If I could give a zero rating I would and specifically for Dr. Lockhart. Our experience with her was heart breaking and horrific, this Veterinarian is not suited for doing In Home Euthanasia. Our 1... Read More
If I could give a zero rating I would and specifically for Dr. Lockhart. Our experience with her was heart breaking and horrific, this Veterinarian is not suited for doing In Home Euthanasia. Our 12 Year Old Corgi was in the end stages of Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) which is much like ALS in humans when we brought him into Crosspointe Animal Hospital with a urinary track infection and Dr. Lockhart saw him (for the first time) and I was shocked at the lack of empathy and compassion, she was very cold and clinical as if we were discussing some old house hold item that was broken down and needed to be disposed of. In any event, it was determined that he had turned another corner in his health and it was time to Euthanize him. We wanted to have him Euthanized at home, as we have done with three other pets with an another Veterinarian who had left the area. All three times our experience was a gentle, peaceful passing at home for our pets and this is what we wanted for our sweet, Corgi. The person at the front desk at Crosspointe said that they offer In Home Euthanasia services so I made an appoint a few days out and I specifically requested someone other than Dr. Lockhart. On the day of the appointment I was shocked to see Dr. Lockhart and her assistant at my front door to put our Pup down. I almost said we changed our minds and ask her to leave and try someone else later, but I was in such a state of grief and sadness for what we where about to do I could not think straight. I wish I had gone with my initial gut feeling, because what followed is the biggest regret of my life and will haunt me for the rest of my days. There was no compassion or empathy toward our dog or the family. Dr. Lockhart did not even speak to, or pet our dog, they started by holding him down and trying to shave his front paw to start an IV, he was terrorized by this and was frantic, he even was trying to bite them and this dog has never even so much as bared his teeth at anyone ever. He was fighting for his life. I said STOP, we have done this several times before and there was no struggling, no fear and pain involved, it was gentle and peaceful, other vets had administered a shot of sedative under the skin to calm the animal down FIRST, then started the IV line once the sedative took effect. Dr. Lockhart said she did not have that with her. WHAT!! We then told her to place the IV line in a back leg where he had no feeling due to the DM , after several failed attempts she went for the front legs again. It was heart breaking to see how frightened and panicked our sweet corgi was, the whole thing was a nightmare. Once again we said STOP and told her she had one more try and it had to be in one of the back legs were he was paralyzed and had no feeling and if that did not work we were done here! We calmed our Pup down and on this try, one of them was able to get the IV line in, and hit him with a heavy sedative which instantly took effect, then, not 5 seconds and she pronounces that she is , "giving the injection to stop his heart" as she was pushing the injection and boom... he was gone. Really, what kind Vet says that to the family! In the past the Vet gently said, "after this next injection he will pass quickly, let me know when you are ready" and then gave us a few minutes to say our good byes. Not only are we grieving the loss of our sweet, gentle Corgi, but we are forever saddened and regretful that our Sweet Corgi Boy's last moments were fraught with pain and fear at the hands of Dr. Lockhart when it should have, and could have been the gentle, peaceful passing he deserved, had Dr. Lockhart come better prepared and had one once of compassion. Euthanasia is a Greek word meaning "good death" the dictionary definition is "painless, easy death". Our Corgi did not experience Euthanasia, what he experienced was more like an Execution at the hands of Dr. Lockhart. If it is not painless and easy then it is NOT Euthanasia! My recommendation is never use this Vet for In Home Euthanasia or anything else really! Read Less