My Message here? Acupuncture doesn't hurt and if it does, they are NOT doing it correctly…read more
Writing one star reviews is always a tricky business. I don't like slamming businesses, but I also don't like spending a LOT of money and not getting what I paid for. So-o, here's my experiences with this company.
We moved here 4 months ago and I needed to find a feline acupuncturist for my 21 year old cat, who suffers from arthritis. I found Audrey Shannon online and called her to discuss my objectives (at this stage of my cat's life all I care about is her comfort and quality of life). Ms Shannon seemed like she understood and she even did house calls, so I made an appt.
Ms Shannon showed up on time and came into my bedroom where my cat normally sleeps, She sat on the floor and let my cat approach her, speaking softly, bearing catnip, etc.
I explained, I thought very clearly, that I was NOT interested in this being in any way unpleasant for my cat, and that I would rather we take it slowly and make this a great experience. I was hoping to use this for her long-term pain management. My cat has had acupuncture before, in San Jose for three years and before that when she was younger in Boulder.
******She NORMALLY reacts very calmly to it, sleeping and purring***
So Audrey began by asking me to hold my cat. Now I've been with my cat during acupuncture at least 30 times and it has never been necessary for me to HOLD DOWN my cat to get acupuncture. I said no, if she wouldn't let Audrey stick the needles without holding her down then this wasn't going to work. So she started by sticking a needle in her hip area, which is RIGHT where the extreme pain is (I don't even pet her there). My cat yelped, ran under the bed, and that was the end of the appointment..
I was trying to be nice and mentioned that other Dr's had started with the spot on the forehead to release some nice endorphins before going for the sensitive spots. Ms Shannon said she knew that and that the spot she got on her hip was another endorphin spot. Ok, I don't know everything there is to know about acupuncture, that's why I pay someone else to do it, so I said "alright, well like I said, I don't want this to be a negative experience, let's let it go this time and try again in a week. BUT, since she's used to getting the first needle in the head, let's start there next time even though I know you have your own methods. ". I paid her $65 for the one-needle experience and crawled under my bed to get the needle that my cat had pulled out immediately.
One week later Ms Shannon insisted on starting on her hip points and disregarding the point on her forehead that really mellows her out. She also had the audacity to propose that we take her to a smaller room where she can't hide and hold her between us to immobilize her (!?). I refused, and we had the EXACT same experience as the first time, except my cat REALLY YOWLED and hissed at us.
Ms Shannon suggested that my cat had the problem and was territorial in her home and that she would benefit from going to an office vet, and referred me to Sangre De Cristo. I then said "well you went to the trouble to come out here, I should pay you..." She took my $65 even though I was clearly unsatisfied with how things went down and it was a chance for her to make things right by waiving the fee. No such luck. Very UNPROFESSIONAL.
So-o, my first visit at Sangre de Cristo I explain the horrible experience I'm desperately trying not to duplicate and the Dr said, (kindly) that perhaps starting at the very most sensitive spot on the animal is not the best approach and we should work our way up to that. Since then I've been happy as a clam at Sangre, and my cat hasn't yelped or howled and I haven't had to pin her down to get the needles in her.
I thought of calling this person and telling her about the feedback I'd gotten from the vet, but my husband asked me how often people take constructive criticism nicely, and I decided I didn't need the hassle. I only hope people read this review before subjecting their animals to Audrey Shannon, because they are making their beloved pets experience unnecessary pain.
*******Acupuncture does work and it doesn't have to hurt********