Im really angry... infact i dont think i could be angrier if i tried...
Im usually a laid back person, however i am known to say what i think..

Today at work... (i work in a vet)
A woman brings in her 13month old dog.. saying she wanted it put to sleep due to it chewing stuff up.
I was polite saying that the vets are her to help sick or injured animals, would she like to speak to someone about behaviour issues...
She said no and became quite angry i wouldnt allow her to have the poor dog put to sleep
She informed me, she would just take it to anothe rvet who 'would' do this..
The conversation went on for a while, but i was adament it wasnt going to die..

I was at this stage becoming angry, and while i understand it can be hard with a dog who destroys stuff i just couldnt allow it to happen. The poor dog was scared and had her tail between its legs...
so i did no more and took the dog off her... (politley of course )
And i put he rin the kennels... i had to explain my reasons to the head vet
But at least she's alive

Thats why i work in a vet... because i care

Donna x
(and my boysx)

OMG how disgusting, there are so many options available in situations like this. I truly don't understand how someone can have a precious animal in their life and have no attachment to it at all! Makes you wonder how she was treated in her time with this nasty woman. I hope she can find a home where she is appreciated.

On another angle did the woman sign her over to you? Legally who has ownership now? What if the woman should come back and try to claim her?

What an evil woman Dogs are not disposable!!!!!!!

That was really good of you to take the dog, I hope she finds a home with caring owners.

Some people shouldn't be aloud dogs.

So what happens to the dog now? What did you tell the woman who took it in, that the dog would be put in kennels and then destroyed? Did she sign a form stating this? Every time I take a dog for an op, and in the very sad case when (health) it has had to be destroyed I have had to sign a form. What about the bill? If a dog is destroyed it costs, kenneling at the vets costs....I very much doubt this woman would ever come back and would feel she had 'got away' with paying the bill if nothing came in the post, but what if she decided to follow it up? Unless she has signed the dogs ownership over she still owns it, if her instructions were for the dog to be destroyed then surely this should happen. I know its an awful subject, but dogs are property in law and surely if you felt the vet would not destroy the dog then she should have been told to go elsewhere....why was a vet not called to talk to the woman? Surely it is the decision of the vet not the receptionst? Maybe a vet could have talked the woman into calling the RSPCA and signing the dog over to someone who would care for it and sort its problems out, or another rescue organisation.

I can certainly understand your anger, I don't agree that the dog should be PTS for this especially at an age where it can be cured, maybe a little more attention would have done the trick. But destruction is not the worst thing that could have happened to this dog, she could have just passed it on or dumped it. I remember JG once saying that a breeder took some 6 mth old (I think) Dobes that had not sold into the vets where she works for destruction. I didnt like the sound of it but maybe it was kinder than the wrong home. Its an emotive subject, but I thought an owners wishes had to be done if the surgery accepted the dog?

In Response to Calmstorm:

Could get flamed for this, but I tend to agree with you.

Dogs are considered property, and if the owner wants the animal PTS, then that should be carried out.  I am not saying, that the choice made by the owner of the dog is always a good one, and the OP is right, the dog shouldnt have to die.  But when working with the public, your personal views shouldnt cloud your professional ones.  Maybe the vet should have come out to talk to her, but with emotions high, it sounds like it didnt happen.  

But it isnt the place of a receptionist to refuse a dog be PTS because they dont agree with the reasons.  I worked at a shelter once, and an owner brought the dog in to surrender it to the shelter because it didnt match the apartment anymore.  Not size wise, just the colours didnt go with the colour of the dogs fur.  Sad.  But the shelter didnt refuse the dog, and politely took the dog from her.  Once she left though, it was a different story, and comments were made about the owner. 

I am not saying, to the OP, that emotions are a bad thing.  But the line of work you have choosen, is a hard one.  People are stupid, and think dogs can be just passed off, or destroyed at a whim.  Just hold your head high, and know that YOU are doing the best YOU can do.  Unfortunately, you cant save them all though, and thats the sad part, when you cant. 

Annoying thing is - this ignorant woman will probably get another puppy hoping that it will be one that doesn't chew.

ok i asked her to sign a euthanasia form... Which she did! (this was incase the vet found any reason it was ill etc)
However, i did ask her to sign the dog over the the vets where i work.. again she did this.

The dog has now been rehomed, to a lovely lady who has recently had her dog put to sleep due to ill health

As regard to the woman getting a new pup... yep i think that will happen.

Also, where i work is not a rescue but there was no bill involved... so that solved that... another reason while people who go there think its ok to rehome/euthanase at the drop of a hat. Beside, if keeping the dog over night was not an option i would have bought her home to the mad house

A nice ending.. if nothing else

Donna x
(and my boysxx)

Crespin/calmstorm
I agree partly with what you say although i have always said the day i stopped caring would be the day i leave my job..
Yes i am only a receptionist... (one who has worked there a long long time)but one who has morals, beliefs etc even if its not always right
I know i did the right thing and i also know given my time over that again will be the path i take...
I also know,anyone who works at the practice would have done the same.. that means vet, nurse, p.m, receptionists and vca...

I am not going to get into the whys and where-forths.. (or whatever the saying is) because i can sleep tonight knowing she's happy



Donna x
(and my boysxx)

Good on you Donna.  I would like to think I would have done the same had I been you.

This is the reason I could never work in a vets or a rescue, I would end up being sacked. I've always been the same injustice I can not follow the system and shut my mouth and allow things to just happen. I would have done the same Donnax and damn the consequences. Whether I were the receptionsist, vet or the cleaner, I'd have been taking that dog. What a pathetic reason to have a dog PTS.

Glad that you did all the paperwork needed though as of course there could have been a backlash or even change of mind from the woman, but well done for making a stand, not following the rules and standing up for myself and others actually got me promoted many times, there is nothing worse than just not trying at all.

> The dog has now been rehomed, to a lovely lady who has recently had her dog put to sleep due to ill health

The lady has a new dog to help her through her grief and the young dog has a loving new home- that's all because of you

Good on you

Me personally would have put the woman in the kennel at the vets, locked it then thrown away the key.
Absolutely ridiculous...do people like this really exist.
So, when i become a parent can i take my children back because they cry??That is basically what this woman has done. Wanted something destroyed for carrying out a natural trait.
Makes my blood boil!!!!
Wonder if any vet would have done this and carried out her request?

This particular case it was obvious that the bitch should not be put to sleep, but what about the Grey areas?

For example if I personally had a neurotic fearful or aggressive dog that all attempts at rehabilitation had failed and the dog was alive fit and healthy but in mental turmoil all the time (I have known such dogs and they and their owners led a miserable existence as even in their own homes the dogs were perpetually fearful and stressed).

If I took such a dog to the Vet to Put to sleep, young and healthy (but emotionally and temperamentally extremely unsound) then I would expect my wishes to be carried out, but of course I would stay with the dog while it was done.

Also I have it in my will that any dogs over 10 years old should b e put to sleep if my children do not want to/can't keep them

There are worse things than death.

I can not follow the system and shut my mouth and allow things to just happen. I would have done the same Donnax and damn the consequences.

The consequencies could have been that the woman left the dog to be PTS, her wishes, and the surgery could run the risk of being sued should she find out that her property had been disposed of in a way she did not want. She could have thought signing the dog over was simply what she had to do because she was leaving the dog to be pts. We could also wonder into the grey area of people lying, the dog may have had more problems than simply chewing furniture, it may have bitten and she didnt want to say this, it may fight other dogs, so many other things. I really think the vet should have been the one to take the decision. Its their practice, and their responsibility should something go wrong. It is a surgical proceedure, and at the end of the day it is up to the vet to make the decision.
The woman in question has certainly had an easy time of it. She has got rid of the dog, no vets bill to pay, and didn't even have the guts to be there for the dog being pts. She can now go off, if she wants, and find another dog knowing that if it dosent work out she can do the same again! I'm guessing she is not a client of this practice.

At least the dog has a new and happy home. I hope itt remains so

>the dog may have had more problems than simply chewing furniture, it may have bitten and she didnt want to say this, it may fight other dogs, so many other things.

Very true. I sincerely hope that this isn't the case and that the new owner isn't in for a nasty shock.

And as you say, it's the vet's decision, not the receptionist's. We (speaking as a vet receptionist) can have our opinions but have no right to impose them on others. I've held young healthy dogs when they're put to sleep and the vet mutters angrily about how the owner has let down a nice animal, but if that's the wish of the legal owner, that's what must be done.

Donnax I think you are a star for saving this dog, I cannot believe a person could be so stupid and uncaring,  we have a rescue dog who 'destroyed stuff' in fact this was the reason we ended up with him and wouldn't let him go anywhere else as we didn't think many other people would put up with it.  He is the most perfectly well behaved, loving and gentle dog anyone could wish for now and we haven't had him for 1 year yet.  All they need is time, patience and understanding and if people don't have that then they shouldn't have dogs!

But well done to you for saving this girl and hopefully a new caring home can be found for her

Very right JG, i dont have the right to impose my views or beliefs on others but I do and will continue to do so...Thats just me and its the way i am. (where i work the vets will not put a healthy dog to sleep.. unless its for aggression etc )
I cannot stand back and watch someone think its right to put a dog to sleep just because they have had enough of it...
On a lighter note, she has done NO chewing at all since her new home... (i know its early days)
No mess at all in her new home overnight.. nothing

All i can say .. again.. Im happy

Donnaxx
(and my boysxx)

Calmstorm,
sorry meant to answer you... Can i just point out all dogs are pts if the owners are advised this will happen.
In this case she did sign the dog over, so therefore would have only been done if nec.
NEVER is an ower told an animal will be put to sleep and it isnt.. Sorry if i never made this clear.
Yes she is a client


Donnax
(and my boysxx)

Hi Donna....please don't think I am being critical of you, I can tell you only have the dogs best interests at heart.

I'm looking at the other side of things, vets provide a service to their clients, and their wishes have to be carried out or denied. The client is the legal owner, and as she signed for the destruction even though she signed the dog over, she expected this to be done. If she is a client then she would maybe have expected a bill in the post, not to pay at the time. She may not have been told the dog was going to be pts, but was she told a new home would be found and the dog was not going to be pts? What will happen if she asks what happened to her bill? Or wants confirmation that the dog was pts? If she sees this dog with its new owner, and complains, what will happen then? She may not want it, but she may not have wanted someone else to have it either, people can be odd which I'm sure you have found. This dog may well be ok, but what if it wasn't? It could be a dog that had killed a sheep, bitten someone, whatever, and the agreement between the owner and the IP was that if the dog was destroyed no furthur action was to be taken. The owner may have left this little snippet of info out when at the vets.

If you are saying the woman changed her mind, and only wanted the dog pts if a home couldn't be found, then that makes things different but if not I could see problems. maybe Blue (the legal eagle ) could comment on the ownership etc side of things? On a totally legal stance, not judging by this case.

I really think the vet should have been the one to take the decision. Its their practice, and their responsibility should something go wrong. It is a surgical proceedure, and at the end of the day it is up to the vet to make the decision

I agree with what you are saying calmstorm and the legal implications of anything going wrong, and normally would most likely point out all of your issues myself. (Just incase any other receptionists decide to run the surgery.   )

But, I think you have to view each case as it comes across,

In this case it was obvious that Donnax had not upset the woman, or she would have called for the vet herself, someone so desperate to have their dog pts would ask for someone in charge if they did not get the answer they wanted, after all we all know our rights, this woman obviously did in asking for this to be done. Although Donnax was persuassive she obviously did it in a none confrontational way, all receptionist are trained as to which legal documents need signing etc. Donnax taking these actions I would perceive her to be a long standing employee whom the vet trusted in, or she would not have taken these actions (just my opinion) and I would also guesstimate that she knows her boss very well and knew he/she would back her up.  These are all things that come into view when making decisions like this.

Most of us when we work somewhere know who we can twist around our little finger and who has similar thoughts to us and who we would not dare to cross, Donnax obviously felt no worries from her employees in saving this dogs life, people just don't do things like this without knowing full well where they stand with their bosses. I know I myself made the flip remark that I would be sacked having to deal with issues like this as I could not stand by and do nothing, but most of us wouldn't wish to loose our jobs, so Donnax in my thinking felt no threat of that.

So I don't believe this to be a case of a receptionist just taking the law into her own hands. I think even though emotional she knew full well what she was doing. She has not mentioned being given a warning or reprimanded in any way.

I agree that the woman concerned has got off scot free I wish there was something to do about that. Glad that just one dog was saved.

> I think even though emotional she knew full well what she was doing. She has not mentioned being given a warning or reprimanded in any way.

Luckily, it seems like everyone at the practice is of the same mind Donnax said -

> I also know,anyone who works at the practice would have done the same.. that means vet, nurse, p.m, receptionists and vca...

Carrington said:

> I agree that the woman concerned has got off scot free I wish there was something to do about that.

It is very sad that nothing will be done. Unfortunately, even though we are bound by law to ensure the welfare of our dogs there is no law agains having your dog PTS on a whim, it is down to the moral standing of the vet.

From the initial post it did sound as if things became quite heated. And that the woman was adamant that the dog was pts. Thats why I thought the vet should have made the decision, as problems could occur later on if the dog had not been pts.The lady stated if they wouldn't she would find a vet who would...so inleaving the dog did she realise it would be rehomed, as in was she told this would happen, or did she believe that by leaving it the dog would be destroyed. Did she ask to speak to a vet? All a bit grey.

I'm sure many surgeries have their own 'rules' on how the reception staff deal with situations, and if the vet is happy to stand by any decisions made then obviously that is their call. If they are happy to let the staff refuse any surgical proceedure, or go against a clients wishes it certainly is not for me to judge. I was simply pointing out that this type of thing leaves everyone open to possible legal action or that the dog, going out without assesment to its nature, could cause problems both for the vet and the new owner. Some behaviour problems can be slow to surface.

The woman has got off scot free, she'll have a hard face if she uses that surgery again.

>On a lighter note, she has done NO chewing at all since her new home... (i know its early days)

No mess at all in her new home overnight.. nothing

While this is lovely to hear, don't forget it can take a dog up to 4 weeks to settle into a new home and show it's true character it's called the honeymoon period, during which time the dog gets its bearings and susses out its new home and people and at the moment it will be on its best behaviour   

Hopefully this dog will continue to be a delight and a joy but don't forget, chewing the house through separation anxiety wouldn't happen until the dog becomes attached to its new owner so it's very early days yet

Isn't it a shame that the owner did not know to come to a site like this in the first place for help with this problem or in fact more so the breeder.  All these problems can easily be worked through. Over the years I have met so many dog owners who just don't know what to do, good breeders would have helped with a problem like this, any of us on here would have helped.

Perhaps for those of you in veterinary surgeries, it is time when a pup is first brought in to also recommend joining firstly a breed club/breed relavant forum and to recommend CD or a forum like it aswell for all of those little questions and problems, which soon build up to be big ones.

With more and more pet to pet breeding going on, people with pups are just not getting the help from their 'breeder.'

A veterinary surgery is the one place that a pups owner is going to go, the best place to hand out helpful information, perhaps it is something many of you could suggest to go along with the 10 point puppy checks.

> A veterinary surgery is the one place that a pups owner is going to go, the best place to hand out helpful information, perhaps it is something many of you could suggest to go along with the 10 point puppy checks.

When I first took my pup to the vets they encouraged us to take him along to thier 'puppy parties'. It is a gathering of similar aged pups, there is a vet & behaviourist in attendence and the aim is for socialisation of the pups and to educate the owners on all aspects of puppy behavior/care (as much education as 90 mins will allow!!), it also helps create an early positive association of the vets for the pups. The puppy parties are free and at the end they give every pup a 'party bag' with chews, treats, toys and a big wad of info regarding common puppy behaviour & ways to deal with it (play biting, house training etc..).

> For example if I personally had a neurotic fearful or aggressive dog that all attempts at rehabilitation had failed and the dog was alive fit and healthy but in mental turmoil all the time (I have known such dogs and they and their owners led a miserable existence as even in their own homes the dogs were perpetually fearful and stressed

a dog with mental turmoil is not a healthy dog in my view so i can understand why people would. it's better for the dog this way.