My 21 year old cat whom was in a condition reflective of his age, had a seizure on 5/27/18. After 30 minutes non stop at our home, we decided to find an open clinic to take him to so he could be put d... Read More
My 21 year old cat whom was in a condition reflective of his age, had a seizure on 5/27/18. After 30 minutes non stop at our home, we decided to find an open clinic to take him to so he could be put down. I called ahead and was relieved to find out this clinic was open. After driving from 25-30 minutes away, with him seizing non-stop. We arrived, the cat was whisked away and we weren't allowed to go back with him. We waited in the front lobby, and once the lady that had taken him back returned she forced my mum and I to fill out paperwork. Including his normal vets info, his basic info ect* taking at this point 10 minutes. All the while the cat was still seizing, suffering. My mother made it clear, she just wanted them to end it as quickly as possible and not draw it out. After my mom filled out the required paperwork, the lady at the counter kept asking us questions that could have been asked after the deed was done. Do we want a bracelet to keep his ashes in, do we want to take him home once he passed to bury him, do we want to keep his ashes or just have them disposed of, do we want a paw print? ect*. Again, all of this while he was seizing. She even at one point took a phone call, even though another lady was behind the counter and could have taken the call. 15 minutes has now passed since arrival. Originally we had wanted to be with our cat while he passed, he was loyal and loved for 21 years. But my mother became upset at the idea that they would need to "Get him and the room ready before we could come back, prolonging his suffering even longer". Again, we just wanted his suffering to stop. He had had a drastic decline in quality of life since last summer. He would only eat if his food was placed in the processor. He couldn't walk without looking drunk, and wobbling around. It was his time to go, and this horrible process was made unbearable by the thoughtlessness shown, the drawing out of his suffering and delay of his relief. My mom paid, and told the lady that we would not stay. That we wanted him put down asap and we left. I will feel regret for the rest of my life, because we had to choose between his release from pain and our want to be present and comfort him at the end. We have had a dog put down before at another clinic, and this process for her was quick, with all of us going back with her to the room. Them shaving her front leg, inserting the iv catheter and the doc pushing the medication after we said our good byes. Our cat suffered, unlike our dog. We still got asked the same questions, but the other vet was kind enough to ask them after our dog had passed. I hope you read this and learn from this experience. I will never bring another pet to you ever again, and I will be sure to tell everyone how you place your monetary gains before the well being and suffering of the pets brought in. Read Less