As many of you know, we recently moved back to MI from WI which meant finding a new vet for Charlie. Well, we went yesterday and I can honestly say I have never had an experience like this before nor will I ever forget it. So, I was waiting there with Charlie and Riley (I had to bring her and it was totally unavoidable due to 100 other issues I have going on) for Charlie's appt. In walks two very large, very aggressive, very uncontrollable dogs with their owners. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and didn't pass judgement right away; however, as we sat there it became quite clear that these dogs were OUT OF CONTROL and very powerful. Frankly, I was starting to get scared but they called me in the exam room so I was OK....I thought.
The way the vet's office is structured, the exam rooms open to the waiting room. So I had to ask the gentlemen to move their dogs so I could pass. Once we get in the room the vet tech asks me what all of the comotion is about. By this point the dogs are doing something that I would call screaming and growling at everyone and everything and trashing around. The owners could not get them to consistently lay down (they were shouting out the lay down command which wasn't working). I told her and she just rolled her eyes, saying they should do something about that. So, there I sat with Riley and Charlie for ONE HOUR in the exam room waiting for the vet to come in. All this time these two dogs are FREAKING OUT (screaming, barking, growling, thrashing around) outside my door. They hit the door at least three times popping it open. It got to the point that I moved to the opposite corner just in case one of them got loose. Poor Charlie was totally stressing, I was trying to stay calm (Riley on the other hand was having the time of her life and thought it was funny that little stinker). I wanted to leave but couldn't because these dogs were blocking the door. Normally, it if was just Charlie and I, I would have scooped him up and walked out. But, since I had Riley I couldn't carry both of them and I was stuck in this room with no way out.
Finally the vet comes in and I ask him what the deal is with the dogs, his basic response was yeah, they are aggressive. I was floored. At this point I just wanted to get the exam done, get on with it, and go home. He walked out to get a vet tech to hold Charlie for his ear exam. While the vet tech was there (vet had walked out for a minute) she couldn't believe what was going on (like this was the first time she heard the dogs). She said they were trying to get them in an exam room because they are out of control. Finally, the vet walks back in and says they are moving the dogs to a different area so I could leave the room since it wasn't safe for me to walk out there. This entire time I am totally speechlees, I was so upset I didn't even know what to say.
Finally we get out of there, pay and leave. I came home and called back and talked to the receptionist and told her what happened and how upset I was. Her response was, yeah I don't know why they brought them in together since they "fight" and it's never good. I told her that it was the vet's responsibility to make sure situations like these don't happen. That the vet failed to protect his other clients. That he should be aware of these dogs' issues (they all admitted they had been there before) and should make sure this situation should not occur. Her response was, sorry.
I have to say that I have never been in a situation like this before. Where I was scared for both myself, Charlie and Riley and couldn't leave. Of course, yesterday was the day I left my cell phone at home. Otherwise I would have called someone and told them to come up there immediately. Or I would have called the vet and told them to get me out of the room. I know this all sounds so dramatic, but honestly it was very scary.
WOW, thanks I feel better now. Thanks for listening
P.S. Not only was the whole experience a disaster, the vet barely looked at Charlie, didn't ask any questions and frankly didn't seem interested in us at all. Well, so much for recommendations, we will never be back!!