First I want to let everyone know for weeks 4 weeks as a matter of fact I have been reading here and and found some comfort. But I have not been able to bring myself to even post and not sure I will make it through this today.

On Jan 19th I took my 11 1/2 yr old cocapoo Tillie to the vet she was hospitalized for a internal infection at 10 am in the morning. She never came home. I called every 2 hrs for her condition and well no one was avaible so I thought well that must mean all is OK or they would call me. At 6 pm I called was put on hold and told the dr's were consulting on her treatment and would call me back finally in 30 min. And they did she was gone! My heart shatterd in a million pieces I still 4 weeks later can hardly function she was a part of me and I feel like I want to crawl in a hole and stay there. My Tillie died with strangers alone without me and her family I never said my goodbyes and I am ANGRY!!!!! They tell me well...... they did not THINK she would die ????? What is that????? They also after 4 days agreed that the comunication was poor at best and then they said to me no charges will be sent?????? I cannot stand the thought that my Tillie passed possibly because of a mistake or they were just too busy that day to notice. Of course the hospital assured us that things like this just happen very quickly but I don't know if I can believe it or not and now does it even matter? Shes not here anymore and I am a different person than a month ago without her. I have 2 other dogs one a collie who is 15 and I think she will die of a broken heart soon over this she is lost without Tillie. I want to thank you all in advance you have a wonderful forum here.

I have read so many heartbreaking stories and I want to tell all of you I am sorry for your losses.

Tillie

Tillie I am so sorry for your loss. You have a right to be angry. They should have communicated with you immediately about what was happening. Just to let you know you can report them to the state professional board. Also ask who is in charge of the vet clinic and talk to them.
But in the end try to hang in there and know that you had a wonderful life with your companion. Try to concentrate on all the good memories you've made and the fact that you have others at home who need you. It will be a long process of grieving but take your time and don't push yourself through it.

All the best.

Tillie,
Wow, what a story. My heart is breaking for you. It is bad enough to have to lose your baby, but to have it surrounded by such angering cir%%stances is even worse. You are going to have to give yourself the gift of knowing that your baby knew how much you loved her and didn't even know that you weren't there at the end with her. However, you will always be with her, and she knows that.....you don't have to be there physically. I would definitely report your vet and then work hard on finding peace with them, because if you don't it will only eat you up inside and downplay the importance of your relationship with your baby. You don't want one moment of the time you had to be shrouded in bitterness. It sounds like you were a great mommy and can take comfort in that. My prayers are with you.

Parker's Mom,
Kerry

Oh, how horrible. Tillie--what a sweet name for a sweet girl. I fear we'll never really know what happened. How was your relationship with this vet? I hesitate to even go there--what has happened has happened. You need to do what makes YOU feel comfortable and if that's complaining to the state Veterinary Board, the state VMA or whatever--do it. From the details you provided It sounds odd but who can really know, especially if you are missing pieces. Not sending you a bill is the LEAST they could do.

The real issue here is Tillie's passing. This is a huge loss for you. You are grieving and you will always grieve on some level. This is NORMAL. It may take weeks or months for you to feel some lift of the overwhelming grief. I encourage you to talk about it--here, to friends and family who understand the magnitude of your loss, even see a grief counselor. I did--there are even those who specialize in pet loss. There are usually local pet bereavement groups--check it out.

Losing a pet is a devastating experience. Unfortunately, we tend to outlive them and this tragedy is inherent in our experience with them. The way you lost Tillie is especially difficult. i spent MANY sleepless nights worrying my Freddy would die alone when no one could be here. But you MUST know that Tillie KNEW you loved her and all those years of love and devotion are what were imprinted on her heart and grounded in her mind. Dogs KNOW. That's what makes them so special. That's part of why we become so attached and dependent on them--they understand us in ways few people can. She knew. Please trust this.

You also have other dogs--THEY need you too. It is your duty to them to be stronmg, as a parent must be strong for a child. Give them extra love and try not to cry in their presence--animals sense things and feed off our emotions. I know this is difficult but you owe it to them. Be strong--it is okay to grieve but don't curl up and die. Would tillie want that? NO. She wants you to remember her and love her siblings. And maybe when the time is right, open your heart to another dog in need of a home--share that love and keep it going. This is the best legacy you can give Tillie. Make a donation in her name. Plant a tree. Put a memorial stone in your garden or along your front walkway, with flowers. Honor her--this will also make you feel better. Do something good to mark her life.

I wish I knew how to take this pain away but only time and adequate grieving can lessen the sting. My prayer for you is that you will arrive at a place eventually when you can think of Tillie and smile and laugh at all the cute things she did.

With much sympathy,
Jennifer & Angel Freddy

Thank you all for youir kind words. I am hesitant to post everything here but I will. You asked what is my relationship to this vet it's kind of a long story. First my vet was on vacation when Tillie got ill. Second I have used this hospital for probably 25 yrs AND I own a pet grooming salon I recommend this hospital and in turn they recommend us for grooming. I have always had trust in them I have seen them do wonderful things over the years so when I dropped Tillie off I was of course worried about her condition but felt she was in the right place. Being we do have many mutual clients I am sure this is of concern to them.

The vet in charge of her that day well I don't know her maybe fairly new but I WAS told she was very busy that day and not once did she ever talk to me . I called every two hours to check on Tillie but she was in a meeting or lunch or emergancy surgery. When Tillie passed a different vet called us not her and then the following day I called talk to yet another vet ( she was off) so I called again on monday and talked to my vet who was back from vacation and is a part owner of the hospital. I was livid and told him the whole story and also said I have yet to speak to the vet who was supposedly taking care of my Tillie. Of course he offered but at this point I did not even want to I figured it would only get more ugly than it all is. Also on monday this is 4 days later I find out she had a siezer which I did not know.

I will try to keep this short but you see I work with dogs everyday I am angered that I can see a change in my customers and even have called a owner and said Fluffy is not acting right I have done this and actually saved a dogs life but yet I totally missed the mark on my Loved Tillie. Shock is not even the word to use when they called me I handed the phone to my husband when it rang and said you best take this cause I am gonna really yell at them for not keeping me posted. Plus I had even moved some apts around so I could go to the hospital in the am to see her NEVER did I expect what we got.

In ending because of the work I do I have seen it all I am trying to find some peace here such as she did not suffer I always said I could never see one of my dogs suffer sometimes I do see very old dogs with many many problems and maybe thats why it happened as it did I just don't know. It is 4 weeks today I guess I am healing some for a few min. a day but I look into the eyes of dogs all day and see my little girl in their eyes it's very hard ya know. Thank you again.

Tillie

Oh my gosh, what a heartbreaking story, I wish I had words to help you but I don't think there are any. Your anger is certainly understandable. I also wasn't there when my cat Magic died in Dec., but she went peacefully in her sleep, so the two situations aren't even close. I try to take comfort in knowing that wherever our pets go when they leave this world, they know what our hearts hold, and so Tillie, wherever she is, knows you did what you did out of love, and so in a way she didn't die alone - she had your memory to ease her through her difficult time. And now she's free of all her aches and pains and understands it all, and now she is with you always. I think between pets and their owners that there is a bond which even death cannot take away, a bond which you'll live with forever till it comes time to go to Tillie. Meanwhile, try to help your other dogs adjust, spend extra time with them if you can and talk to them about Tillie - I think our pet's companions maybe have a better understanding of these things than we know. Please come back and let us know how you're doing, and take care - Barbara