First thing I would do is call her. Ask her 'point blank' why she deemed your dog 'aggressive.'
In search of a new vet (RANT)
I wasn't sure where else this could go, so I put it here. Hope that's 'ight.
My blood pressure must be through the roof. I am LIVID. It's not even that big of a deal in retrospect, but I'm still VERY pissed off about this. I can kind of see where the vet is coming from in this whole ordeal, but it still ticks me off.
The story;
I sent in a foster home application to a small dog rescue nearby a few days ago because as some of you know I was very interested in getting a small dog recently, but decided it was not the best time. So, along with fostering for the Weim rescue, I wanted to foster some small dogs. Frag had a neuter scheduled, so I went ahead and sent the form. Lady emails me from the rescue and asks if he's been neutered yet. I say No, this is the date, call the vet with the number from the application. She does. Emails me back tonight and says that I can't foster because the vet said my German Shepherd would be a bad match for small dogs based on previous aggression. My first thought- WTF!?
Okay, the dog growled at the vet because he was uncomfortable, or now, I'm thinking, in pain from possible hip issues or pano. Does the vet recommend every dog that growls at her in a new situation not be kept with other dogs? I can see her concern- if I were applying to foster or adopt a child I would be a little -little- more okay with it and understanding. How on earth does a scared dog in a completely NEW situation with a woman man-handling him equal past aggression though!?
Upon the first visit there where Frag displayed the behavior, she played 50 questions with us and new Frag's history and life more than our family knows him. She KNEW he went to the dog park weekly, loved little dogs and cats, and was socialized extensively since we got him. She KNEW he had zero guarding issues with food/toys/bones, etc. with people AND dogs. She SAW him get along well with the office cat there and we told her he got along great with our kitten that we brought in for shots.
So why would she tell a rescue that he shouldn't be around other dogs because he's aggressive? She didn't even tell them that it was towards a human, not a dog, and that it was HER because she was poking and proding and he was uncomfortable. She just told them he was aggressive and now they won't even give me a chance to foster.
I know it's not the end of the world because I can always foster with another rescue, but giving Frag a bad reputation really boils my blood. Frag gets along better with small dogs than he does big ones!
Does anyone think that she was in the right doing this? Because I know I certainly don't. She had no right to do that, in my opinion. We will be changing vets and Frag WON'T be going under at her practice.
/rant.
Maybe Frag was right about her. :doh:
My blood pressure must be through the roof. I am LIVID. It's not even that big of a deal in retrospect, but I'm still VERY pissed off about this. I can kind of see where the vet is coming from in this whole ordeal, but it still ticks me off.
The story;
I sent in a foster home application to a small dog rescue nearby a few days ago because as some of you know I was very interested in getting a small dog recently, but decided it was not the best time. So, along with fostering for the Weim rescue, I wanted to foster some small dogs. Frag had a neuter scheduled, so I went ahead and sent the form. Lady emails me from the rescue and asks if he's been neutered yet. I say No, this is the date, call the vet with the number from the application. She does. Emails me back tonight and says that I can't foster because the vet said my German Shepherd would be a bad match for small dogs based on previous aggression. My first thought- WTF!?
Okay, the dog growled at the vet because he was uncomfortable, or now, I'm thinking, in pain from possible hip issues or pano. Does the vet recommend every dog that growls at her in a new situation not be kept with other dogs? I can see her concern- if I were applying to foster or adopt a child I would be a little -little- more okay with it and understanding. How on earth does a scared dog in a completely NEW situation with a woman man-handling him equal past aggression though!?
Upon the first visit there where Frag displayed the behavior, she played 50 questions with us and new Frag's history and life more than our family knows him. She KNEW he went to the dog park weekly, loved little dogs and cats, and was socialized extensively since we got him. She KNEW he had zero guarding issues with food/toys/bones, etc. with people AND dogs. She SAW him get along well with the office cat there and we told her he got along great with our kitten that we brought in for shots.
So why would she tell a rescue that he shouldn't be around other dogs because he's aggressive? She didn't even tell them that it was towards a human, not a dog, and that it was HER because she was poking and proding and he was uncomfortable. She just told them he was aggressive and now they won't even give me a chance to foster.
I know it's not the end of the world because I can always foster with another rescue, but giving Frag a bad reputation really boils my blood. Frag gets along better with small dogs than he does big ones!
Does anyone think that she was in the right doing this? Because I know I certainly don't. She had no right to do that, in my opinion. We will be changing vets and Frag WON'T be going under at her practice.
/rant.
Maybe Frag was right about her. :doh:
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I sent an email to the rescue group explaing Frag's REAL temperment right away and will ask them if they'll meet him with other dogs/animals to decide for themselves first, but I'm afraid they're going to say no because they're too far away and oh em gee, a vet said he's aggressive! They're dealing with small dogs; I don't know if they have the knowledge or compassion to take the time with us.
I do foster for the SPCA Jane, but unfortunately there is nothing there right now that fits our lifestyle well enough, and my boyfriend is a little concerned by the lack of guidlines/help the SPCA puts forth towards employee fosters. I like more structured foster situations, personally.
eta; after talking to the vet about what was said I will be letting them know that I'm taking my money elsewhere. I'm cancelling Frag's neuter right now. Whoops, sorry, I WON'T be dropping 350 at your clinic next week.
I do foster for the SPCA Jane, but unfortunately there is nothing there right now that fits our lifestyle well enough, and my boyfriend is a little concerned by the lack of guidlines/help the SPCA puts forth towards employee fosters. I like more structured foster situations, personally.
eta; after talking to the vet about what was said I will be letting them know that I'm taking my money elsewhere. I'm cancelling Frag's neuter right now. Whoops, sorry, I WON'T be dropping 350 at your clinic next week.
I think it's similar to human doctors - there are specialists in those areas - and for the general practitioner it is part of the picture but isn't a focus. You can look up curriculi at veterinary teaching hospitals to get an idea of what it is they do cover.
And I think there are frames of reference - where they get their thinking - I am betting Tuft's graduates are different from some other schools because of their behavioral clinic's way of thinking, and some who probably watch Cesar or Victoria just like everyone else. OR who watched Uncle Mattie and that Walkies lady if they are older! And from their experiences with animals from birth til profession. And experience can help, unless it is someone who doesn't learn from experience (as seen in every facet of life)!
And just like non-doctors each person has a different level of "feel" for behavior and understanding of it. Each of my dogs has their own vet that they regularly see, who seems to click with them. That vet seems to get the type of behaviors that each of these dogs tosses at them. And my most dangerous animal, my cat, that vet left and so it's back to the drawing board for someone who understands her!
And I think there are frames of reference - where they get their thinking - I am betting Tuft's graduates are different from some other schools because of their behavioral clinic's way of thinking, and some who probably watch Cesar or Victoria just like everyone else.
OR who watched Uncle Mattie and that Walkies lady if they are older! And from their experiences with animals from birth til profession. And experience can help, unless it is someone who doesn't learn from experience (as seen in every facet of life)!And just like non-doctors each person has a different level of "feel" for behavior and understanding of it. Each of my dogs has their own vet that they regularly see, who seems to click with them. That vet seems to get the type of behaviors that each of these dogs tosses at them. And my most dangerous animal, my cat, that vet left and so it's back to the drawing board for someone who understands her!
I get so frustrated when people think they know your dogs personality based on one (stressful) meeting
I've (slowly) learned to ignore what people say about skylar, i know that she's good around strangers, dogs, etc. if she's stressed about something of course she'll act different, but she's not aggressive. I've let too many people lead me to believe she's fear aggressive and after talking with multiple trainers and vets and she's NOT.
You know your dog best and i think it's so awesome that you foster dogs! I'd love to do that but don't have enough experience yet.
I've (slowly) learned to ignore what people say about skylar, i know that she's good around strangers, dogs, etc. if she's stressed about something of course she'll act different, but she's not aggressive. I've let too many people lead me to believe she's fear aggressive and after talking with multiple trainers and vets and she's NOT.
You know your dog best and i think it's so awesome that you foster dogs! I'd love to do that but don't have enough experience yet.
Good grief!! I think that was uncalled for! I’m glad you’re going to confront the vet. I’d like to hear why, exactly, she said those things about Frag.
Does your vet know you currently foster dogs and there have been no issues in the past?
Does your vet know you currently foster dogs and there have been no issues in the past?
The vet told me I should be aware of what he's capable of now and not to take him around strangers.I get so frustrated when people think they know your dogs personality based on one (stressful) meeting
I've (slowly) learned to ignore what people say about skylar, i know that she's good around strangers, dogs, etc. if she's stressed about something of course she'll act different, but she's not aggressive. I've let too many people lead me to believe she's fear aggressive and after talking with multiple trainers and vets and she's NOT.
You know your dog best and i think it's so awesome that you foster dogs! I'd love to do that but don't have enough experience yet.
I enjoy fostering a lot, it's a very rewarding experience and I highly encourage you to look into it in the future when you feel more experienced and comfortable with it.
Yep. At his initial vet exam she asked if we had other pets. I let her know I was fostering a weim puppy from a rescue and she asked about his previous animal experience socialization. I told her he was raised with three other dogs, four cats, and went to the dog park multiple times a week.Good grief!! I think that was uncalled for! I’m glad you’re going to confront the vet. I’d like to hear why, exactly, she said those things about Frag.
Does your vet know you currently foster dogs and there have been no issues in the past?
I though they were used to it, too.
I do not believe I ever told her that I fostered or worked for the SPCA. I just told her I fostered for the weim rescue because I had charlie during our initial visit.
I don't know what I could do to change the policies there, either. I'm at the bottom of the totem pole, we don't have a director, and no one takes me seriously because I'm young. I really have no idea what the policy is like as far as all of that is concerned either, and I don't really want to know. This is only going to be a temporary job I'm thinking anyway.
That's what I figure. I'll give the vet the benefit of the doubt, but I don't know what they could have said that the rescue would lie so blatantely about.
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