I hope I can express my feelings about this without starting a fight or a flame war....
I also hope this is the right place for this if not pls. move or delete.
I have a new kitten and am living in a foreign country, so I've been hanging around this site for about a month or so. Generally, I feel that the people here are welcoming and interesting but there is one issue that bothers me. As someone who has worked at a Verterinary practice for several years (I was front desk not medical staff), I feel a bit of hostility directed at the veterinary profession.
I'm not talking about issues where someone feels a Vet has been incompetent. These issues are hard to judge long distance and I certainly think that some Vets may not be capable in all instances, and a client has the right to seek another opinion or go elsewhere.
My issue is with people compaining about a Vet or Vets in general when they cannot afford or didn't plan for an unexpected veterinary expense. Pets are expensive. If you can't come up with the money or a means to pay for the unexpected medical bills when they happen, maybe you shouldn't have a pet?
I firmly believe that pet ownership is a privilege. That 'free cat' not free. They've proven that a healthy cat costs about $700-$1000 annually to maintain/care for.
I've seen many posts where people complain of the 'fee at time of service' policies of many clinics. And direct their hostility at the Vet because they do not have the money for the care their animal's needs. I was also at the receiving end of this at the practice I worked for. The reason for these policies is simply that people don't pay their bills. If enough people do this that Vet goes out of business and then where do you take your beloved feline when he or she is sick? In my experience, Vets are not rolling in money. And their support staff makes even less (I made $10/hr not even enough for an apartment of my own!).
I understand people are very emotional about their pets particularly when they are sick, but please understand some of us are/were animal professionals and it hurts when you direct your hostility at us for thing over which we have no control. Rather than saying something like 'I can't believe that stupid vet won't see my sick cat because they won't let me pay in installments and I only have $50' why don't you be truthful about whose responsibility it is, and say something like 'I'm really upset with myself because I didn't have the money to take care of my cat when she got hurt/sick'.
Sorry if I offend anyone with my opinion, but this has been nagging me for a while now and I wanted to remind everyone that current and former veterinary professionals are listening to these discussions.
I also hope this is the right place for this if not pls. move or delete.
I have a new kitten and am living in a foreign country, so I've been hanging around this site for about a month or so. Generally, I feel that the people here are welcoming and interesting but there is one issue that bothers me. As someone who has worked at a Verterinary practice for several years (I was front desk not medical staff), I feel a bit of hostility directed at the veterinary profession.
I'm not talking about issues where someone feels a Vet has been incompetent. These issues are hard to judge long distance and I certainly think that some Vets may not be capable in all instances, and a client has the right to seek another opinion or go elsewhere.
My issue is with people compaining about a Vet or Vets in general when they cannot afford or didn't plan for an unexpected veterinary expense. Pets are expensive. If you can't come up with the money or a means to pay for the unexpected medical bills when they happen, maybe you shouldn't have a pet?
I firmly believe that pet ownership is a privilege. That 'free cat' not free. They've proven that a healthy cat costs about $700-$1000 annually to maintain/care for.
I've seen many posts where people complain of the 'fee at time of service' policies of many clinics. And direct their hostility at the Vet because they do not have the money for the care their animal's needs. I was also at the receiving end of this at the practice I worked for. The reason for these policies is simply that people don't pay their bills. If enough people do this that Vet goes out of business and then where do you take your beloved feline when he or she is sick? In my experience, Vets are not rolling in money. And their support staff makes even less (I made $10/hr not even enough for an apartment of my own!).
I understand people are very emotional about their pets particularly when they are sick, but please understand some of us are/were animal professionals and it hurts when you direct your hostility at us for thing over which we have no control. Rather than saying something like 'I can't believe that stupid vet won't see my sick cat because they won't let me pay in installments and I only have $50' why don't you be truthful about whose responsibility it is, and say something like 'I'm really upset with myself because I didn't have the money to take care of my cat when she got hurt/sick'.
Sorry if I offend anyone with my opinion, but this has been nagging me for a while now and I wanted to remind everyone that current and former veterinary professionals are listening to these discussions.