The vet lost Ginger. (Update.. Bad news though)

Poor Ginger!!  I am so sorry!!  Thank goodness the people brought her to a vet instead of just leaving her.

As someone else said, the first vet should cover any expenses at the second vet and any search expenses.  In addition I would take the body by the first vet and let the woman see the result of her negligence.  It is absurd that they waited 3 hours to call you.

I am so angry for you that I don't know what to do.  There should be some way to sue for damages for a pet's pain and suffering, but I bet there isn't.  You can, however, file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and with the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners (http://tinyurl.com/3kxtby).  The link will take you to a .doc complaint form.  Maybe you can at least force the vet to construct a secure, fenced area for other dogs.

I am sure that your little Ginger met my little Ginger at the Bridge and that they are both happily playing while they wait for us.  Both knew that they were loved deeply.

P.S.  How did the second vet know to call you?  Did you leave a flier/message or did the first vet do that?

Oh no! I am so sorry! Run free sweet Ginger! Sending hugs for you.

I also haven't commented on the vet until now, but I would ask for the person responsible to be fired. As a direct result of her stupidity and lack of concern Ginger is gone. That is inexcusable, and this person needs to learn the consequences for her inaction. I would also file a complaint with the BBB.

Nooooo.

I'm choked up, angry and incredulous and so sad.

I am so sorry. What an unbelievable tragedy.

Goodbye sweet Ginger.  

How are you doing? 

Pit_Pointer_Aussie

I would ask for the person responsible to be fired. As a direct result of her stupidity and lack of concern Ginger is gone. That is inexcusable, and this person needs to learn the consequences for her inaction.

I second that.  I'm usually not one to rush to judgment; people make mistakes, but I make an exception in this case.  And I also agree the vet practice should be held financially responsible for Ginger's emergency care at the second vet.  I'd be filing complaints all over the place, as well, and letting every pet owner I know in the area what happened.

Oh gosh I didn't want to read the update....

Words can't express how badly I feel for you all.  I am sorry.  Please contact me if you just need to chat.

Take care.  Sue

I'm so very sorry for your loss.  Run free Ginger.....

I'm very sorry about your loss. I had hoped and prayed that she'd be found safe and I know this must break your heart. Run free Ginger.

I'm so very, very sorry.

Run free, Ginger.   

Very sorry to hear the bad news :( 

 I'm sitting here, crying, not knowing what to say. I'm so, so sorry.

My condolences to you and your family.

Run free and happy at the Bridge Ginger!

 I agree with the suggestions about the complaints to vet boards, state vet's office and BBB.  I'm sure the nurse if very upset and sorry this happened, but that does not change the fact that the proper authorities should be notified.

After you've laid her to rest and your heart has healed a little, I would write down a list of suggestions for the vet about what went wrong and how you think it might have been handled differently.  Maybe the members here who've commented previously can post some things their offices/shelters/etc do differently that help prevent this type of thing from happening, such as the double leash, hospital type identifying collar, etc.  I would hope that they will review and revise their practices.

Again, my heart is breaking for you and your family.  I know she was welcomed by lots of loved pets and is frolicking with new friends who'll keep her company until you see one another again.  

I was so hoping she would be found okay.   I'm so sorry at this outcome! Poor little Ginger, she didn't deserve this!

 I can't help but reiterate what Janet and others have said. This vet office needs to know what they've done, and they need consequences, severe ones. The tech lost a dog because of not paying attention to what she was doing, plain and simple. And they seriously screwed up by not calling you right away!
 

Pit_Pointer_Aussie

I would ask for the person responsible to be fired. As a direct result of her stupidity and lack of concern Ginger is gone.

Whoa!!  Let's get all the facts here before encouraging this kind of demand.  It would be too easy for the vets to use this woman as a scapegoat.  She did search for an hour and she did take the next day off to look for Ginger.  That doesn't sound like "lack of concern".

The woman has been described as a "nurse", but how much training and experience has she had?  Is she a vet tech or merely a teenager hired to walk dogs and clean cages. 

I want answers to questions like:

1. Who called off the initial search after 1 hr?
2. Why wasn't the owner called until 3 hours after Ginger escaped?
3. Why weren't clinic personal trained to double leash?
4. Why isn't there a secure, fenced area for walking dogs?
5. Why did Ginger not have a clinic ID on her?

The woman was negligent, but the vets had the responsibility to properly train her and to minimize the possibility of a dog escaping.  If these "professionals" had done their job, I doubt this would have happened. 

If the woman broke well known clinic rules requiring her to double leash, then I would support dismissal.  However, that doesn't excuse the clinic not having a fenced area.

I am so so sorry for your loss.  {{hugs}}  My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.