It has taken me years to get around to writing this review because every time I think about it, I get upset all over again.
A few years ago, my 12-year-old husky had fallen ill. After a few days of refusing to eat much more than a bit at a time - and suddenly starting to bleed from the nose, I made an emergency appointment on a Saturday. I called about an hour before they closed, explaining what was going on. They told me to come in, but pretty much to hurry, because they were closing soon. I hurried as fast as I could - but this included carrying my full-grown husky out to the car (and again, into the practice) because he couldn't even walk at this point. They took my dog downstairs and did a battery of tests, only to find out that his liver was failing. My options as far as treatment went, were bleak. Send him home with a medicine that they doubted would work, put him in the hospital for a couple days so they could give him meds that would give him a 50% chance, or a week-long hospital stay that would cost me over $1000 (that I just didn't have) that still wouldn't guarantee he'd survive after. Or, put him to rest. This was my first time dealing with a sick pet like this - I looked to my veterinarian for his advice. I asked what he would do if he were in my situation. His response was, "That is a very sick dog." After 11 years with my beloved boy, I made the decision that I thought was best for him - to put him to rest.
In my distress, I asked if I would get to stay with him. The vet told me no. When I asked if I could at least say goodbye? THEY TOLD ME NO! Mind you - my dog was still downstairs from having his tests done. I was taken back by this - but I thought maybe this was commonplace, even though I'd heard of a lot of people staying with their pets as they put them to sleep; I'd never done this before - I didn't know any different. I was distraught, my head was swimming, I was sobbing so hard I could hardly hear as I paid for it. And then I left. It was now a few minutes past their closing time. I let them take him downstairs to do a dang test, and I never saw him again.
They rushed me out of that office so fast that they didn't even give me his collar and leash. Nor did they bother to contact us about it. I had to send my husband back up there a few days later to get it. (They also forget to give me my debit card back - thankfully I was still in the parking lot crying when they realized it.)
It was only over the past couple of years of conversations with people that I have discovered that this is absolutely unheard of. Never has a single person I've had discussions about this with, EVER heard of a veterinary clinic denying a pet-owner the opportunity to say goodbye when they are being euthanized. My family rescued that dog off the street after he'd been hit by a car and never claimed by anyone. I had that dog since I was 13-years -old. He was part of my family, and Thompson Animal Clinic has left me with inconsolable guilt that has plagued me for years, and will continue to. Guilt that stems from the last words my dog heard from me being words with the vet, and not to him. Not the words of love and affirmation that every pet deserves to hear as they go.
I have never returned there with any other pets, nor will I ever.
Thompson Animal Clinic, you robbed me. You robbed me of closure. And you robbed my pet, too. You robbed him of the loving journey into rest that he deserved - held in the arms of his human. read more
