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Oak Grove Animal Clinic
Oak Grove Animal Clinic
(1 Review)
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1706 South Broadway Street Oak Grove, MO 64075
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(1 Review)
My complaint filed with Oak Grove Animal Clinic with the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board:

Exhibit A
Two Pages
Gregg Miller

On June 30, 2015 I took Winston my Boxer to Oak Grove Animal Hospital for evaluation as he was not feeling well. Winston was 12 years 10 months old. I got Winston when he was a 6 week old puppy and due to my self employment was able to have Winston at my side 24 hours a day seven days a week. In fact, during his entire life we were not apart more than several hours in total.

When I took Winston in for his appointment I discovered that his regular veterinarian- Dr Neal -was on vacation. Dr Neal had been Winston's vet for over 10 years. Winston trusted and adored Dr Neal.

To my disappointment, Dr Neal was in NY on vacation and I was assigned Stacy Messener DVM This is where my story begins.

From the onset Dr Messener was rude and terse, He appeared rushed and morbidly uncaring. Within seconds Dr Messener  diagnosed Winston with a large tumor near his groin area. This was confirmed by XRAY and blood work "You're dog will be dead in two days" he told me without concern. . I was dumbfounded by the news that Winston had a large tumor and realized  he was near death. Dr Messener showed no compassion and acted angry.. I told Dr Messener that Winston was the most  important thing in my life and he looked up rolling his eyes walked out of the exam room returning moments later.

He told me that he could do (exploratory) surgery to remove the tumor or I could go to Blue Pearl. I took Winston home. called  Blue Pearl, and determined - due to price and travel factors- that Oak Grove would be the most practical.

On July 1, I took Winston in for surgery. I waited in an exam room. Dr Messener entered with a tech and told the vet tech to  put a muzzle on Winston. I told him I would not allow that. Dr Messener would not allow me to go into the OR with Winston  and I insisted that I go with Winston to be with him until he was at least anesthetized. The second Winston was under Dr Messener- again acting angry and agitated told me "get out" -which I did.

This is where the horror of my encounter begins and reason for filing this complaint.

I viewed from a distance, unknown to Dr Messener, the performance of Dr Messener through a small window to the closed door to the OR. Sterile technique was not employed. Instead of being rude, terse and uncaring- he was jovial-talking to the  vet tech non-stop and appeared to be telling the jokes and he and the vet tech were laughing while he cut open my beloved Winston.

Dr Messener cut out a perfectly healthy organ, his spleen, I believe, put it on a silver platter and had the vet tech bring it out  for me to see.

"Why are you showing this to me?", I asked the vet tech. The vet tech said he had no idea and said that it was an organ that Winston did not need anyway. I asked where was the tumor on the organ and the vet tech said there was no tumor on the organ. I asked again "why are you showing me this"? and the vet tech had no answer,

About 10 minutes later Dr Messener emerged from the OR and told me that the tumor was the "size of a football" and could  not be removed as Winston would bleed to death in the process and the only option would be to put him to sleep on the table.  I asked Dr Messener to remove the tumor but he said that the clinic had no blood in inventory.

My complaint with Dr Messener was not with his behavior and the plethora of cutting remarks to me but:

A) Why was sterile technique not used.
B) Why was he laughing during surgery on my precious Winston
C) Why did he cut out a body part, put in on a platter and have the vet tech show it to me
D) Why was there no blood on hand to perform a successful procedure.

I was billed twice for blood work- the first time on June 30 and a second time on July 1. No blood work was performed on July 1.

Dr Messener went on an extended "leave of absence" several weeks after Winston's death.

A week or so later Dr Neal called me and acknowledged Winston's death. 30 days later, allowing emotions to settle, I sent Dr Neal an email detailing the behavior and actions of Dr Messener. Dr Neal took no action. In fact, Dr Neal did not respond to my email. It was not until I obtained Humphrey, an English Bulldog puppy, that the incident was even discussed and I brought up the matter. Dr Neal even stated that he had consulted Dr Messener over the allergies that Humphrey was suffering which was interpreted as support to Dr Messener as he actually boasted it,

The bill exceeded $1000.

I am no longer a client of Oak Grove Animal Clinic.

It should be noted that during my encounters with Dr Messener I maintained composure.

I am filing this complaint- even though it has been over 4 years since Winston's death- because not a single day goes by that I do not think of my beloved Winston. how Winston was exploited and how not does a day go by that I do not envision seeing his perfectly healthy organ presented to me on a platter.

Dr Messener remains at Oak Grove Animal Hospital as do the horror's I witnessed that July 1 day of 2015 that will remain with  me forever.


                                                                                       # # #
by Gregg Miller xxx.xxx.17.166
January 11, 2019
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1706 South Broadway Street, Oak Grove, MO 64075