01/30/2021
This was posted by a wonderful fellow rescuer - she has NEVER received a reply to her letter. I personally chose years ago to never use a retail veterinarian. Unexcusable! 😡
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WHY YOU NEVER LEAVE YOUR PET DURING EUTHANASIA
OPEN LETTER TO BANFIELD VET HOSP
January 27, 2019
Banfield Corporate Office Headquarters HQ
Medical Management International, Inc.
8000 NE Tillamook or PO Box 13998
Portland, OR 97213-0998 USA
Today I had the unfortunate need to euthanize a very friendly and weak 2 year old Leukemia positive cat at the North Myrtle Beach, SC #2394 Banfield hospital. I am telling you as I told the staff there, that I am not your ordinary client. I have been involved with animals my entire 65 years of life and run an animal rescue for over 30 years. I have handled and seen 1000’s of cats and unfortunately participated in hundreds of euthanasia’s. I have a strong feeling of obligation to be present with any animal that needs a peaceful passing both out of love and respect for them and also to be their advocate until the end.
Cookie was presented as Leukemia positive, with very labored, open mouth breathing, exaggerated abdominal and chest movements and in a low crouched position attempting to find a comfortable breathing position. I explained to the staff that I preferred an intramuscular sedative prior to trying to put in a catheter as any restraint such as scruffing, holding down or constriction of the chest or neck area would put him into a panic mode struggling for a breath and would make him fight.
With much apprehension I allowed the tech to would take him back behind closed doors to insert the catheter; I again reminded them of his breathing difficulties. I waited quietly for about 5 minutes before hearing him crying several times in extreme distress, I called out and then went through the door to see him being restrained by 3 people. The vet holding his front legs out attempting to get the catheter in, one holding his neck and head in a position that prevented clear breathing possibilities for him and the other over his chest with his two rear legs stiff and straight out over the edge of the table with his chest compressed on the table surface.
At this point I said that he could not breathe! The vet said no problem they had the catheter in. They then hurriedly brought him back into the examining room but, now he was in the process of dying from the shock, loss of breath and possible heart issues. He was already in a head back and legs stretched out position. The vet then quickly injected the sedative with the euthanasia drug right behind it. The cat was already dying, the sedative had NO time to work and the euthanasia was botched! Instead of a peaceful transition Cookie’s last minutes on earth were horrifying.
A similar experience to this played out a couple years ago when the same Banfield location insisted on examining a dying cat prior to agreeing to end her suffering. How would you like to be dying while unnecessary tests are run on you, being stuck and prodded, frightened and away from your loved ones and safe place?
I am hoping that Cookie’s suffering was not in vain and has taught your staff that sometimes they need to LISTEN TO THE CLIENTS! That just because they have a degree does not mean they cannot learn from others nor are they infallible. Just as I am sure you would advocate for your child, elderly parent or loved one. Not all professionals in any profession are perfect. I in no way feel they were malicious, just young and inexperienced. I understand that they had not seen this cat before, but it was not a playful, healthy cat that I was asking to be put to sleep. It was obviously in great distress. They did reduce my bill from $157.45 to $113.50 by taking the office visit fee off. My regular vet can euthanize a cat for $40 and still make money, but was not open on Sunday. I choose Banfield and hoped that even for the additional money my cat would not need to suffer through the night and wait until my vet opened in the morning, but instead I made him suffer more.
My suggestion to improve your clinic, staff and customer experience would be to review your euthanasia procedures with the animal’s ultimate needs and care in mind instead of the “way we do it” or monetary value.
In hopes of reducing all suffering.
Daren F Watson, President and Founder
