When I adopted my first dog, Boscoe, I was so caught up in the excitement of picking out a new bed, new toys and a new collar for him that I forgot to think about one of the most important “new” choices I could make for him: the choice of the right vet clinic.
Having a veterinary clinic that you are comfortable with, that you can trust and that you can rely on is just as important as finding the right doctor for yourself. You wouldn’t want a doctor who rushes you through an appointment, fails to examine you properly or overcharges you any more than you would want a vet who would do the same thing to your family pet (and, by extension, to you).
The first vet I took Boscoe to was one that I picked out of a directory listed by proximity to my house. I had only owned Boscoe for two weeks, and he was still adjusting to life with me from six months of life in the shelter. I will admit that he was a little “over exuberant,” but the veterinarian’s reaction to him was as shocking as it was inappropriate.
As soon as he entered the room, Boscoe started jumping up on him. The man didn’t greet me or even ask me to restrain him. Instead, he slid his hand through Boscoe’s collar, twisted it tighter, and pulled him sharply upwards.
I stood horrified for a couple of seconds, while I watched my dog dangling off the ground, his eyes bulging. “Take your hands off my dog right now!” I shouted. “Your dog needs to learn manners,” he said. “Yes, he does. But not from you, and not like that,” I replied. Suffice it to say, I left immediately.
I went through many vet clinics before I found the one that wasn’t just right for me, but was perfect for me and my furry family.
I have been to many vet clinics over the last 11 years of pet ownership, and I have found them to be extraordinary in every way.
When my beagle Darcy passed away last February, I didn’t think I would be able to handle the delivery of her body into anybody’s hands, because I didn’t want to leave her.
The amazing people at my current veterinarian’s office knew her, loved her and they took care of both of us. I don’t think I would have handled her passing as well as I did without their love, support and compassion. I am crying as I write, and I’m not sure whether it’s because I still miss her (which I always will), or because I am so grateful they took such loving care of her from the moment she joined my family to the moment she left … and then they took care of me.
A veterinarian for your pet really is just as important as a doctor for yourself or a loved one.
