Vet Office Comment WTF

[GeorgieTheBunny]

I walked into my vet’s office to get a post adoption first appointment for my bun Hazel
(Note: my first love Georgie went over the rainbow bridge April 29)

The receptionist asked my name and my former pet’s name to pull my file. She asked some generic questions and then made a comment:
“We’ll see you on the 15th and go over the basics since your last bunny didn’t last that long”

What the actual F

Georgie would have been 2 in June and had to be put down because a calcified mass overtook her liver. I couldn’t say a word… Words escaped me.

I’ll be having a quiet conversation with the vet when I see her on the 15th but DAMN.

-I’m hurt; I LOVED Georgie and moved heaven & earth to care for her
-I’m angry; if your going to glance at my file to judge me at least don’t make comments
-I’m dumbfounded; your service skills?! I don’t know if your JOB should “last that long”
-I’m angry at myself; why couldn’t I say anything?
-I’m anxious looping; “since your last bunny didn’t last that long” it’s on repeat in my head
-I’m overreacting; bunny didn’t last that long!? They aren’t disposable. Losing a rabbit is a tragedy not a passing comment

[ThorBunny]

Words escape me too…

I’m so sorry that you had to go through that! What a hurtful and unfounded comment.

If it were me, I would be glad not to have said anything at the time. Making a rash comment back may have escalated the situation and ended up in even more hurt feelings. You should absolutely bring this up to your vet. You might also want to consider sending a letter (possibly anonymous) to the clinic to let the whole organization know that this happened. I’m sure they don’t want their practice associated with that sort of callousness.

Don’t let one hurtful comment allow you to second guess yourself! I’m sure you are wonderful owner and did everything you could for her. Everyone who actually knows your situation would think the same.

(((hugs)))

[sarahthegemini]

Wow, what a very insensitive and damn right mean thing to say. I’m actually a little shocked that she’d have the audacity to imply you need educating on bunny care. Sometimes, despite providing the best care, our animals get poorly through no fault of our own. Surely she’d understand that?!

Try to forget her comment and don’t let it eat away at you. You did the best for your little bun so don’t think you didn’t do a good enough job or anything. I’d be fuming if someone had said that to me.

[Luna]

I can’t stop re-reading your post. I’m so angry for you! Even if that receptionist were given the benefit of a doubt (which I won’t give) and didn’t mean to say it with malice, that is a really messed up thing to say. You did everything you could for Georgie.

[vanessa]

That’s dreadful! I’d talk to the vet, and send a letter – NOT anonymous. I’d stand up for you, Georgie, and every other client who could be getting disrespected by that vet.

[Azerane]

Oh my gosh, I think I would have burst into tears on the spot. What an insensitive thing to say. I can’t believe she would make assumptions like then and then voice them as well.

I’d also definitely bring it up with the vet, I’d be disgusted with her comment. I can see why you’re upset. (((hugs)))

[Bam]

I would have been so angry. You should make a complaint. Not an anonymous one. She obviously didn’t know anything about Georgie and you, and yet she felt the need to more or less tell you you’re an incompetent rabbit owner.

Why in the name of things holy does she have that job??? It’s like some awful candid camera prank.

[GeorgieTheBunny]

Ya…my proactive day off work just got derailed.

I got up, fed my neighbour’s cats, return in 30 minutes and administer insulin, drive bf to dr appt., drop him off at work, drive to Costco and renew membership, go to pharmacy and refill script., grocery shop 2 stores on the way home, last stop was the vet clinic to get appt for Hazel…

I had an action packed day of things to get done and chores at home but this absolutely derailed my positive momentum. It’s been almost 2 hours on Netflix and bunny petting trying to forget it.

I messaged my bf to call me when he could; long story short – he’s mad. That’s the kind of thing we would go elsewhere to solve – but the vet is amazing. I’ve never seen this staffer before; any other time we’ve gone they have been amazing. Facing her again is going to make me anxious. I don’t know her name but I can’t imagine ever forgetting her face.

Thank you for your support guys.

I didn’t know if I was supposed to be so upset. I chalked it up to the fact that last 3 times I was there were awful emotional experiences. I was crying my eyes out putting Georgie down, paying the last bill and then reading the description, and then getting paperwork about the health issue for the rescue I adopted her from. I’m a bit peaky just going to the office and didn’t want to overreact.

[Vienna Blue in France]

???!!! ???!!!!
In.Croy.able….!!!!!!
I’m with bam

[Q8bunny]

Oh, man, I would’ve popped her in the kisser with a big ole potato. (Always carry one in your purse.)
Defo talk to the vet. Defo send a formal letter. She needs to find another job. Preferably one where she has no contact with anything living. Or must wear headgear that prevents her from speaking. Like… EVER.
Mean old barracuda…. nuts to her for being an unsolicited ignoramus and flapping her gums at you.
*hug*

[LBJ10]

Oh my, what an awful thing to say. o_O I’m sorry, I hope you can at least address it with the vet during your appointment.

You should probably bring Q8 along as backup. She’s pretty good with a potato.

[Tuppence]

Holy hell. Forget the potato, she would have become very well acquainted with my fist had I been in your position. What an a-grade a-hole. All hyperbole aside though, that is supremely unprofessional on behalf of the veterinary clinic. I’m so sorry you copped that appalling attitude from someone clearly unsuitable for a role that requires basic human decency. Sometimes people are just the worst.

[Bladesmith]

I’m an old sailor/soldier.  Suffice it to say, that insensitive prick would have gotten a verbal airstrike in response to such a insensitive comment.  I’d have been meeting the vet right THEN, as the volume of my voice and the use of impolite language would have carried throughout the building AND impressing parrots 4 counties over…..That’s one person who needs to lose their job.

I recently had Clover at a big chain pet store (The staff loves when she visits), looking for a harness when some wag started in with the “Mmmm she looks like she’d make a good dinner/pair of gloves/etc.” .  I marched right up in his face, got R. Lee Ermy close to his nose, and let him know in no uncertain terms that comments like that frequently lead to nasal rearrangements.  

Some people are just buttholes.

[Q8bunny]

I’m trying to get my dad to stop joking about roasting pans and fur gloves whenever Chewie Skypes with his grandparents. I know he is kidding and that he’s totally smitten with the wookie. But it still makes me so uncomfortable… like, almost superstitiously paranoid about inviting bad karma or something.

[MoxieMeadows]

Oh gosh, that was such an insensitive and mean thing for that person to say! I’m sorry you had to go through that =/

[GeorgieTheBunny]

My father jokes that I should have named each of my bunnies “stew/stu” but then he (over 60) spends floor time trying to bond. Some people have nothing but dad/bad jokes.

If it works, this is my dad and Hazel:

***Litter Training Setup***

Thank you to everyone for the support. This won’t go unchecked. I’ll post again after the vet visit for how the info is received.
Q8 & LBJ10 LOL! I was not expecting to laugh (or laugh so hard) while on this topic thread. TY.

[GeorgieTheBunny]

I turned on my computer for this:

[LBJ10]

Aww, what a sweet picture! And hey, I’m only speaking the truth.

[Q8bunny]

That is one of the sweetest pictures I’ve seen on here recently. Yep. Grandpas and their grandbuns.

[LBJ10]

I can tell you my parents would never lay on the floor with the boys. LOL It looks like they already have a special bond.

[Sr. Melangell]

Beautiful picture.

That receptionist would have had a telling off it was me, right there on the spot, people would be covering their ears, but shock can make people get upset and say nothing, no matter if your bunny was weeks or months old she shouldn’t have said that, can you mention it to the vet? would she have said it if it was cat that got knocked down? She has a duty of care to respect people’s feelings, she’s in the wrong job.
I think your dad cares a lot about bunnies, take him with you to complain.

[Dface]

That is a beautiful picture!

But honestly that is absolutely horrendous
Rabbits are so fragile. The simplest of things can be the end of them-they are designed to reproduce, that is the extent of it. After that they arent adept at staying alive (6 months in the wild on average)

My bun recently died too young, so I think your situation is especially close to my heart asI’ve gotten some pretty callus remarks about it all, he was given the best care I was able to give him (Think it worked out that in a year and a half we’d racked up 2000 in vet fees for him )
Meanwhile I have a friend who has an 8 year old rabbit, who is never let out of the hutch, eats the rabbit muesli food and frequently doesn’t get veggies or hay.

For your own piece of mind, I think you should complain. You loved your rabbit and did right by her, a person who thinks that that is an appropriate comment, is not fit to be in that profession.

[Bladesmith]

You know they’re committed to the bonding when they bring a pillow with them…..

[Bladesmith]

Posted By Dface on 6/08/2017 5:23 AM

That is a beautiful picture!

But honestly that is absolutely horrendous
Rabbits are so fragile. The simplest of things can be the end of them-they are designed to reproduce, that is the extent of it. After that they arent adept at staying alive (6 months in the wild on average)

My bun recently died too young, so I think your situation is especially close to my heart asI’ve gotten some pretty callus remarks about it all, he was given the best care I was able to give him (Think it worked out that in a year and a half we’d racked up 2000 in vet fees for him )
Meanwhile I have a friend who has an 8 year old rabbit, who is never let out of the hutch, eats the rabbit muesli food and frequently doesn’t get veggies or hay.

For your own piece of mind, I think you should complain. You loved your rabbit and did right by her, a person who thinks that that is an appropriate comment, is not fit to be in that profession.

Huzzah!  Well said.

[sarahthegemini]

That photo is adorable! 

[Bam]

What a lovely picture =)

[Luna]

No way! That’s exactly the same pose my dad makes when he’s laying on the floor with Luna lol. Must be a dad-thing.

[Boston's Mama]

Aw what a cute photo! How sweet !
Reminds me of when my mum came over when we first got Boston , she scooped him up mid convo with my dad and said “shhh now , I’m meeting our new grandbaby”
He stole her heart instantly.

Man some of the comments here had me laughing so much! Haha
Much needed laughter and who would have thought it would be on this post

At least you know better than to take to heart what she said , she made a horrible judgment off you from one fact ( that your wee bun didn’t live long ) without even looking at any other factors. I do hope you take it further – who knows maybe she feels bad looking at it now too? Or maybe she will after it’s brought to her attention ? But either way – it will for sure make her think next time / make other staff aware for if a next time happens – so someone else doesn’t have to face unfair judgement.

[GeorgieTheBunny]

Hazel was a hit at the vet 1.59kg down fron 1.66.

I brought her slim cat treat ball and her funkitty twist’n treat. I used a picnic blanket on the floor and filled her treat balls to compel her to come out. She was charming and behaved for the dr & vet tech. The regular staff all recognized me and seemed genuine in their happiness to see Hazel in my life

I also saw the staffer who made the comment…. We didn’t exchange hellos.

During the consult I mentioned that I had a negative experience setting the appt up. I related the comment and the vet was stunned. The Dr asked why that was said (context), I shared that I supposed it was because Georgie had such a short time with us…. That was not acceptable, who said that to me? She will be spoken to.

The vet was sincerely sorry, it was written all over her face (the slow blink of an “oh my gosh…”) She also expressed that she was happy to see me with a little one and that, for a surrendered rabbit especially, Hazel was very well adjusted.

I feel like my child just impressed the teacher *blushing* *proud* and feeling better about my last contact.

[jerseygirl]

Aw, that’s great. So relieved you had a happier experience this time around.

[Q8bunny]

Well handled! I can just picture Hazel skipping home with a little gold star

[Vienna Blue in France]

Yayayyyyyyy !!!!!!

[Bam]

I second Yayyyyyy!!!!!

[Boston's Mama]

Third yayyyy

[Azerane]

I’m so very glad you had a positive experience with the vet and that she took the issue seriously. Hopefully you have no more trouble

And of course, hooray for Hazel

[ThorBunny]

Fifth yayyyy!

Aw, Hazel: star pupil

[Author]

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