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The litter tray

Euthanasia - vets

18 replies

WherecanIhide · 31/01/2011 21:35

Hi, sorry this is very sad. I had to have our old boy put to sleep last Thursday (uncontrollable diabetes). My H paid the bill over the phone later that day and I recieved the receipt today.

Do you think I am expecting too much for there to be some kind of condolence enclosed - even something photocopied would have been better than simply an A4 invoice with the price of 'euthanasia (disposal not included)' and 'cremation' printed on it.

I know vets run as business' but this seems so cold and uncaring.

Am I expecting too much?

OP posts:

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MarionCole · 31/01/2011 21:37

I thought exactly the same when our cat was cremated. It really upset me.

peggotty · 31/01/2011 21:40

How was the vet who put your old dog to sleep - was he kind and understanding? To me, that would be more important than the invoice. Although I can see your point that it looks awful to see it printed out in such a bare way. They should have sent the receipt without the 'euthanasia' and 'cremation' on it.

Lizcat · 01/02/2011 13:46

Personally we send out cards to our clients which are hand written by the vet who saw the pet. Occasionally the client may get the bill/receipt before the card as the card are distributed once weekly for the vets to write so you may yet get a card.
I agree with Peggotty the attitude at euthanasia is the most important thing, but we know the card means alot too.
The receipt is a hard one legally vets are required to provide an itemised receipt, but my reception staff ask clients in this situation if they would like a receipt and if the client declines write this on the record.
Please write to your practice just explaining how you feel. How they respond this will tell you whether you want to go back there again.
Attitudes are very different across the profession, personally I feel this a situation where you can never take to much care or time.

shufflebum · 01/02/2011 14:01

We always used to send euth cards within 48hours of the euthanasia and would leave 10 days before sending an invoice. We never sent a receipt if the client paid there and then and we would only send a receipt for a payment over the phone if it was requested.
Our receipts used to say euthanasia services but I can understand why yours says what it does because that is how it is itemised for the billing.
Hope the vet was caring and kind to you at the time.

Ormirian · 01/02/2011 14:03

We paid there and then. And the got a condolence card through the post. I wasn't expecting it TBh but it was nice.

girlywhirly · 01/02/2011 17:17

The vet who put my 19yo cat to sleep hand wrote a letter of condolence in fountain pen to me afterwards. I was in a right state in floods of tears, and he let me leave via the dispensary door so that I wouldn't have to go through the waiting room. He also said he would send the invoice later so that I didn't have to do it then. I didn't know he was going to send the letter, I was only expecting the invoice. It was very kind, I thought at the time.

wannaBe · 01/02/2011 17:25

I got a condolence card when I had to have my dog put to sleep at the end of 2009.

In this instance the invoice went to guide dogs as she was my retired guide dog but as I wasn't sure how much they would pay (as I had elected to have her cremated and requested the ashes back) I had told them to invoice guide dogs and bill me for whatever they didn't pay for.

It's possible that the invoices are generated automatically, also if it is a large practice then they are possibly even generated from a different branch. Our vets is local but there is a big hospital on the other side of town where all that sort of stuff happens and I don't have a relationship with them iyswim.

I agree that it depends on the attitude of the vet at the time rather than the invoice you receive.

WherecanIhide · 01/02/2011 19:36

Hi, thankyou for your replies.

The vet was nice enough but has a very cheerful manner. It might be her way but I felt she was too cheerful under the circumstances and I felt a little rushed to leave after. I held him while she administered the injection, gently laid him on the table then she asked if I wanted her to show me the side door so as not to have to walk through the waiting room (like girlywhirly). She said she'd be straight back to him so he wouldn't be on his own for long (that was nice to know). She was nice enough but I imagine if I performed that 'procedure' I'd lower my voice a bit, adopt a calmer manner, say more reasuring things that the time is right etc then asked if I wanted time alone with deseased pet to say a final 'goodbye'. Maybe there are some unpleasant things that happen to the body straight after death that I don't know about (?) but I don't think clients should be rushed.

I understand the need to send a receipt, but it would make good business sense (other/future pets) to show a little compassion and enclose something in the same envelope. By coincidence I got a reminder for the rabbits booster yesterday as well. I feel like taking my business (also got 2 dogs and 1 hamster) elsewhere but other vets are miles away.

I may write and tell them my thoughts...

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Catsmamma · 01/02/2011 19:41

I would maybe drop them a line, maybe the vet thought brisk and breezy was the best policy, it was nice of her to not leave him on his own though, so maybe she was making an effort not to add to your misery

So sorry about your beloved pet. xx

Our vet has sent condolence cards in the past and a similarly worded receipt.

WherecanIhide · 01/02/2011 19:52

Hi Catsmamma - I think you are right about the 'bright and breezy' approach.

Thankyou x

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ImFab · 01/02/2011 19:56

My cat has an illness which will mean she has to be PTS and I hadn't even thought about any of this stuff. I was at the vets when a lady and gentleman came out of a room with an empty cat carry case and the lady in floods of tears. She told the receptionist she just wanted to go home and she said, in a very quiet voice, she would send the invoice on. I thought that was kind.

WherecanIhide · 01/02/2011 21:03

Hi ImFab - sorry about your poorly cat.

I must admit I would find it very hard having to wait to pay after losing my cat.

Sorry if my post has made you think about things you are not ready to think about yet.x

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ImFab · 01/02/2011 21:05

Don't be, it is good to be prepared for what might happen though I am in denial about her going. Some how she has been getting away with murder even more than usual since the diagnosis .

SecretNutellaFix · 01/02/2011 21:08

you do indulge a very poorly animal, son't you

When my old girl was very ill last year, in the few weeks before being pts, She got away with murder. If she didn't fancy walking to her water bowl, we'd actually go and get it and hold it at an angle so she didn't have to "struggle"

ImFab · 01/02/2011 21:11

but too.

Mine doesn't understand she can't have bedtime biscuits any more or her share of Sunday's roast chicken and it is heart breaking seeing her climb up the cupboard to ask for some .

shufflebum · 01/02/2011 21:17

ImFab your vets I'm sure would take payment now for the pts and put your account in credit so you don't have to think about it at the time.
Just a thought, sorry you're having to go through this.

SecretNutellaFix · 01/02/2011 21:18

Kes was a dog, so she used to get my mum's cats to help her.

THe boy cat once flicked half a roast chicken down for her, just to get some of the skin. Mum was not impressed. She had only gone to the loo.

ImFab · 01/02/2011 21:19

Sorry but LOL at your boy cat.

shufflebum Good idea. It isn't that imminent but I will bear it in mind.

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