I took my beloved 13 year old black Lab, Halle, in yesterday to be put to sleep. Prior to my arrival, I spoke with the receptionist, whom was friendly, and told her I wanted to have my girl put to sle... Read More
I took my beloved 13 year old black Lab, Halle, in yesterday to be put to sleep. Prior to my arrival, I spoke with the receptionist, whom was friendly, and told her I wanted to have my girl put to sleep and wanted to pay the extra cost for the medicine to make her comfortable. She said that was no problem. When we arrived, I went inside to the front desk and explained that Halle was heavy and I would not be able to lift her myself. I was directed to the back door, Emergency Entrance, where a gentleman (Vet Tech) would help me. We got her onto the gurney covered in the sheet I brought to take her home and bury her in. I waited in a room with her for a few minutes. I cried and said my goodbyes. Dr. Andrix came in and said 'You know how this goes' and helped the Vet Tech place her onto another cold, metal gurney. He referred to my girl as IT throughout the ENTIRE process. He proceeded to shave her leg and get the medicine ready. I went to the opposite side of her so I would be the last face she saw. After he shaved her, he proceeded to inject her with the blue liquid that was the euthanasia. NO COMFORT MEDICINE. NOTHING. He said they could dispose of IT's body. I refused and said I would be bringing her home with me to bury. He told me that IT would be put in a bag so IT didn't excrement in my car. I refused the bag as well. He had the ABSOLUTE WORST bedside manner and was extremely cold. Dr. Andrix never checked her (IT's) pulse after she passed. I held her face, looking into her eyes and just cried the whole time telling her how much I loved her while she was being injected. He said me and IT could have a moment alone. After he walked out, I walked to the other side of her and wanted to make sure she was gone when I noticed blood all over the table, dripping onto the floor. I grabbed some paper towel, and the Vet Tech came in, offering me tissue. I explained it wasn't for me, it for the way she was left and the amount of blood spilling out. I wrapped the paper towel around her leg and cried some more. He was busy cleaning the flood off of the floor. I turned down the plastic bag for IT, instead opting to wrap HER in the blanket I brought from HER home. I told the Vet Tech this was the worst experience I have EVER endured with a Vet and he just said 'sorry'. He told me the cost and I handed him my MC to pay. When he came in with the receipt, I told him I WOULD NEVER, EVER RECOMMEND THAT PRACTICE TO ANYONE.......EVER! I am guilt ridden that THAT was the last place SHE was at...alive. She was our family member. It doesn't matter how often you do this, you shouldn't treat people OR their babies in such a manner. I found DR. ANDRIX to be cold, detached, rude and made a horrible situation even worse. I had another black Lab, Chloe, put down about 8 months ago with our regular Vet. This was the first time I've had an animal put to sleep. That Vet was caring and full of compassion. My children and myself were in the room throughout the whole process. It was already difficult, but it was extremely loving and peaceful. I called that Vet's office and he had emergency surgeries all afternoon and suggested a name locally. That is what brought us to Dr. Andrix. This was on a Friday afternoon at approx 4:45 PM. We also tried to get the home Vets to come to us, but we could not reach them and assume they were busy. Halle hadn't eaten in over a week and we couldn't let her starve to death over the weekend. She was wonderful to us for so many years, it was only fair and right we be the same with her. Had I known what the experience was going to be like and how the Doctor treated his patients and their loving owners, I WOULD HAVE NEVER, EVER, EVER TAKEN HER THERE. Now, i must live with this guilt. However, I will continue to share my story to save another bereaved owner this added grief. Dr. Andrix should be ASHAMED of himself! After I returned home, while my 15 year old son placed our baby girl in the hole that he dug for her in the back yard, I called our regular Vet's office and told them of my experience. The receptionist cried and said SHE felt guilty for giving me their number. It wasn't her fault. She promised me that they would NEVER refer another person to him, and that was satisfactory to me knowing someone did not have to endure our story. After this tragedy, I reached out to some friends',Two of which told me they had the same experience with this Vet and would never go back. Read Less