On Sunday 3 December 2008 I took Zeus, a 10 year old Rottweiler to Allen’s Nek Veterinary Clinic. Zeus was listless and difficult to move. He had to be carried to the vet.
On arrival at the clinic, the receptionist asked me a number of questions, including the age of the dog, symptoms, and if euthanasia would be considered if no other option was available. I told her that we did not know what was wrong with Zeus but it seemed serious and he needed to be looked at. I also told her I would have to consult my partner on such a decision.
I went into the consulting room where Zeus was lying on the table. Dr Enst van der Merwe entered the room, and without a word to me, and without giving Zeus an examination, started injecting Zeus, when I asked the Doctor what he was doing, he said that he had euthanized the dog.
I was totally shocked and told him that we had brought the dog to be looked at, could he not stop the process. Dr van der Merwe replied that it was too late and the dog was dead. He then showed me the form that had ‘euthanasia?’ written on it. I have attached the form:
When informed that euthanasia had been an option for consideration, but was not the intention, the doctor replied that he had not seen the question mark next to the word euthanasia.
I asked if it was common practice to euthanize a dog on instruction of the receptionist, without examination of the dog and without explanation to the client. The doctor mentioned it was late on a Sunday and that he had just seen the word euthanasia on the form so that’s what he had done. He also said he was tired and it had been a long day. He also said that he assumed that the reason why I had brought Zeus in was to be euthanased.
I was then ushered out and told to pay, which I did. I asked to speak to the vet but was told he was busy with the next client. I refused to leave and waited for the doctor to finish with the client. I went into the consulting room for an explanation. The doctor kept pointing to the form where the receptionist had written ‘euthanasia?’ By this stage I was distraught and in tears so I left the practice.
After this, he told me that it had been in the best interest of the dog. But how could such a decision be made without any inspection of Zeus?
Lee Shawcroft
34 Comments
I remember my vet telling me that he had a policy with euthanasia – that he would not put a healthy animal down, and that he would tell the person that brought the dog in to go elsewhere if that was their intention. He would only put my old boy Bandit down when he considered his quality of life so severely compromised that it would be too painful for him to continue. Tim earned my eternal respect in so doing.
Perhaps that rule should be enforced. It’s just too easy to arm the needle…
Well well well, do we have another Pringle here? What i find most disgusting is that the lady still had to PAY HIM FOR KILLING HER ANIMAL. I would have point blank refused!
It would be interesting to find out how many other people this has happened to.
So thats it. Snubbed of and excuses himself for being tired and having a long day. These days taking any action against is the same as a Doctor. They will not speak out against each other and in many cases compassion has just gone out the door. Its just a money making job to some and i am sure this is not an isolated incident!!!
Dear Lady, i am so sorry for your loss.
But pray tell………………………………….. what if this had been a doctor and a human child? This animal was a beloved family member, I personally cant see the difference!
And they still had the balls to charge for this mistake? That tops it!!!
Zeus..RIP, big boy…
Dr van der Merwe, you should not have touched any dog while you were so exhausted that you could not even counsel someone on the death of a beloved companion, open you eyes wide enough to notice the question mark, or even give the dog any examination to determine what the problem was.
Oh, and another hint….if your receptionist is not a qualified veterinarian, perhaps she should not ask the client regarding the symptoms of the dog and then, in her wisdom, make a sweeping decision to summarise all she has heard in to the word dreaded by all animal lovers = euthanasia.
Zeus, our big old darling was treasured by everybody who knew him. This dr van der Merwe cum dr Pringle killed a part of each one of us the day he killed our old man.
He is unfit to be a practicing veterinarian. He is unfit to be called Dr. He is unfit to be addressed in the first person.
He is reckless executioner. He is heartless.
And for this he charges money …………………..
Maybe somebody might want to e mail this site address to this idiot and he would like to comment on what he has done? Would love to have a look at his stats! One jab and still makes R600-00 for his effort!!!
Did Dr Pringle by any chance open his own pracitce under an alias name?
W*%KER!!!
Oh i forgot to bring up a very valid point. Please somebody correct me if i am wrong. But its clear as daylight that when this 2nd Dr Death walks into a room and sees the word euthanasia ontop of the form, he immedately follows those instructions!! He as good as admitted it as he said he saw the word and did just that.
Since when does somebody who studied how to answer telephones and type a few words have the medical training and authority to make such a decision?
Is this not practicing without a licence? All we have to do is decide which one to report and which one should get kicked of the register!!!
Although judging from all this, it sadly appears they share on brain cell.
I know how to answer a phone, make appointments, smile a fake broad smile all day and i can even take messages. Maybe i should go open up my own practice!!!
(Uh, no disrespect to any receptionists out there – Just trying to make a point)
Lucias, this receptionist played god along with the vet. No excuses, who the heck does she think she is, anyway? But the sole responsibilty lies with the vet who was ‘too tired’ to even assess the case.
The wheel turns. One day he might land in ER, and the doc on duty might just be tired….
Bernice – yes girl, we all weep for the old guy. We loved him, touched him, recognised his beautiful soul.
May divine justice follow where the authorities ignore the facts.
Oh for pity’s sake… get a life people. The lab report reads the 30/11/08. Check out what was done.. blood smears etc etc. obviously the dog was too far gone. What do you expect a vet to do . Perform a miracle?? It aint gone to happen.
This is utterly unacceptable. How on earth can a professional do this and then not even have the decency to apologise. Since when do vets just walk into a room and not even examine the precious sentient being that they have taken an oath to protect. I am utterly appalled and guttered. We put our trust in these people to do everything they can for our furry children when they are ill and afraid. My heart goes out to the family. RIP sweet boy. At least you are now safe for always x
Hazel i think you are missing the point. That is not the issue here. The fact is he did not inspect the dog and he did not ask for permission to put the dog down. Also, if he was to tired to see the question mark, then surely he was to tired to read the rest of the report.
Whether the dog was old or sick is not the issue here. And he did not tell the lady that the dog was to far gone or that the dog was not going to make it. He told the lady he saw the E word at the top of the report and followed those instructions.
What you have said in your comment in this case is a point well noted, but unfortunately in this case is irrelevant. Put yourself in this ladies shoes and see how you would react.
Well since animals are considered property in terms of the law, I think a law suit here is called for. I suggest the human companions of Zeus see a lawyer. Lara – you have my email address. If the people are willing to go the legal route, let me know. I have lawyers on stand by.
WHY did you pay?! I would have told them to go take a jump.
Where is Kuch and Meredith on this?
Hazel, WHERE exactly is there any information on the sheet to give you the idea that blood smears were taken? They were not, otherwise they would be detailed and in any case there was insufficient time for tests of any description to have taken place between the time he was admitted and his death – the parenthesis merely means that there was a single charge – NO TESTS WERE DONE – Zeus was euthanized because of the word ‘euthanasia’, end of story. And what kind of IDIOT does not notice a question mark after a word? As for your comment, ‘get a life’ perhaps ‘get a brain’ would be appropriate in your case…
Dee, What have Kuch and Meredith got to do with this? It was a private vet. Why drag them into it? Can’t you fight your own battles??
Hazel – my mistake. I thought this was an SPCA branch. It seemed like an SPCA-ish thing to do (to put down animals without consultation or notification).
Well I say sue the vet.
Hazel, when you have a good look at the document, you’ll notice the vet only ticked the procedures euthanasia and disposal. No tests were done.
No examination, no blood tests, zilch.
And Hazel, guess what…we all have lives. Filled to the brim with rescue work and beautiful, deserving dogs. And enough common sense to read a document. The date on Lee’s statement does not justify the vet’s actions. Lee was extremely traumatised when submitting the report AFTER the event.
Would you not have been traumatised enough to make a mistake with the date? Would you not have been praying for a miracle?
In fact, what is your position regarding dogs? Loved and treasured dogs, taken to a vet to be examined and treated to the fullest extent? If you cannot put yourself into Lee’s shoes, where would you place yourself then?
My position encompasses all animals Wlofshaven.. not just dogs!! In fact I hate humans because of what they do to animals. All animals… I work in animal welfare and my work haunts me daily. So don’t you dare judge me..
One wonders how they get degrees and still can’t read.
Not judging you at all, Hazel. Just wondered why you seemed to think that we were all idiots. Seeing that we both work FOR the animals, let us now forget the side issues and concentrate on the blog issue, which is an animal put to death before a proper examination was done.
Agreed Wolfshaven… My apologies for the ugly undercurrent… Had a horrible week – No justification for my ugliness!! – I accept that.. Hazel
The incident has not yet been reported to Chris and Marcelle, I am sure they will respond as soon as they can. They have just been instrumental in assisting WAR with a very pressing matter regarding a Security Dog that was mistreated and without their assistance and intervention we would still be up the creek without a paddle. I also know that the NSPCA is very busy now supervising the Muslim Religous Slaughter season and also have the up and coming Robben Island bunny cull to try and sort out, not to mention being in the middle of Fireworks Season, i think their hands are pretty full. I must say however, they dropped everything to help us this week and stamp their authority on a situation we otherwise would have had no control over.
That said i will report this matter to them. I am sure they will make serious note of it. I highly doubt though that this falls under their durisdiction? The new government has taken a lot of power away from them. I will find out.
Nikki as for the details of the lady who owned this dog, i will send her your e mail address.
PS: Still no Whale Wars!!!!!
Hazel not to worry. We all have our days. Its an unfortunate occupational hazard when in this line of caring we open ourselves up to horrors that the general public do not see on a daily basis.
I agree with your point that the dog would probably not have made it, but under the circumstances, we have to look at the bigger picture.
Keep up the good work.
Hey Roland, its simple, they employ other people to do their writing and reading for them………….. preferring to just use their hands………… In this case its rather obviouse?
Always good to have your brain on board though.
Now if my 3G card would just stop disconnecting me for 5 minutes i might be able to submit this message!!!!
WAR have just received a response from the NSPCA on this matter. They do sincerely sympathise with this lady and what has happened to her faithful companion, however i was correct in saying this does not fall under their jurisdiction.
On the Dr Pringle story, he was in their employ at the time, and they took immediate steps to investigage and suspend him, which we are very thankful for, as well as their immediate intervention in the Sandra F. case.
However, this is not an NPO, this is a private practice and they have suggested that complaints must be sent to http://www.savc.co.za This is the organisastion that will follow this story up.
Thanks Chris. This is the second time in a week i have called on the NSPCA and you have assisted us with a very quick response.
Lara – WAR
Should anybody know of a person who has experienced the same thing as this story above please have them comment on this site. I am lead to believe that this is going on far more often than what we think.
Lara darling – don’t worry about getting Kuch and Meredith involved. I thought this was an SPCA thing, when it was a private vet clinic that did this.
I am glad that the two of them are helping you – they should afford the same help to others who come to them with problems. I believe that they are now trying to avert a PR mess with the legal action coming up against them.
Legal action? What now? I did get word back from them because its a private practice this must be reported to SAVCO.
Hmmm, my friend send me a mail. There are issues i need to discuss with you off this sight.
Ah well the Public Prosecutor’s office is investigating them. Haven’t you read the papers?
http://www.werdmulleranimalrescue.co.za/
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20081218062658216C356613
Mail me on my yahoo address, okay?
Shame – sorry to hear about this only now.
What a stuff up! When will vets, SPCA vets, Shelter vets, Etc. vets learn their fucking lesson, that one does not put animals to death???!!!!
We should die for animals not the other way round.
That question mark is as clear as daylight!!! There is absolutely no excuse!! I wouldn’t have paid I would have been shouting in that practice!! And he following orders?? Whose the doctor and whose the lame *ss receptionist??? He just making excuses and you SHOULD sue!!! And these so called animal organisations also are just there to make money, they keep on with the case also about sterilising your animals, which I know why you would sterilise an animal. But if you can’t prevent things like too many births then you shouldn’t bother with having animals!! We adopted a dog that was sterilised, we have had her now for 12 years or so, she now pisses herself, she lays down and it streams out. Take her to the SPCA and they just give her drops you must give her every day for the rest of her life and then you must pay for their services and for medications when it’s due to them that you sit with a problem like this! In my distaste for sterilisation I sent a letter to some organisations stating my distaste in the matter, thinking they would offer a solution to the problem African Tails being the best with a solution!! BUT…. Stellenbosch Animal Welfare (the worst place I think you could go to) sending me this back on my distaste:
Oh dear. Maybe you should get professional help with your anger issues. And please visit me any day of the week to stand by while I have to have healthy puppies euthanased. I just so love it when they scream their healthy little heads off while the needle plunges into their tummies and it takes them minutes to die – all the time screaming pitifully.
Oh, and my favourite, is then dumping their little carcasses, along with hundreds of others, on the dump because the cost of incineration is too high.
You go girl!
Julia Evans
Stellenbosch Animal Welfare
So this letter above just confirms they mostly out there to make money and not give a damn about the problem you have which they caused, not even offering a solution!! This isn’t the response you would expect from someone who “so-called” wants to help animals, I don’t know why they working there!!!
I realy hope you people continue to follow the updates on the http://www.werdmulleranimalrescue webpage. Intiresting progress. See letter marked A3 Open letter to media dated 15 june 2009. I smell a rotten rat!!
gucci and prada also makes beautifully styled ladies shoes but are expensive ‘`;
On the 13 of july 2011 my litt le sausage dog was pulled thru our front gate by a alsation mix bread dog and he grabbed my dog by his back and ran with him in the street while shaking him in his mouth so we tried to get the dog to let go of him so he did but my dog evetsialy ended up at bergbron animal clinic and died 3 days later due to his bite wound that dog caused major damage to my pups whole body and tore his mustles to pieces. So we called booysens spca and they gave us an inspectors no so we called him because its not the first time that dog has bitten my dog and other dogs. sadly my baby had to die. So we had to be rude to them to get him to come to our home he came and we told him the story and he said he was going to tell the owner of the dog that he must now pay the bill of R4900 because its not the first time then he will get back to us so we said okey. He never came back the bill was never paid and there was nothing done about tha dog. Then 2 weeks after he came out of the yard again and bit a foxterrier again again someone else called and nothing was done. What must we do to get justice for my babys death, now he is in a small little box inside my house in ashes and we have to deal with the heartake every day thinking that there was nothing done. That dog is stil here and is still coming out and if we see him the horror of that day comes back all over again. It is heartbraking. Someone with any help or tips let me know at shevanlabuschagne@yahoo.com Desprate!!!!!!!!!!
Absolutely shocking to read as i have been taking all my animals to this dr for 11years. And must say i have always been very happy with their service! So sorry for your loss.