I just returned home from having my twenty year old cat euthanized by Dr. Bates. I rescued my cat when I was nine years old and have cared for her ever since. I brought my cat to Dr. Bates because she had suffered a stroke and was unable to hold down water, lift her head, or walk for more than two steps before falling. After years of treatment for ailments including hyperthyroidism, asthma and arthritis, I made the very difficult decision to stop subjecting my cat to invasive and uncomfortable medical tests and treatments as her condition had ceased to improve or even stabilize. Shortly after she turned nineteen, I sought second opinions on her medical condition and was advised that continuing such treatment seemed to be done more for my own sake, as she was declining in health and quality of life in spite of treatment.
When we arrived at Middletown Animal Clinic today, Dr. Bates made it clear that this assessment of my cat's health and treatment was one she did not agree with. She did not ask any questions about the decisions I had made for my cat and instead began our visit with a very nasty tone, although I was crying and had been since entering the facility. Prior to conducting the procedure, Dr. Bates yelled at me and slammed one of the examination room's doors in my face. It was not until I, though tears, told her assistants that being berated while preparing to say goodbye to my pet was making an incredibly painful experience all the more horrible that Dr. Bates eventually returned to the room and refrained from yelling at me again (which meant she also did not speak to me OR acknowledge my presence WHILE euthanizing my cat).
Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is a terrible thing to do. Saying goodbye to your family member while Dr. Bates screams at you and slams a door so hard the pictures on the walls shake is unnecessarily cruel to both pet and parent. I would not advise anyone to bring a pet to Middletown Animal Clinic.
by wambi97
xxx.xxx.31.198
July 23, 2012