Dec 19 2008
Grief, they saw us coming
Yes, our family dog nearly died. Still, to this day, we do not know why. I do know this, it cost nearly $700.00 to find out nothing. Perhaps, we are naive to the fact of how the animal “medical” field works. For those out there, I truly do appreciate you are there, but I want to say one thing. Just because you see someone in horrid grief over their pet, please do not take advantage of the situation.
We were. Our precious animal had gotten 3 ex-rays, a blood test and oxygen, that brought our bill to $545.00. We were charged for someone helping my husband carry in our pet, which said “needed to be restrainted”. Our dog, was “lifeless”, unmoving, didn’t budge and my husband and one vet tech, carried her in. The charge, a wopping 35.00. We were given an antibotic, gas pills and pepcids.
We obtained an “instore account” for the serivices, as we had not the money for this. At the time, of 3 ex-rays, a blood test, and oxygen, our bill, $545.00. When we advised we could not pay “anymore”. They told us our cap on the account was $700.00. It was at this great juncture, they made sure they rounded our bill from 545.00 to, you guessed it, $700.00.
After we got home, nursed our dog back to health, and regained some composure, I looked up the costs of the antibotic, gas pill and pepcids. The total? $17.49 for the three things combined. We were charged $155.00.
This just isn’t right. Because someone is in the state of shock over possibly losing a family pet, Ka-ching, ka-ching, there goes the cash register. I advised the vet at the beginning, I had around $30.00 to pay at that very moment, the night before Thanksgiving. My advice by the vet, well….okay, I’ll put her down for $30.00. I am sorry, but what is wrong with this picture. They wouldn’t let me see what they were doing or NOT doing to my pet. Now I know why. Seriously, I know no more now what happened to her, than I did then. I was told, we don’t know what’s wrong.
Never, I am sorry, we can’t tell you what’s wrong, so we aren’t charging you an arm and a leg. I mean, nothing. Why do people feel the need to take advantage of a situation just because they can, and they know you are vunerable? I could say, what goes around comes around, but I am not sure that day ever comes for those who have taken advantage of us. Somehow, I feel, it won’t stop, at least, not anytime soon. If anyone has the answers to why, please clue me in, because I don’t want this happening to someone else.
