The Definition of Insanity

by | Friday | June 25, 2010 | 23 comments

A few weeks ago, we had a client come in with her cat. She had gone to the emergency hospital the previous weekend, gotten a diagnosis of heart disease, and was instructed to follow up with her regular vet.

She didn’t have a regular vet- the cat hadn’t seen one in 10 years, but no matter, we would do. Only problem was, we didn’t do. From the moment she stepped in the door, she was mad. The receptionist was terse, the price was too high, we didn’t have the records from the emergency vet, we didn’t know what we were doing. It was, by all accounts, not the best visit.

Despite this, she still came back a week later for a follow up. Grudgingly. We went through the same rigamarole, blah blah angry, blah blah expensive, blah blah you are all terrible. I did the exam, obtained the bloodwork, adjusted medications accordingly. Pretty routine stuff. I’m not sure quite what we did wrong, but when she left she announced rather dramatically, “I’m DONE with you! D-O-N-E!” And if I may be honest, we weren’t really all that sad about that fact.

I’ve had some bad experiences, with a doctor, with a restaurant, with a mechanic. My solution: Don’t Go Back. Problem solved.

She arrived again, yesterday. I was baffled. I cannot figure out why, if we are as horrible as she tells us we are, that she keeps coming back. It is well within her rights to seek care elsewhere, and it would probably be better for all involved if she did. Before she opened her mouth to yell at me again, I handed her a copy of the bloodwork and asked, “is there a doctor or clinic you would like me to fax this to?”

She thought about it a minute, and said yes. Then she called them and yelled at them for not getting back to her fast enough. Sorry, guys.

Filed: Daily Life
  • Autumnhound

    *snrk snrk* That end “sorry guys” made me snort up my tea.

    • Lisa W

      +1. Hope you’re feeling better, Autumnhound.

    • http://www.pawcurious.com Dr. V

      I’m glad I brought you a smile. (((( ))))

      • Autumnhound

        Aw, you guys.. T^T I feel so loved! And strangely, I do feel better. Calmer.

        I will always miss him, and his name still brings tears to my eyes, but my other kids love me and need me. =) A dog’s love is so pure, it’s like liquid bandaid. Heals all wounds.

  • http://opcatchat.blogspot.com caren gittleman

    First of all the woman should be shot (“sorry guys!!”) for not having taken her cat to the vet in TEN years. I cannot stand when I hear about people like that….it makes me sick.

    Second, there is no pleasing people like that. She obviously has a huge problem.
    Third we probably should pity her because she might easily have a mental problem (I do not mean that rudely).
    I hope her cat isn’t mistreated at home.
    She sounds like the Devil version of the “Crazy Cat Lady”

    Cat Chat Caren http://opcatchat.blogspot.com

  • Megan

    I would get that kind of thing a lot as an ER vet. Just because I wasn’t Dr. X who has treated their pet for years, I suddenly become an incompetent idiot who knows nothing about veterinary medicine.

    Gotta love people like this. No wonder she’s never been to a vet in the last 10 years. Her standards are never going to be met, no matter who it is, seemingly.

    • http://www.pawcurious.com Dr. V

      You mean every vet clinic in the nation isn’t automatically linked? WHY DIDN’T YOU SEE THE NOTE IN THE HANDWRITTEN RECORD FROM 2001 ABOUT THE REACTION TO ACE? etc. etc. I see you have had this as well. :)

  • Tamara

    Unfortunately, there are people who refused to be pleased with life in general, and they often take it out on everyone else. Sorry you had to deal with this! I feel sorry for the cat, too. She’s not helping kitty at all by behaving this way :(

  • georgie

    This is why I could never be a vet (besides intense fear of doing anal gland cleaning). The animals I could handle-it is the human owners that make it difficult. Poor cat, it can’t be easy living with a bitter and rude person like that owner.

  • Pam D

    That made me chuckle – my husband was a veterinarian in Miami, and I his tech – we actually had a client a lot like that…..for the good of staff, he gave her copies of her records and sent her packing – she was brutal.

  • Erin

    I’m so glad to hear that I don’t work for the only clinic where people are like that! It’s so terrible to say, but when they are angry, rude and complaining and then threaten not to return all you can think of is “THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!”

    It is my firm belief that some people are not truly happy unless they are mad about something! =)

  • http://www.ohbehavedogtraining.com Dawn Hanna

    You just can’t make some people happy! I have had about a half dozen veterinarians over 3 dogs and I’ve never “fired” any vet for bad service. High prices, yes, I’ve gone elsewhere and found excellent service and care for a better price. Not being able to walk through the doors of an office that I asked to euthanize my 14 year old dog, yes, I’ve gone elsewhere so I didn’t have to relive taking my dog’s life.

    Sadly I have yet to find a human doctor’s office that greets me, recognizes me, explains things to me, and has compassion like any of my vets and their staff.

    I’m inspired that you fired her first… and before any of your staff may have quit from the abuse!

  • K

    You always know you are dealing with one of THESE when the conversation starts out with “YOU PEOPLE…..” :-) One of the nastier parts of being in the work force is dealing with these wingnuts …. Over my many years I have absolutely perfected (or so I have been told) a way of saying “thank you” and “have a great day” that just reeks of “go BLANK yourself” in these situations. The follow up is great…”Well, what did she say to you that has you so upset?” “She said have a fantastic day and thank you…but she didn’t mean it!! ” and I sit there with my halo intact. :-) Sorry Dr. V-you have a string of real winners lately.

    • http://www.pawcurious.com Dr. V

      LOL having witnessed the statements in question I can concur, you have it perfected. Elevated to an art form, really.

  • http://fidoandwino.com/ Shauna (Fido & Wino)

    Gotta love those people whose only purpose seems to be miserable. I always try to tell myself: This persons’ life clearly sucks. I have to deal with 5mins/1hr/1 day of their nasty but their whole lives are just one great big ball of crap.

    This doesn’t stop me from seeing if I might find their coffee somewhere and maybe, just maybe spit in it… but still.

    • http://www.pawcurious.com Dr. V

      You’re right. I absolutely do feel sorry for anyone who lives their entire lives that angry. It can’t be very fun.

      And it doesn’t make it much nicer for the rest of us either! :) Sometimes I look at a scenario and marvel how different the exact same thing will play out depending on the people involved.

  • Erin

    I firmly believe that some people aren’t truly happy unless they’re mad at something!

  • http://www.biscuitsbylambchop.com Annette Frey

    Oh boy! I’m sure her food is always terrible in every restaurant she’s ever eaten at and with every waiter too. Imagine being the waitperson at the place she frequents daily for a meal or her morning coffee! Especially BEFORE she’s had her morning coffee!

    See, your experience just got a tiny bit better, lol!

  • Sass

    I have a friend like that. She is always invited to go with a group of friends when we go out for a special “girl’s day”, and always has an excuse. Last outing – she decided to get offended at something stupid so she could use that as an excuse. My other friends asked why she is still a friend – she can be nice, ummm, sometimes! I’ve heard her complaints about doctors, etc, and can imagine what she is like at the office. She loves her vet, though! But I have heard her complain about the staff and other doctors at that practice. I feel sorry for them, and I’m glad she never transferred her pets to the practice where I worked!

  • http://www.PetsPhotography.com Richie

    I always wondered what became of my ex wife !

  • Sara

    I have had this experience too – I cannot figure out for the life of me why they wont’ just go somewhere else! I even once said to a lady flat out, “clearly you’re not happy with the services I’m able to provide, you should go somewhere else” and she STILL came back! What is with people?

  • Moira

    Whether we are talking about veterinary medicine, retail stores, restaurants, medical hospitals or any where else, there are some clients that need to be fired.

  • Liz

    ugh what is wrong with people. you think you’d just be grateful someone professional was helping your sick animal instead of b*tching about the cost. she sounds like my roommate.