My name is Mancene Sinclair, and I live in Ransomville, New York. I own 7 dogs, 5 of them Siberian Huslies, 2 of them are mixed breed. As you can imagine, I spend alot of money on my dogs, they are my family. My husband, 49 years old, was disabled in a car accident in 1999, and he can no longer work in his profession of plumbing. He has had several hospital stays himself, in the last 9 years, much of it not being covered by his insurance. His monthly ssd payment is 1594.00 a month. In addition, he gets a monthly annuity of 1154.00, which covers only our monthly mortgage payment. I too work, in the summer months, selling tours, making commission. My weekly average this summer has been only about $450. Six weeks ago, my daughter (28yrs old), left her abusive husband, and came home to live with us, with her 3 children, 8, 4 and 3 years old. Her husband, has not yet paid her a dime in child support. She is in the process of fighting him for this, but as of now, my husband and I are supporting them as well.
This past Friday, one of my huskies, "Dewey", an all white huskie, with blue eyes, escaped from our yard. We have the "Underground Dog Watch" fence system, which normally prevents our dogs from leaving our 5 and 1/2 acre property. Friday, however, Dewey, must've spotted a rabbit, a deer, or something which he chased after, right out into the woods, behind our home. It was only 5 minutes, before I noticed he was no longer in our yard, and I called for him for 5 minutes. I then decided to get my car keys and search for him. I found him no more then 400 yards from my home, lying in a ditch, next to the country road, unable to move. (Don't know if he was hit by a car, kicked by a deer???) I pulled my car up next to him, and he tried standing up, only to fall face first into the ground. Before I could get out of the car to help him, he had staggered his way over to my car, and managed to jump into the front seat, and then sort of fell into the back seat of my car. I knew he was hurt. His right arm, just hung. It was 6:30pm, and I knew the only 24 hour hospital I could get him to fast enough was Grand Island Animal Hospital, which is also affiliated with "Wheatfield Animal Hospital", which is where I take all 7 of my dogs for check ups and shots.
Before the staff would even look at him, or provide him with pain relief, they spent 10 minutes coming up with an estimate of costs for treatment, to the tune of $1,268.00. They wanted what they called a "Down payment", before they would even comfort him. The downpayment turned out to be the full $1,268.00. I gave them a "Care Credit Card", which I LUCKILY happened to have.
The next morning, Dr. Levine called at around 7:00am to tell me that "Dewy's" xray showed his shoulder bone was snapped. He told me he believed that all the nerves had also been detached. 4 Hours later, he called and told me, that it was infact, NOT broken, but that all the nerves were "Probably" detached, and then he would need his leg amputated, but that I could talk to Dr. Harper on Monday morning about this, because Dr, Harper, was "Off" for the weekend. Emergency hospital, main head Dr.....OFF.
Needless to say, my husband and I were in total despair......not only because of the pain and fear we knew our baby was enduring, but also because of what Dr. Levine had said about amputation. We both wondered, how could he come to this conclusion, without knowing FOR SURE, that his nerves were detached, being he had told us already, that an xray, would not be able to show this. One hour later, I went to visit Dewey, at the hospital, where I met a great Vet Tech named Christine. She saw I was very upset, and told me that there were "Laser" treatments they could do, that could stimulate the nerves into feeling again, and that all I had to do was sign the request form, and she would start this treatment that afternoon, the cost being only $342.00 for 7 sessions. She gave me great HOPE, and I hugged her with all of my might. I had talked to a vet twice that morning, and this was never mentioned to me......only AMPUTATION............the worst of our fears, at the worst possible time.
Why I will always wonder, would a DR. of animals, who is supposed to have compasssion, even bring up the issue of amputation, only 18 hours after the mishap?????? Why would it take a Vet tech, to care enough to provide hope, and assistance to a dog, who relies on humans, for what is best for him?
Sunday, the next day I went back to visit him. I was told I would probably not be allowed to visit him the next day, it would be too busy for them to allow me to visit him. The best interest of the animal....I think not, but rather, what would be best for the staff. Still they had no answers, but this great Vet tech showed me 4 of his xrays, that showed he had no broken bones, but had excess air in his stomach, and around his lungs and heart. There was no Dr. to show me these xrays. There was no real explanation of why the air was there, or when it might be gone.
Monday morning Dr, Harper called and left a message that he felt "Dewey" indeed needed at least 6 weeks to decide that feeling would not return to his nerves, and that I could bring him home, where he felt he would recuperate much quicker, and that we could pick him up between 6 and 7 that night. One hour later, he called to tell me to be sure and bring more money, because my bill had increased $1,400.00 more then what I had already paid on Friday night's estimate of cost. He said it was for MORE xrays, and the extra nights of hospitalization. I couldn't believe, that first they wouldn't even touch him without a $1,268.00 down payment (part of that being for a cast, that they never had to use) but they could run up another $1.400.00 in charges without so much of a mention of the increase. I asked the Dr. Harper, what would've happened, if I hadn't had my Care Credit card when I came in with Dewey, and as plan as could be he said "Well, you could've put him down". This dog is 20 months old. I had always been under the impression, Veterinarians, cared about animals, more then their priority for MONEY. Your kidding me right?
So, we go to the Vet hospital last night to pick our Dewey boy up. He is no better then when we brought him in 3 days earlier, and we still no NOTHING, other then his leg is not broken. There was no Dr. there to tell me how his blood work was, how the air inside him was. We were given an antibiotic for him, and no pain meds. Whether he should have them or not, we don't know, because once again, the priority was MONEY. I thought my Care Credit card still had 1500.00 credit on it. It didn't. I thought my husband had 1500.00 credit on his, and I had 1500.00 credit, but it turned out it was only 1,500.00 for the both of us. They had already charged 1268.00 on it two days earlier. I had only 600.00 I could give them from 1 card, and 100.00 from another credit card. At that point the office manager, named Sharon, told us, they would not carry over a balance, and that we COULD NOT HAVE OUR dog until this balance was paid. (She said she would not charge us to keep Dewey there another night-as a hostage basically, unbelievable!) The balance still due after the 750.00 payment we scraped together on the spot was 310.00. (Part fo the 1400.00 balance due was 342.00 for laser treatments that had not even been done yet, so that charge she took off also, ironically, the only thing really that might help him.) My husband started demanding to talk to the Dr., but she said he was home, and she wasn't going to bother him. I told her I would leave her all my credit cards, my license, I would bring the rest of the payment to her within 2 days. She said "No, you cannot have your dog until I receive payment...the last time I let somebody walk away without paying the bill they never came back, and they took that $150.00 right out of my paycheck, there is no way you are taking your dog without payment." At this time, another customer, who witnessed my crying my eyes out, and my husband demanding to get his dog back, offered us her credit card. A TOTAL STRANGER! There are TRULY wonderful people out there, but my husband refused her very kindest offer. The assistants at the desk, apologized profusely to me, gave me a box of kleenix, and told me they were so embarrassed by their office managers treatment of us. It was at this point, the office manager made a call, and came out and said she would let Dewey go home with us, if we signed a promissory note. We would have been more then happy to do that, before the emotional trama, she caused us, on top of our worries for our beloved dog.
We have scraped every dollar we could get together, to cover this 2600.00 dollar bill, which neither told us what was wrong, nor cured him. I was charged for 7 xrays, that not one doctor even went over with me. The breakdown of this bill, was never explained, and certainly not understood. What's worse, is that if it does come down to needing an amputaion, how much could that possibly cost us, if for nothing, it cost us 2600.00????.
If Dewey was a human, he would've been treated right away, financial decisons, would've been made after. You would never hear a Dr. tell a patient, "Oh, you don't have the money, well I guess we'll just kill you then."
What happened to compassion, for humans, and animals. My dogs are as much my family, as my children, and grandchildren are. What kind of world is this??????????????????????????
First. I would like to know, if there is anyway I can get assistance with the expense of this horrible accident. Please don't tell me I shouldn't have an animal if I can't afford it, these costs are OUTRAGEOUS. When MONEY, is more important then the treatment of a beautiful young animal, then they shouldn't be Veterinarians. If this office manager could afford to "write off" the cost of holding my dog hostage another night for payment, then why couldn't they write off charges, they never consulting me on before charging to me????? What kind of Veterinarian, would tell owners of a sick dog, who are very distraught anyway, that they will have to amputate a dog's leg, before they even have the slightest clue, it may be necessary????????? Couldn't this have been mentioned 3 weeks from now, when some of the trauma of this situation had settled? Wouldn't you think this would be something they would cautiously suggest, after it was more apparent it would be necessary? Did he show any regard for our feelings whatsoever? NO. Maybe it is that there is more money for them to be made by amputating. I only know, that more traumatic then my dog being so injured, is my wake up call about Veterinarians. It is not only the ridiculous cost of caring for them, but the unforgivable lack of compassion for them.
I am currently writing a book about my dogs, I love them more then anything, and with certainty I can tell you, that money I make from this book, will go to a fund for people like me, who love their animals, and should NEVER have to be told to put their animal to sleep, because there is no money to cover the OUTRAGEOUS cost of their care. Something also needs to be done, so that Dr.s of animals, priority, is the care the animals receive, and not the money they ONLY seem to care about. They should also not require their employees, to cover payments, people couldn't afford to pay. THIS IS WRONG.....WRONG......WRONG. I left feeling sorry for her as well, with pressure on her to collect, the impossible. Don't punish us, for loving our animals. Please.....do something to change this system, for the love of animals.............PLEEEAAASSSSSEEEEEEEEEE. Help me, and others please.
How do I trust a Veterinarian now???????????????????? It took seven xrays, and $2600.00 to tell me, his shoulder is dislocated, ooops, no, it's broken, oops no, it;s not broken, it just needs amputated, but then again, maybe 6 weeks of therapy would work......who would you trust?
