Dog Trust precriptions

Re: Dog Trust precriptions

Hannah Wynne Richards — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 11:06:24 GMT

I wouldn't object to writing prescriptions FOC if the dog needed expensive medication,and it was the charity, not the fosterer who was footing the bill, but I think some charities are too poltically correct, and scared of offending people to tell prospective owners-"You can't afford an animal,so you shouldn't have an animal until you've made some money "

My worst case was a GSD rehomed by the RSPCA to a man with a "bad back " 5 children (including a baby, which makes me wonder how it was concieved if his back was that bad !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), and he already had 3 pets, so was ineligible to register another with the PDSA No prizes for guessing who ended upwith a bad debt

Wynne

Re: Dog Trust precriptions

Tanya Fielding — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 10:45:40 GMT

We actually told the dogs trust not to give a dog to a client we had sacked for none payment, who also allowed labrador to become obese after months of nurses work at wt watchers. Guess what they still gave her another big fat dog!

Re: Dog Trust precriptions

Busybee — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 22:22:16 GMT

[quote user="Gerry Henry"]Not apropos the original thread but why on earth did you agree to take this client back on? Rude AND a bad payer, throw the b*tch out, end of story.[/quote]

We haven't agreed to as yet - it's in the hands of the directors.....

Re: Dog Trust precriptions

Rob Loxley — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:01:47 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]Dogs Trust regretfully and politely declined to pay a penny because he had actually been thrown out of the Hope Project for not complying with its requirements. In other words, I'd been done. So always check, every time. [/quote]

We always (in theory...) check their entitlement card, but if the Dogs Trust have thrown them off the scheme and not retrieved their card nor informed us then I'd be chasing the charity for the bill, as it would seem we've met all their requirements and have acted in good faith?

Re: Dog Trust precriptions

Gerry Henry — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:18:38 GMT

[quote user="Busybee"]

We have issues with the Dogs Trust and treatment costs too. It seems like an awful lot of paperwork and hassle for very little saving. I am all for rehoming animals and would much rather do this myself than pay a breeder for a puppy, but some of the things the Dogs Trust insist on are just not feasible.

One client of ours who is a bad debtor and never pays her bill on time, if at all, recently had her dog put down with lots of fuss over payment and cremation costs and after being particularly abusive towards myself on the matter. She has now rehomed a dog from the Dogs Trust, an overweight entire female rottie who will need to be on long term nsaids for its legs. They sent us the usual 'veterinary recommendation' form which wasn't filled in as we were reluctant to continue to have the client on our books and the partners were still deciding. However, despite not receiving it back, they still allow her to take the dog.

Said client has since come into the practice to try and get meds for the dog (without it being seen - she refused a consultation saying she couldn't afford it) and book it in to be spayed (though the Dogs Trust voucher is only for £75 and said she wouldn't be able to pay the rest). The Dogs Trust word the voucher to basically ask the practice to absorb the rest of the cost of the operation which could amount to quite a lot of money. Obviously I understand they are a charity and we do make some allowances for them, but £75 doesn't seem an awful lot. I actually spent time working in the Dogs Trust in Uxbridge as a student and we spayed all animals when they came in BEFORE they were rehomed, seems a much better idea to me!

[/quote]

Not apropos the original thread but why on earth did you agree to take this client back on? Rude AND a bad payer, throw the b*tch out, end of story.

Re: Dog Trust precriptions

Bob Russell — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:45:18 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

[quote user="robloxley"]

The only dealing we have with the Dogs Trust seems to be through their Hope Project scheme for homeless people, which seems efficient, well managed and we get on happily with.

[/quote]

Yes, but one warning. I treated the dog of one well-known local professional Big Issue seller when he started on the Hope Project, everything fine, Dogs Trust paid reasonably promptly. When he came again a year later with another problem (skin, I think: needed treating, but not an emergency) he reminded me he was on the Hope Project, had the papers, OK.............treated, supplied medicines,sent an invoice.......... Dogs Trust regretfully and politely declined to pay a penny because he had actually been thrown out of the Hope Project for not complying with its requirements. In other words, I'd been done. So always check, every time.

I still see the bastard on the street regularly. I wonder what would happen if I snatched his takings and ran off?

[/quote]

Very quickly it would be you sitting outside Waitrose/ASDA (delete as necessary) calling out 'B'ssue. B'ssue'!!

Re: Dog Trust precriptions

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:20:54 GMT

[quote user="robloxley"]

The only dealing we have with the Dogs Trust seems to be through their Hope Project scheme for homeless people, which seems efficient, well managed and we get on happily with.

[/quote]

I still see the bastard on the street regularly. I wonder what would happen if I snatched his takings and ran off?

Re: Dog Trust precriptions

Rob Loxley — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:38:54 GMT

The only dealing we have with the Dogs Trust seems to be through their Hope Project scheme for homeless people, which seems efficient, well managed and we get on happily with.

Re: Dog Trust precriptions

Stephen Courtney — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:09:51 GMT

I was dismayed to come across the new prescription system the other day. It took over half an hour of sorting out, I'm still not 100% convinced I did everything right either...I will be charging more fr my time in future. Fortunately we don't deal with too many foster dogs, but the ones we do see are bonded clients and long standing , well loved patients so I'll just have to grin and bear the inconvenience.

I suppose once again it is clear we should not be subsidising professional activities with drug mark-ups.

As far as spaying obese Rottweilers goes, I won't do it until they have been dieted down to a safe weight - unless as an emergency for a pyo. And I wouldn't dream of doing it for £75 either. Regarding the owner paying fr a consultation, she is supposed to contribute £7.50 . If she refuses to bring the dog in then report her for neglect. Of course you'd have to clear it with the RCVS.....

Re: Dog Trust precriptions

Busybee — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:43:55 GMT

Re: Dog Trust precriptions

Peter Ding — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:30:57 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

I would write a letter, including all of the above, to the head of that charity. If enough vets who do some work for them start complaining, or refusing, then the policy will have to be changed!..............

[/quote]

i wouldn't as it would be a bit of a waste of time. Just let them know you will no longer be able to subsidise your professional time with income generated by medications when treating those pets. I would then charge appropriately for each consultation and you do for the charity and charge for each single use prescription, ensuring you fulfil professional obligations wrt the pet concerned. They will get the message much more quickly.

Re: Dog Trust precriptions

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:26:25 GMT

I would write a letter, including all of the above, to the head of that charity. If enough vets who do some work for them start complaining, or refusing, then the policy will have to be changed!

We have always refused to do any work for the Dogs Trust. I do not agree with their 'non-euthanasia' policy (which makes trusting donating members of the public envisage all their dogs will spend the rest of their lives on a nice cosy sofa......rather than the truth which may be life stuck in a kennel and subsequent refusal of other dogs - which is fine as long as someone else has to euthanase them ). I also dislike the way they expect vets to undertake neutering for such a ridiculously low fee that we end up subsidising the charity. I had a client 'kick-off' once when I refused to accept his £55 bitch spay voucher. He seemed to be under the impression that I was the one with the responsibility to cover part of the cost of neutering, rather than himself or the charity that had given him a dog in the first place! If you can't afford the pet......

Anyway, I'll jump off my soapbox now - sorry!

[quote user="plantagenet"]I would love to be more generous to charities, but the economic climate us such that I cannot, I am not in receipt of the donations after all.[/quote]

Animal charities have always received such a lot of financial support from vets in private practice - it is such a shame that the people who donate to them don't realise that!