Although I think this place has the potential to be a great vet hospital, they should really get a new main doctor. My husband and I had a very bad experience here. After 2 years of constant vet visit... Read More
Although I think this place has the potential to be a great vet hospital, they should really get a new main doctor. My husband and I had a very bad experience here. After 2 years of constant vet visits at another clinic, trying to save our 17 year old cat, we finally made the very painful decision to put her down. She was sleeping all day, except to eat and when she did get up she was in pain, walking very stiffly and moaning. Many times she would cry out in pain. She wouldn't use the cat box anymore and she seemed so sad and in pain all the time. We had recently discovered Salem Vet Hospital was right by our house, so we figured we would go there, to save her the long car ride on her last day on earth since she did not enjoy car rides. The helpers and staff were very nice and compassionate and asked if we would like to get her tested to see if there was something else they could do for her. (We had already been through this for 2 years at another clinic when we thought about putting her down 2 years ago, and we knew she was ready to go.) We respectfully said no thank you, and she said she would honor whatever our request was. I wish Dr. Sheffield had an ounce of compassion that the rest of her staff does. When she came in, she clearly saw that my husband was crying and very emotional, but she proceeded to try to convince us to test her and treat her so that she could be around longer (and in my mind so that she could get to the bill to be higher). Between sobs, my husband relayed all we had already been though with her and how much she was in pain and how hard this was for him, since he'd had this cat since he was 21. Dr. Sheffield didn't show any compassion and persisted in trying to convince him that testing and treatment was a better option. I spoke up and echoed what my husband said and added that this was not an easy decision or one that was made lightly, but that it is what we came to do. The doctor had the audacity to continue to persist and actually said that we should at least do the testing to make THEM feel better. Ummmm, excuse me??? We didn't come here to make YOU feel better. I was outraged, but had to stay under control to be there for my husband and daughter who were openly crying and emotional. Before leaving the room she said she would write up an estimate of how much the testing and treatment would cost and then we could make our final decision. The whole time I'm thinking ITS NOT A MATTER OF MONEY, WE ARE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY OUR CAT THAT WE LOVE VERY MUCH AND YOU ARE TRYING TO GUILT TRIP US JUST TO ADD MORE NUMBERS TO THE FINAL BILL. When she went out of the room I told my husband I'd be right back. I spoke to the receptionist at the front desk and told her I was very upset because my husband and daughter are very emotional and Dr. Sheffield keeps trying to shove this testing and treatment plan down our throat after we have several times politely refused and is only making an already hard situation even worse. She told me she would take care of it. I went back to the room and after a few minutes one of the helpers came back with an estimate for testing and treatment and we were required to sign it and say that we were refusing treatment - I mean we ACTUALLY had to write out the words!!! I have never in my life heard of such a thing! I have had my share of pets growing up and have had to put a few down and I have never in my life been treated so rudely or in such an accusatory manner. I don't care that this place is right down the street from us, we will not be coming back here again. Read Less