Previous Owner Won't Provide Vet Records. What Can I Do?

[UnderneathTheStars]

I live in Canada. A year ago I adopted a cat that I was told was in excellent health only to find that she was incredibly sick (calicivirus, IBD, emaciated, etc). Now she is recovered and is of a healthy weight and has a good quality of life. But, we are seeing a specialist in April for possible stomatitis. The specialist wants us to get previous vet records if possible. The problem? The previous owner won't give us the records. When asked, he said that all past tests and vet visits were fine and that he doesn't need to provide the records. I'm beyond frustrated.

Does anyone know if I can just call the vet offices, explain the situation, and ask for the records? Would they contact the previous owner? He seems a little unstable. The specialist said that he couldn't legally call the previous vet to request the records. I have a contract showing that the cat is mine and that I paid for the cat. I'm really sad. I want my specialist to have all the information and now I'm worried that this previous owner is hiding something.

 

[Jem]

I would call the previous vet and tell them your situation, they legally need permission from the previous owner to release the records, but I wonder if the previous owner would be less reluctant to give permission to release the records if the vet called him to ask. He may feel "put on the spot" and not want to seem like an a-hole, and give the vet permission. Also, if the vet calls him, and he's trying to conceal information from you, he might just realize that you are not going to back down and he may not want the vet to know that he's concealing anything so he'll cave. Who knows, there may be no tests to give you if he didn't do any or did not keep the records on hand, and he's just lying to you about the health care this cat has received.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. I totally agree with Jem !

Please let us know what happens! And, when you do, let us know his name and share a pic!!

 

[UnderneathTheStars]

I would call the previous vet and tell them your situation, they legally need permission from the previous owner to release the records, but I wonder if the previous owner would be less reluctant to give permission to release the records if the vet called him to ask. He may feel "put on the spot" and not want to seem like an a-hole, and give the vet permission. Also, if the vet calls him, and he's trying to conceal information from you, he might just realize that you are not going to back down and he may not want the vet to know that he's concealing anything so he'll cave. Who knows, there may be no tests to give you if he didn't do any or did not keep the records on hand, and he's just lying to you about the health care this cat has received.

Oh jeez, this is so scary. I will do this but I sincerely fear online harassment from this individual or legal action against us. If we signed a contract when we purchased the cat and have paid over $2,000 in vet bills since having her, could the previous owner sue us for custody of the cat? He has threatened to do so in the past when I called him out on her health and the fact that we were lied to.

 

[Furballsmom]

I wouldn't bother.
Yes, it's more than handy to have those records, but not absolutely necessary.

 

[FeebysOwner]

On what legal basis would the owner have to sue you for custody?

 

[UnderneathTheStars]

I wouldn't bother.
Yes, it's more than handy to have those records, but not absolutely necessary.

My sole worry is that without the complete picture, there might be something this owner was hiding about her health. What if there is a hidden health problem my vets didn't pick up on and she doesn't survive surgery because of it?

 

[Willowy]

I don't know if they need permission from the previous owner to release the cat's records. In the US at least, pets are considered personal property, so you should be able to get the records if you can prove that you now own the cat. There may be some info they can't give you (like payment records) but the actual medical records for the cat should be fair game. Give the vet a call and see if they can at least tell you verbally, if not print them out for you.

Of course Canada might be different too but it wouldn't hurt to call the vet to ask.

 

[Furballsmom]

Your current specialist should be able to determine quite a lot "from scratch". Ask if there's any tests they might need if they don't have previous records.

 

[Furballsmom]

Plus, this previous owner is making me wonder if she was in to the vet much.

 

[FelisCatus]

Are you in Ontario? If so, our vet governing body is the CVO and they might be able to help you out (ask the other vet in your name? not sure).

The College of Veterinarians of Ontario - Getting in Contact with the CVO

[email protected]

Phone number is on that site too if you would rather call.
--
If they aren't releasing the previous owners personal information, and only about your kitty cat I don't see what the problem is.

 

[UnderneathTheStars]

Are you in Ontario? If so, our vet governing body is the CVO and they might be able to help you out (ask the other vet in your name? not sure).

The College of Veterinarians of Ontario - Getting in Contact with the CVO

[email protected]

Phone number is on that site too if you would rather call.

Unfortunately no I'm in New Brunswick and the previous vet is in the province of Quebec. Thank you, though!

 

[UnderneathTheStars]

Plus, this previous owner is making me wonder if she was in to the vet much.

That's what I'm wondering too. Poor baby.

I'll just let the specialist know that we can't get them if the office won't give them. Thank you so much for the advice!

 

[UnderneathTheStars]

I don't know if they need permission from the previous owner to release the cat's records. In the US at least, pets are considered personal property, so you should be able to get the records if you can prove that you now own the cat. There may be some info they can't give you (like payment records) but the actual medical records for the cat should be fair game. Give the vet a call and see if they can at least tell you verbally, if not print them out for you.

Of course Canada might be different too but it wouldn't hurt to call the vet to ask.

Oh I hope it's the same in Canada. That would be amazing!

 

[Furballsmom]

You have such a concern for your safety
from this previous owner, I personally would work with your current vets and move forward. Hang in there, however this works out!

 

[FelisCatus]

Unfortunately no I'm in New Brunswick and the previous vet is in the province of Quebec. Thank you, though!

My suggestion still stands:

New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association (NBVMA)

P.O. Box 24063
Saint John, NB E2M 5R8
Tel: (506) 693-9994
Fax: (506) 635-2903
[email protected]
nbvma-amvnb.ca

Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec (OMVQ)

800, avenue Ste-Anne, bureau 200
St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 5G7
Tel: (450) 774-1427 / 1-800-267-1427
Fax: (450) 774-7635
[email protected]
omvq.qc.ca

Your best bet is to contact one of these (both) organizations and see what can be done.

The health of a cat should trump regulations, especially when no personal identifiable information will be released. Only health pertaining to the cat is needed, and all information regarding the previous owner can be redacted. (you can use that wording if you like).

 

[FeebysOwner]

This is precisely the equivalent organization in the US that internet searches recommend to consult with about getting the records of a cat that had a previous owner. Can't hurt to call and ask.

If it turns out you can get the records, and there is information in there that was not divulged, I think you will have NO more problems with the previous owner. Likewise, if there are NO records.

 

[FelisCatus]

If you also want a second set of eyes proofreading your email before you send it, I will be glad to help.

 

[Talien]

Oh jeez, this is so scary. I will do this but I sincerely fear online harassment from this individual or legal action against us. If we signed a contract when we purchased the cat and have paid over $2,000 in vet bills since having her, could the previous owner sue us for custody of the cat? He has threatened to do so in the past when I called him out on her health and the fact that we were lied to.

No, he(or she) is full of shit, they can't sue you for custody of an animal that they sold to you, especially with a signed contract as proof that you are now the legal owner. I would absolutely go to the previous vet with the contract in hand and show it to them so they can clearly see the Cat is legally yours, then explain that this person refuses to give you the medical records but you need them for your current Vet.

Infact, if there is anything in the contract that states the Cat was in good health at the time of adoption then YOU have grounds to sue THEM for all the medical bills incurred because the Cat was given to you in poor health when it was stated that there were no health issues. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess this is probably the reason that person is so dead set against you getting the medical records. Do what you need to do to get them.

Harassment, well, that depends on how big of an a-hole this person wants to be, but if you have proof that you were cheated then anything they try to pull on you is most likely to blow up in their face if there's clear evidence that they did infact cheat you.

Is this person a breeder, or did they just charge you for the Cat because they could? If they're a breeder they can be shut down for this sort of thing.

 

[UnderneathTheStars]

On what legal basis would the owner have to sue you for custody?

No idea. I'm probably just paranoid because they threatened to do so before when I told them that I was angry that they lied to me about Mousse's condition before I adopted her. I know you can basically bring anything to court. I have the contract, vet records and bills, chat conversations, etc. So, I'd win but I'd rather not go through that.