I am writing to directly address Baja Paws' response claiming I provided false information in my intital review. Everything stated in my review is supported by official medical records, which I have provided to them and attached here for transparency.
To clarify the medical timeline and facts:
* Medical Complications: A minor incision was made in Kira's intestine during surgery due to her tiny size, but this was completely unrelated to her kidney damage. The kidney issue was caused by stray ovarian sutures left behind during her original spay procedure. I explained this to the rescue during our initial phone call and provided clear photos of the stray sutures taken by the operating veterinarian.
* Treatment Timeline: Baja Paws referenced an 11:06 AM timestamp, which reflects when the record entry was typed--not when treatment was authorized. Had they reviewed the full treatment history, they would see her vitals were taken at 8:10 AM, and by 9:00 AM she was placed on an IV and administered Fentanyl for pain after surgery was deemed urgent. She underwent additional diagnostic tests for infection and was prepped for surgery by 11:30 AM. The operating vet noted that starting surgery took time because they had to wait for her stomach to clear and establish safe anesthesia levels for such a young kitten.
All of this is documented in her official discharge paperwork and post-operation report. Had Baja Paws answered or returned my phone calls instead of relying solely on text messages, I would have gladly clarified these details. However, their misunderstanding of the timeline and operation findings suggests how minimally they actually reviewed the medical reports we provided them at their request.
For clarification, Baja Paws never suggested that Kira should have gone without veterinary attention, as stated in their response. What was suggested, however, was that her emergency room visit was excessive and we likely paid for unnecessary treatment.
Furthermore, we never claimed Baja Paws "knowingly subjected Kira to subpar care." In fact, my original review explicitly stated that I believe rescue organizations such as this generally have good intentions. What I did state--and what medical records support--is that Baja Paws refused to acknowledge her complications were the direct result of a poorly performed spay. Her operating veterinarian explicitly noted in the post-op report that "intra-operative findings were severe and not consistent with routine post-operative healing following an uncomplicated spay procedure" (see attached report). The surgeon personally confirmed to us that these complications were consistent with rushed spay techniques and substandard materials.
Finally, in all of our conversations with Baja Paws, we never asked for financial reimbursement. That is an assumption they may have made on their own. We fully understood our adoption contract and accepted full financial responsibility the day we brought Kira home, and understand that the offer of the adoption refund (which we did accept) was made in good faith. After this incident, we reached out to inform them of the severity of her complications so they could address the issue with their veterinary providers and express our general frustration and disappointment with the whole ordeal. Yet it was Baja Paws' immediate defensiveness, refusal to accept responsibility, and lack of professional candor that prompted this review--not a desire for compensation, and certainly not false statements. This review was written to serve as a caution to potential adopters, to ensure they fully understand their liabilities when adopting from this shelter, and the possible risks associated with it. read more
