commonsensepolice

Okay…so I’ve been a slacker lately, and I do apologize. There have been a few new developments:
1) I’ve named the new parakeet. I’ve named her Mina…extra points to anyone who can figure out who she was named after. It took me five days to name her. I guess I was reluctant to name her since I lost Chloe so quickly. I finally buckled down and named her.
2) Mina doesn’t like pellet. Actually, she threw all of it out of her dish in a fit of anger. I bought her parakeet seed and mixed it with pellet. She ate that only because she was starving, and then threw it out of the dish. I want her on a pellet diet, but I also want her to not starve. I called the store I bought her from, found out what they were feeding her, and went to the local pet store and bought it. You would have though she died and went to heaven. The boys will eat the other seed, and I can start the transition to pellet now that she is actually eating.
3) I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau about the Emergency Animal Clinic. I do not expect a refund. I just want someone to know what they are doing and an explanation:
Business Info
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Complaint status:
Activity
Date Activity Description
09/22/2008 Notify Business of Dispute - Member
09/22/2008 Send Acknowledgement to Consumer
09/22/2008 Case Reviewed by BBB - Member
09/22/2008 Case Received by BBB

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Case Description: I took my parakeet to the clinic and they gave her tests and treatments I did not authorize, and even when they knew she would probably not make it through the night they gave additional unauthorized treatments and advised hospitalization. Upon further questioning, the doctor admitted my parakeet was in worse shape than she had initially told me.

They claim it is a $75 fee upfront, but the owner will be given an estimate for any additional treatments or tests. I was not given an estimate at any point, nor did the vet ask if I authorized the tests or treatment. I know avian vet care is expensive and I was ready for a high bill, but when the treatments were given with out my consent and when the vet knew there was not hope, that is unethical.

This clinic has done this before, just no one has complained about it. They prey on the emotions of the pet owners to make money. They started treatments on my parakeet BEFORE they sat down to talk with me about options! Tell me how that is fair to the bird or to me? (Less)

Category: Service Issues
Case opened date: 09/22/2008
Case closed date:
Desired Resolution: Chloe would have died no matter what. By the time we knew she was sick it was probably too late. The seizures came on quickly and I had only had her for 10 days. She was a rescue, I did not know her medical history, and we had not gotten in to my home vet for a check up. I do not blame the clinic for having to put her down. I can even forgive some of the initial tests because I needed to make sure she wasn’t contagious. However, starting the treatments before they even talked to me about her status after her last seizure and then suggesting hospitalization was not fair to me or her. They told me she perked back up after that seizure, but they lied. She did not and she was unresponsive.

I was charged for 4 hours of hospitalization when I only used maybe two hours. After an hour, I knew something was wrong and I confronted the vet with a few questions. I would like to be refunded that hospitalization fee, but I know they will argue “it was my choice.” They may even argue that the treatments were “needed.” Seriously, would you give a late stage cancer patient chemo? There are some instances where the damage is already done and you need to be honest with the pet owner!

I want an apology, and for the clinic to start enforcing what the receptionist claims. Don’t let them lie to any more pet owners.

4) I still don’t get why it is so hard to figure out why people to get trying to get me to hang out…after 11:00 pm…when they know I have a day job
5) Why people insist on bending the rules to accommodate pushy people, when it will become a bigger mess down the line. Yeah it seems all simple and harmless now since we aren’t busy, but by saying yes now we are setting a precedent that will come back to bite us in the ass later…yeah more on this to come later this week.
6) My desk was immaculate when I returned from vacation…yet the data entry was way behind. I’m a little confused (also more on this again later…I know it has already been covered once.)
7) I know no one told you do put your name on the form, but NAME:__________________________________________ seemed kind of obvious.
More to come soon…

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