Hi BOb,

Bob Ackley wrote in a message to Cindy Haglund:

 CH>> We now think the ultra wow super posh Sate of the Art Animal Medical
 CH>> Center we had taken him to, is just another way of scalping the
 CH>> uninformed pet owner. :(

SEen some of those.  OUr current vet has a rather nice
facility, and most important, if a procedure requires more
than we have for $$$ at the moment they'll let us make
payments.  Even more important than that, they're very good
with our Rott, and were very good with our last one.

 BA>> The vet down in Shenandoah is proud of all the equipment he has

 CH>  bob to be frank of course they are, who wouldn't be. I mean the
 CH> machines ARE fabulous. :) But the thing is they too much.

BA> I was proud of the fact that he picked up the (used) equipment on
BA> eBay for pennies on the dollar.  It didn't cost him nearly as much
BA> as you seem to think it did.  His prices are comparable to most of
BA> the other vets in the area, and lower than one fellow in Red Oak
BA> ('course that guy has always charged an arm and a leg for services,
BA> drives a Cadillac to work and vacations in Europe every year).

Locals have told me the vet closer to my home is cheaper.  I know he does
farm animals etc. as well.  OF course he is,
smaller operation.  THe clinic we take schotze to (got
corrected on my spelling of her name )  has two lady vets and the
fellow that owns it.
STill it's rare when they feel the need to muzzle a dog,
even the large so-called dangerous breeds.  Schotze likes
all three of them and exhibits no fear of them.
Just as important, they exhibit no fear of her.

WHen our former neighbor's dog was hit by a car it was real
close to closing time, and he's one of those low paid
service workers barely getting by, his wife had just lost
her job.
They stayed open, rushed his dog in the back door when we
brought her (we called while enroute on his cell) and took
great care of her.  HE's still making payments on that one.

I could switch to the guy in the little town in which we now live, but I'd
rather stay with the vets we know and trust.
DUring recent session of inoculations etc. they were able to sell us a more
comprehensive blood screening for a wider
variety of ailments than they could do in house.  THey
called us with results the other day, some indications of
"might be" a parasite problem, but stool samples and other
indicators show negative.

We've another appointment Tuesday checking on an eye
infection we've been treating with antibiotic ointment twice a day which
causes the eyelid to roll in.  Doc said if this
round of treatment didn't seem to clear it up chances were
good some minor surgery was called for, but it looks like
we're getting it straightened out.  WE"ll discuss the whole
battery of tests they did then.

just as important to me was their treatment of us when we
had to put Roxy down.  THey were very kind to us and
considerate of our feelings of grief and loss.  A few weeks
later they sent us a nice plaster molding of the impression
of her front paw.

NOt being a rich man you'd think I'd at least have a look at the guy closer
to home who's said to be cheaper, but the
dog's comfort with the people who must treat her and my
comfort with them means more than just saving a few bucks.
THey're quick to call me back with an answer to a question
or to discuss a problem.

Regards,
           Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+