Do you have any suggestions for CVNer Gina-Dianne F., who sent over the photos and the following message, We took our cat, Litttle Cutie to Castro Valley Animal Hospital because he had what turned out to be a life threatening Urinary Blockage. We first took him to another Vet Hospital where we were quoted $2600 for treatment. I called CVAH and read off the medicines and procedures listed from the estimate and was told they would give the same treatment for between $800-$1000. We paid $500 at the time of admission and left owing a balance of $432. The following day I phoned to check in and was told a blood test revealed kidney damage and that he needed to have his system flushed out and would need to stay there an additional 2 days, which would bring our total balance to $618 and we could pick our cat up on Friday October 31st. My fiancé went to pick up Little Cutie but we did not have the full balance which was now well over $700. They told him they will not release our cat until the full balance is paid, and that a boarding fee of $58 per day will be added. The next morning I received a call from the Vet. They wanted to know what our intentions were regarding our cat. I told them we were working on getting the rest of the money. I was told, You have until 6 pm to bring in the entire balance and pick up your cat, or we are bound by law to turn him over to Animal Control. I asked, What happens then; do they try to adopt him out? The response, If we call Animal Control it is for an abandoned animal which you abandoned, and those animals are Euthanized. We were in total disbelief. In a panic, my fiancé called Animal Control to find out if that was true and to see what could be done. Animal Control contacted the Sheriffs Department whom later had my fiancé meet them at the Vets. In the end, the Sheriffs determined there was nothing they could do about them holding Little Cutie until the balance is paid, it falls under the Lien law and is legal. Ethical is another story. To add to this disaster, the Vet has begun charging $191 per day for boarding fees. He has refused to consider any payment arrangements and will not come down on the total balance even though we had a wonderful organization willing to help with the balance which is now a little over $1500 because of the boarding fees. The only legal actions the Vet can take is too sell my cat, or give it to a shelter. A 5-year old domestic shorthair is not going to be sold, and if the Vet gives our cat to a shelter he will also get nothing. We never intended not to pay our Vet bill, we just needed a little time.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 02:31:08 +0000
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