April 28, 2008Comments are closed.shelter procedure
A glimpse into the future from Dolitter:
Sign-overs occur when clients bring you pets they can no longer care for or whose treatment they cannot afford. Hospitals have the option of drafting a document that allows us to take over ownership of the pet to do as we like with them.
Though sign-overs are a humane option for placeable, treatable pets, lately it’s been getting to be harder for vet hospitals to do without cracking open that proverbial box of wigglies.
Here’s a scenario: A dog is riddled with fleas, requiring a transfusion (or three) to nurse him back to health. The owners can’t afford it so they agree to sign him over to the hospital.
A week later the dog is living with a technician who fell in love with him. She paid for the basic materials for his care, her own dog provided blood for the transfusions and she’s in love with her new baby whose life she helped save.
Meanwhile, the previous owners have come back to the hospital saying they’ve changed their minds. The tech doesn’t want to give up the dog. He was poorly cared for by them. She’s offering an infinitely better home and she knows it. Her stance is etched in stainless steel. She’s willing to risk her job over it.
But the former owners are unrelenting. They call the local TV news and next thing you know the story’s out that X hospital steals dogs from their clients. Your clients make the phone ring off the hook, perhaps wondering how you, their vet, could have become so cruel when you’ve always been so caring!
If you haven’t already this might be something to talk about with your local vet – a watertight rescue surrender form and the promise that the pet will be taken offsite for processing might be enough to protect these vets who are willing to lend a hand to rescue.
