge that I requested the vaccine records on the cats that I brought to your clinic for the past year and a half. When I worked as a receptionist in your practice, I was taught that if a client requested only a vaccine history, it was perfectly acceptable to give them a printed or verbal report, without a formal request.

You are free to look through my records. You will see that at least two of my cats are due for their vaccines. I thought it entirely reasonable to ask an employee to copy them for me when I spoke with her the evening prior. I’m sorry this caused such an unnecessary incident.

While it may be none of my business, I do feel that when someone sits by and watches an injustice, they too, are at fault. I was stunned at your opinion of Katy and her ethics. Katy is one, out of two employees, that Midtown had that was even remotely trained for the job she was doing. I stopped bringing my cats to your clinic as soon as the capable employees began to leave. While you’re doling out ethical advice and preaching that “your patients come first” and that they “are most important”, looking at Midtown’s hiring, employee policies, and above all, the treatment of its patients, should be of top priority to you.

I am truly surprised that you misunderstood the situation as well as what goes in at the clinic. You worked very hard all those years to make Midtown like something out of a “James Harriot” book, but with the current lack of competency and concern in every aspect of the clinic, I feel your time spent will be in vain.

I chose to terminate my employment for the very same reasons Katy has listed in her response to you. When one thinks of working in a veterinary setting, caring, concern, cleanliness and above all, ethics, comes to mind. I’m disappointed to say that nearly none of those principals were seen by me. The “deal breaker” came when I witnessed Dr. Thomas demonstrate to one of the employees in the back how to “dominate a Chihuahua”. That act alone was enough to send me searching for a new job. While every job has its highs and lows, neglect and cruelty are never something to compromise over.

If you ask almost all the employees that have ended their employment at Midtown in the last year and a half, you’ll find this an exceedingly common reason.

While I’m not confident this letter will change anything at Midtown, I felt it necessary to clear Katy’s name as much as I could. I would trust ANY of my cats to Katy’s judgment. That says a lot for me.

Please accept this as my formal request to have all of my records copied and forwarded to Central Avenue Animal Clinic, 167 N Aviador Street, Building A, Camarillo, CA 93010.


Sincerely,

...

My concerns:

*The scary office manager knows where I live as she used to live in the same complex. I'm afraid she'll tell on us regarding the number of cats we have. I don't know if adding my opinions will make her mad...she WILL read this...enough to want revenge.

Other idea:

*My friend Katy has a brother that works at a very high profile law firm. Instead of putting the new vet clinic's name and address, I'd like to put the law firm's information instead, with her brother's consent, of course. I think this might "scare" them enough to leave me and my cats alone and to promptly send my records.

What do you think???