I just can’t figure out a few things about people. Personally, I try my best to accommodate people and be “kind and loving to one another, forgiving one another, just like Christ Jesus forgave (me)”. Well, sometimes the forgiveness part comes a little late, but I do try. I usually can find something redeeming about everyone and hope they do the same for me.
This week I’ve just been annoyed with people in general (so much for the forgiveness part!). We’ve been working very hard at the clinic, working long hours and tending to various personal events in the lives of our staff. We do our best to schedule appointments at the client’s earliest convenience or we work with their personal schedules to accommodate them. If bending over backwards was an Olympic sport, we’d be in the medal round! When people just walk in the door without an appointment we try not to yell out “RUDE” and just grin and work them in (maybe under my breath I say, “Thanks alot buddy. I’ll just eat lunch sometime tomorrow while I help you out with your emergency nail trim?”).
I guess working with the public just demands that you have thick skin and learn to smile (maybe a modest grin) in all circumstances. The hypocrisy is that behind that fake smile I’m thinking, “Why can’t you respect my time and effort enough to just call ahead?”. Are we talking about common courtesy here? I just need a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
This week we had a family come in during a busy time requesting that their pet be put to sleep. That is a horrible event even with the best planning. We always try to speak discretely with them and work them into the schedule as quickly as possible. This guy had the audacity to tell us to go to his truck and do the procedure out in the parking lot so he wouldn’t have to bring her in. The cold front had already blown in and the skies were dark. What was he thinking? Do we have a drive-through lane?
In defense of him I’m thinking, “Sure, no one wants to carry in their 60 pound dog in front of a crowded lobby” or worse yet when they request home burial no one wants to have us carry the corpse out in front a on-lookers. But, doesn’t the more logical mind say, “I don’t want a 44 year-old veterinarian standing out in the cold wind amongst gazing eyes trying to find a vein on a hypothermic animal while cars are driving by seeing her derriere up in the air!”. Now THAT would have been a scene. It’s a small town…people will talk.
Today after we had closed at noon a family came in with 2 dogs. We had made the mistake of forgetting to lock the front door but we did have the “closed” sign up and the hours clearly posted on the door. It wasn’t 12:01 p.m. either. It was almost 1:00 p.m.. I was in surgery when I heard the door alarm chime. I exited the surgery and snuck through the exam room to peak my head out and find out who had just entered the building. In my nicest, accommodating yet annoyed voice I explained that we were closed. Without skipping a beat, they explained that they needed vaccinations and a nail trim (both life-threatening procedures, for sure). I said, “I’m in surgery now and you’ll have to wait?”. I also told the kids, “I know you’re hungry…we’ll be leaving as soon as possible. Just hang in there.” Do you think that evoked any sympathy from the client??
Nope. She smiled and said she’d be happy to wait. Grrrrrrrr. At that point I should have said, “Grab a pillow and blanket ’cause I’ll be back with you MONDAY MORNING!”.
Another family came in today who were scheduled to board their pet throughout the weekend. When they got there they had a slight twist to the plan. Actually, they only wanted to board them today and come back this afternoon (when we were closed) and pick them up at their convenience. I explained that boarding on the weekend involves leaving them until Monday and that we don’t make special trips to town to release pets unless LARGE amounts of cash are slipped under the table in un-marked bills. OK…I didn’t mention the bribe but it was a thought.
So, I just started thinking, someday I’m going to drive up to our pediatrician’s office and take the kids in for their yearly vaccination unannounced…no appointment. I was also thinking about going to the dentist and walking in and asking them to check our teeth…and then add if they could just come out to the car to do the exam that it would sure help me out. Maybe I’ll wait until the the orthodontist is closed and sneak in the door with the cleaning lady and ask for an early appointment so we don’t have to make an extra trip on our regularly scheduled day. Or how about taking my car to the garage for a tune-up and asking them if I can pick it up later after they’re closed? I bet the restaurant staff would like me order breakfast during lunch and lunch during breakfast. I could call the 9-1-1 dispatch for a hangnail.
I sure wish I knew where these people worked. I’d show up everyday on their lunch hour and make them late. I’d ask for things and when they bring it, I’d change my mind…4 times! And, I’d make sure I always showed up at closing. I do have these people’s cell phones on file. I could start a new phone campaign to make follow-up calls on their pet…perhaps starting my calls at midnight? I’ll just explain that it’s the only free time I have since during the remainder of the day I have idiots showing up anytime they want.
But, we did have a precious soul come in today. A gentle, quiet spirited elderly man waited patiently in the lobby with his cat in its carrier. He had made an appointment! When it was his time to enter the exam room he came with such concern. Apparently, he had only had the cat 3 weeks and ironically the cat had adopted him…walking straight inside his house through his doggie-door!
It was a beautiful gray tabby Tomcat with peaceful green eyes but the rest of his body was exhausted. He was skin-and-bones and also severely dehydrated. His temperature was actually cold and his gum color was white. The man was so honored to take care of this cat and they had enjoyed many evenings together in the recliner, the cat enjoying his gentle hands and warm lap. He was sure the cat just had worms and after treating it he would neuter it and they’d be companions for life. He truly loved this cat.
But, being the bearer of bad news, I had to request that we test if first for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and the Feline Immunodefiency Virus (FIV) which is so deadly in the feral and outdoor cat population, especially breeding males and females. He agreed and what a disappointment when the FeLV test came back positive. I hated to bring him the news.
He took is so hard. He was weeping so hard that he had trouble catching his breath. He kept his handkerchief at his face and repeatedly apologized for his behavior (which I personally find admirable). We discussed the options from this point…caring for a dying pet or doing the euthanasia now to spare the cat any further pain. What a painful thing to watch. His heart was so broken. But, what a comfort to know that he had a heart so soft and sensitive and that he loved that little critter in his last 3 weeks when he needed him most. A stinky, fat-cheeked tom-cat had found a buddy and impacted a life. I thought about how sometimes we entertain angels unaware.
There are definitely more kind people than cruel, more compassionate people than hard-hearted. Why is it that the “bad apples” spoil the whole bushel-full!
I’m going to try to get over my grouchiness somehow. I know there are some M&M’s somewhere around here….I think the red ones are just what the doctor ordered!
Have I ever told you I like M&M's... I think they like me too.
Filed under: Animals, Collinsville Veterinary Hospital | Tagged: Animals, Collinsville, staff, Veterinary Hospital
Man, you should anonymously submit something like this to your local paper, maybe people might get the hint about respecting your closed hours if its not an emergency.
People have a lot of nerve!