I left a small animal practice when I was told by a woman who had worked there as a tech that the vet had a temper and a drinking problem, and that animals in the back room on a bad day could suffer the fallout, regardless of species. This is a bit OT, however.
[QUOTE=EKLay;8116074]
We take our animals to a clinic with multiple doctors. One is a cat specialist, but all of them are very good with cats in general. They arenāt on that AAFP listing for my area, but I would recommend them without hesitation to any other cat owners.
We did leave a previous practice for a sort of related reason - the main vet retired, and his successor did not like dogs, which we didnāt find out until we were refused an appointment one day. The successor was great with our cats, but was completely unprofessional when we called for the appointment and thatās when we learned about the deep dislike of dogs. The vet was quite clear on her position, we were clear on why we left, and our current clinic is wonderful. I was surprised by learning that about the successor vet, as I had assumed she liked all small animals since it was a small animal practice. Maybe I should start asking prospective vets if they like the type of animal Iām bringing in?[/QUOTE] I have no problem with a vet only treating cats or only treating dogs. But if I found out the feline specialist kicked dogs (even the small yappy ones I canāt stand) I wouldnāt continue taking my cats to them.
But yeah how do you know if the vet is just working for a pay check of if they actually are invested in having an excellent outcome. I donāt know.
Todayās update: she is facing criminal charges. Guess she didnāt get all that hard drive cleared after all!
http://www.examiner.com/article/texas-veterinarian-facing-criminal-charges-for-killing-pet-cat
That headline is not entirely accurate. The Austin County Sheriffās office completed their investigation and this morning turned everything over to the DAās office. (This is per the Austin County Sherrifās Facebook page, which I saw this morning.) The DAās office will now decide whether to press charges. That decision has not yet been made but I am sure will be announced soon.
Here is a different news sourceā¦
From the pictures she looks fairly young so it is likely she still has student loans from vet school. So she may have thousands of dollars in loans for a career she canāt use.
[QUOTE=wireweiners;8116643]
From the pictures she looks fairly young so it is likely she still has student loans from vet school. So she may have thousands of dollars in loans for a career she canāt use.[/QUOTE]
Goodā¦Sheād deserve it.
[QUOTE=wireweiners;8116643]
From the pictures she looks fairly young so it is likely she still has student loans from vet school. So she may have thousands of dollars in loans for a career she canāt use.[/QUOTE]
I believe Iāve read that sheās 30. Still, I imagine the bills still are pretty hefty.
^This.
ā¦and, about the farrier and the other cat hating examples that have been posted on this thread. I have to say that I am just stunned that there is apparently this general knowledge of extreme cat dislike/hatred amongst people, especially āanimal peopleā like horse folks. I am saying this truthfully, and because so many anecdotal stories have been posted I believe that it must be somewhat true. How is this possible? Also, I donāt know how I missed it! I know not everyone loves catsā¦ most Iāve seen are kind of lukewarm on the species, but really disliking them? My family is crazy about cats. One of the best things my father ever did with me was taking me to the cat shelter to adopt new homeless cats and kittens from my earliest years. We had room for three, so we always had three. It was āthe right thing to doā.
I donāt really know what I want to know here, but can someone attempt to put into perspective this cat hate, at least within the horse community? Againā¦ HOW have I missed it?
Leg Traps
A few other posters also wondered āout loudā about the leg trap issue. I donāt think it has been addressed on this thread so I did some very brief digging with the last five minutes I had before having to jet out the door. If others find that this info should be added to or amended, please donāt hesitate to do so.
First, as I understand it only a few states prohibit or restrict the use of leg traps. This action-group (Born Free) seems to have a pretty comprehensive list on their website:
http://www.bornfreeusa.org/b4a4_traps.php
Texas appears to allow the use of all types of leg traps.
This article details the use of leg traps in Texas for the control of coyotes. I thought it was interesting that the article noted the necessity of adjusting the tension plate to NOT catch unintended animals like rabbits, opossums, etc. Similarly cat-sized critters.
http://agrilife.org/texnatwildlife/coyotes/table-of-contents/lethal-options-for-controlling-coyotes/
In my scanning it appears that leg traps are used either for controlling large problem predators such as coyotes and then occasionally (in restricted areas) for fur harvesting. This makes me wonder thenā¦ WHERE was this trap set? For some reason I have it in my head that this trap was set in a yard in a suburban sprawl type area. I know coyotes are present in suburbia, but no where does it suggest in my research that leg traps should be used where people frequent. Can someone clear this upā¦ maybe one of the locals can describe the area? Not that anything will come of this other than satisfying my need for the info.
I think hating any animal is a pathological behavior. I understand not loving them, and choosing to not have one, but hatred of something because of its species is a clear indication of something being nqr in a human. Now I am not labelling anyone on this thread, but every time any of us talk on an internet thread, we may very well be identifying something about yourself to others.
The character of a person can be evaluated by how they treat those that are weaker then than an cannot fight back. Cats, or any animals, have only the desire to live, survive and reproduce, which are the most natural of all desires. To hate something because of its nature is not appropriate.
there is a difference between recognising a problem and discussing a solution, and the obvious cruelty displayed in that photo.
.
That animal is not dead, that woman is a vet, she knows it is not dead yet, dead animals dangle lifelessly, they do not hold their front legs up, also that poor cats hind leg is severed off, so it was obviously not euthanized humanely.
the person, proud of their actions, and boasting to their mother, who took the photo, is clearly displaying joy at the cruelty of her actions.
and this some would defend. Well, that says a lot about her defenders.
i find the photo very disturbing. It is even more disturbing reading that some support or even acclaim the person doing it.
I didnāt realize the poor animal was still alive until it was explained on here.
I can see euthanizing a severely injured animal, but nothing about what this person did was humane, or anything but absolute torture and cruelty.
I canāt imagine the suffering of the cat, or the suffering of the owners to find out how their pet died.
[QUOTE=Paks;8116174]
I have no problem with a vet only treating cats or only treating dogs. But if I found out the feline specialist kicked dogs (even the small yappy ones I canāt stand) I wouldnāt continue taking my cats to them.
But yeah how do you know if the vet is just working for a pay check of if they actually are invested in having an excellent outcome. I donāt know.[/QUOTE]
I have no problem with specializing in one or the other either. This particular one told us that she would treat our dog, but cats had preferential appointments and that our dog could wait another week to get her stitches out because she was ājustā a dog and dogs were tougher so it didnāt matter as much. That was what made me ask for a copy of the records and let them know we were taking our dog and cats elsewhere.
[QUOTE=Fractious Fox;8117036]
^This.
ā¦and, about the farrier and the other cat hating examples that have been posted on this thread. I have to say that I am just stunned that there is apparently this general knowledge of extreme cat dislike/hatred amongst people, especially āanimal peopleā like horse folks. I am saying this truthfully, and because so many anecdotal stories have been posted I believe that it must be somewhat true. How is this possible? Also, I donāt know how I missed it! I know not everyone loves catsā¦ most Iāve seen are kind of lukewarm on the species, but really disliking them? My family is crazy about cats. One of the best things my father ever did with me was taking me to the cat shelter to adopt new homeless cats and kittens from my earliest years. We had room for three, so we always had three. It was āthe right thing to doā.
I donāt really know what I want to know here, but can someone attempt to put into perspective this cat hate, at least within the horse community? Againā¦ HOW have I missed it?[/QUOTE]
I agree! I mean, I know not everyone adores cats the way I do, but I have not noticed many (any?) truly obvious cat-haters. Iāve definitely heard people say they donāt like cats (including horse people), but Iāve not heard anyone express any kind of vehement dislike for them as a species. I mean, I LOVE cats, but even I find them annoying sometimes if there are 7 of them under my feet when Iām trying to get things done around the barn. So, I guess I always thought the people who were expressing dislike of cats were expressing a nominal annoyance rather than actual hatred. Now I wonder if Iām wrong.
Having just had my wonderful cat pass away a few weeks ago, I will say that non-cat people do not understand the grief at ALL. Some people at work even trivialized his death and seemed annoyed that I missed work the day he had surgery and the day after, when he died. There was a definite undertone of āat least you didnāt lose a DOG - that would be so much worse.ā 
[QUOTE=FineAlready;8117427]
I agree! I mean, I know not everyone adores cats the way I do, but I have not noticed many (any?) truly obvious cat-haters. Iāve definitely heard people say they donāt like cats (including horse people), but Iāve not heard anyone express any kind of vehement dislike for them as a species. I mean, I LOVE cats, but even I find them annoying sometimes if there are 7 of them under my feet when Iām trying to get things done around the barn. So, I guess I always thought the people who were expressing dislike of cats were expressing a nominal annoyance rather than actual hatred. Now I wonder if Iām wrong.
Having just had my wonderful cat pass away a few weeks ago, I will say that non-cat people do not understand the grief at ALL. Some people at work even trivialized his death and seemed annoyed that I missed work the day he had surgery and the day after, when he died. There was a definite undertone of āat least you didnāt lose a DOG - that would be so much worse.ā :([/QUOTE]
First, I am so very sorry for the loss of your cat.
I havenāt come across cat haters, per se, but many who simply dismiss cats as some sort of āpestā, less worthy than dogs.
Or somehow barn and feral cats are just fine to treat badly, because they are not a pet cat.
[QUOTE=redalter;8117498]
First, I am so very sorry for the loss of your cat.
I havenāt come across cat haters, per se, but many who simply dismiss cats as some sort of āpestā, less worthy than dogs.
Or somehow barn and feral cats are just fine to treat badly, because they are not a pet cat.[/QUOTE]
Thank you - he really was such a good buddy and was with me through many major events in my life. I miss him every day.
I agree that the attitude you describe is the primary ācat dislikeā I encounter.
[QUOTE=FineAlready;8117514]
Thank you - he really was such a good buddy and was with me through many major events in my life. I miss him every day.
I agree that the attitude you describe is the primary ācat dislikeā I encounter.[/QUOTE]
I know how you feel. They are family. 
I have yet to post on this thread, because I havenāt felt I had much to add. I think what this vet did is disgusting, and not really at all in line with dealing with āpeskyā ferals.
My dad does not like animals. He just doesnāt see the point. He REALLY does not like cats. If he never encountered another cat in his life, he would be totally okay with that. To him, the only good cats are cats that donāt exist. HOWEVER. He would never. ever. EVER. harm a cat or another animal. And he would never ever think what this woman did was okay. Going out of your way to harm a living creature just for the fun of it is never acceptable (and Iām not talking about hunting deer, ect.). Even my dad who absolutely 110% just does not get animals would think this womanās actions insane.
Itās not surprising that serial killers usually start off with animalsā¦
[QUOTE=Preposterous Ponies!;8117627]
Itās not surprising that serial killers usually start off with animalsā¦[/QUOTE]
Seriously.
Whenever I read āSSSā on this board I fill in the blanks with āSure Sign of a Sociopath.ā
[QUOTE=french fry;8117644]
Seriously.
Whenever I read āSSSā on this board I fill in the blanks with āSure Sign of a Sociopath.ā[/QUOTE]
If defending my bleeding and terrified pets by killing their attacker, who is killing their babies in their own barn, makes me a sociopath, then unfortunately that is a cross I will have to bear, and I will bear it knowing I did the right thing to protect the animals I love.
Itās easy to paint with a broad brush.
I continue to think what this veterinarian did was reprehensibleā¦as I made clear in an earlier post, which can be reread if one chooses.
I have saved many many animal lives in my time, more than can be counted. I have worked in rescue of all types, from exotic mammals that foolish people tried to make into pets, reptiles and amphibians of all types, to the more common household pets. In the month after the fire that took everything from me, I bottle raised a litter of twelve puppies whose mother had rejected them from birth. I spend an inordinate amount of time online answering emails and messages from people seeking help with their goats, and I do it because I enjoy helping people, because I enjoy the pursuit of knowledge and sharing it among others.
And I saved the lives of my goats using the āSSSā moniker.
Iām not trying to come at you in an ugly way or attack, as some people seem to assume I am doing when I speak about what they have posted.
I am only trying to make the other side more clear, not just for the person I am speaking to, but for anyone else who comes along and reads these words. The more knowledge we have, of all sides, even the ones we disagree with, the better.
Epona,
I read your posts on the other thread (and hit the ālikeā button, FWIW) and am certainly not trying to suggest that you did anything other than what needed to be done.
The cutesy āSSSā acronym makes light of something that I wish everyone would take as seriously as you do.
When I see people bragging about it or joking about on COTH, my above post is where my mind goes.
