I'm shocked

bestpud

I'm not sure why you think a complaint is in order tbh.

Did the vet leave the door open for a long time while the dog lay there?

The owner was obviously distraught and took off - it happens! The dog had only just died and, although it's an awful experience, it's one most of us will go through with one pet or another. It's not like it was lay half open on an operating table - I'm sure it just looked asleep?

I think it entirely right that the vet put the dog and owner first at that point in time. Would you really rather they were more concerned about people in the waiting room?

If it weren't a charity, I could kind of see some sense in mentioning it briefly next time you are in (although I wouldn't personally) and they may rethink how they organise their consulting rooms.

It is a charity though, and they probably have to make do with the available space, so I'm not sure what your complaint would achieve...

Even if they had rooms reserved for this, it won't help if a seriously ill animal is taken in and the decisions is made there and then to end its suffering.

It's upsetting, I know, but I don't think a complaint is in order - sorry.

provista_2

when we had to have our dog pts she was on the floor on my lap so she don't hurt herself. my vet and me both felt that it was better for her to be with me rather than on a table.

LimeLight

Ok, so the general consensus is not to complain.

And no, Froglet, it's not a chuffin wind up. I tend not to come on these boards much, only if i need advice, so why the hell would i come on here to 'wind up' people? If i wanted to do that, i'd do it in the arms *rollyeyedchappy*

There_Goes_Trouble

When I was a vet nurse we always put large dogs to sleep on the floor. Small ones too if the vet felt it was better for them. Lifting them onto the table was stressful and distressing for the dog, which caused the owner even more distress. There was also a real chance that if the dog did get upset and struggle it could fall off the table so all examinations for large dogs were done on the floor. It was also a known health and safety risk for staff to lift large dogs onto a table.

Unfortunately in most practices I've been to, the consulting rooms are the only private places for these appointments. If you go 'out the back' it's a hive of activity with people all around, and this is not a good place for having to PTS a dog with the owner present. It was normal for us to allow the owner to stay with their pet for a while if they wanted only move it once they had left the room, moving a large deceased dog can be an ungainly process (although the animals were always treated carefully and respectfully) and it's not good for distressed owners to still be present.This does mean that the door will open into the room and people in the waiting room may catch a glimpse of the deceased pet. There is no other option and if an owner leaves suddenly and doesn't shut the door it may take a member of staff a few seconds to get there.

I appreciate that people in the waiting room may find this distressing, but the only other option is to cause the owner of the pet further anguish by not being able to offer any privacy at such a difficult time.

It's a huge reason why I decided years ago that unless it were absolutely impossible I would have my pets PTS in the comfort and privacy of my own home, despite the excessive cost!

EmptyPockets

I definitely would NOT complain!

It may have made you and others in the room uncomfortable, it would be upsetting for anybody - but your upset would have been NOTHING compared to that of the poor man who owned the dog. I don't see any reason for anybody to make a complaint.

Froglet

LimeLight wrote: »

Ok, so the general consensus is not to complain.

And no, Froglet, it's not a chuffin wind up. I tend not to come on these boards much, only if i need advice, so why the hell would i come on here to 'wind up' people? If i wanted to do that, i'd do it in the arms *rollyeyedchappy*

Ok then i apologise.It just seemed a strange thing to want to complain about.I imagine the vet had no idea the poor chap was going to suddenly leave the room.He was probably embarassed at showing his feelings,as well as gutted about his beloved dog..

loulou123

My dog was also PTs on the floor, they gave him a tranquilliser to calm him down before the final injection and he settled down on a blanket (they had provided) right next to the door (leading out into reception.) cuddled up with me. The desicion was made to PTS where he was, as he was calm, what was the point of moving him too the table etc.

Once it was over the vet and nurse gently moved him away from the door a little (so we could get out) but im sure he was more than visiable from the waiting room - did i care at the time, if it upset other owners in the waiting room - i couldnt have given a damn!

I dont see you have anything to complain about to be honest, as unfortantly PTS is a daily part of a vets life.

Kittendreich

The way many vets are laid out (i.e. door directly onto waiting room) you would be able to see into the room and see the deceased pet regardless of where they were. Comfort is paramont when putting a pet to sleep so if it was settled on the floor why would they move it? You would have been able to see it on the table too?

The PDSA is a charity and you should be thankful that you can benefit from their subsidised treatment, rather than have to struggle to afford private vet fees as many on low incomes have to. I agree with the post above that while this might have been a distressing sight for you - it is not something the PDSA have done 'wrong' and therefore dealing with a complaint will just take money away from providing care for animals who need it.

greenmoneysaver_2

Most charity practices have more room then private vets !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Was your complaint based on what you saw/felt, or because you were at a charity and believed you would get better service elsewhere?
Your complaint is pointless – they are not going to arrange a good working layout for 1 complaint.
Hospitals/health centres are always full of the circle of life and death, even registry offices can have weddings in 1 room and people queuing to register deaths just outside!
Its not ideal, but having work in a charity hospital we often had to put bodies on trolleys and move them through the waiting room, they were covered, but it was obvious what they were. I now woek in the most expensive private vets in the UK and we still have to have consults just off the waiting room and if you were dead nosey you could probably see a body as the client left the room. Hopefully you will respect the client
while we respect the patient
!

ickle_me

as the other replies, I wouldnt complain - not knowing the full story.

When our beloved baby boy was PTS 2.5 years ago, he was on the floor. He wasnt a huge dog, but he was no handbag pooch either!

Although saying that, the vets we use do have a seperate room at the other end of the practise away from the waiting room, more for the devestated owners comfort and less stress for the animal about to be PTS, but given space availability, i see that this isnt possible for every vets to do.

Unfortunately I think you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is never going to be easy on the animals owner, and it is never easy seeing someone who has gone through it - let alone catching a glimpse of the animal itself. ANd the vet wont have found it easy either, so I would say let it go tbh, and try not to dwell on it.