Vet Visit

 I just got back from the Vet for my dog’s annual exam and shots. I have to say this was the worst experience I have had with the Animal Hospital since we switched to them about 9 years ago. I made sure to check on their website and Facebook page for any Covid-19 changes and there were none (and no one told me about any when I called to confirm his appointment last Monday.)

It turns out there are a lot of changes and they just don’t want to tell you about them. You just have to know about them (I’m not a mind-reader. It’s why I don’t include it under the Skills section on my Resume.) When you get into their small parking lot each space is now numbered with a sign tell you to wear a mask. Then when you walk up to their door there’s a small sign that says to call them.

I tried to call them on my cell phone, but my phone wasn’t charged. Cell phones don’t work in my town and the last time I used it was over the Summer. I then had to wait for someone to come out and explain their new system to me. They were pretty nasty to me, but I just kept reminding them that all they had to do was update their website or their Facebook page or tell people over the phone when we make the appointments. That shut the employees right up.

Their new system is: 1.) Park in a numbered spot and call them to let the receptionist know you are there. 2.) Someone will come out when it’s your turn and take your animal on a leash they use while you wait outside. 3.) The Vet will talk to you over the phone about any issues with your animal. 4.) Someone will call you to take your payment information. 5.) Once everything is paid for someone will bring out your animal to you.

Since I didn’t have a working phone this is how I had to do things. 1.) Park in a numbered spot. 2.) Walk up to the door to find it locked. 3.) Wait until someone came out to deal with another animal so I could ask them what their new system was and why it isn’t mentioned anywhere and then find out what they plan on doing to make sure my dog can still be seen. 4.) A person then came to our parking spot, put my dog on their leash and walked him inside. 5.) A Vet (not one of the 5 I have had before, but one of their new 2 Vets) came outside with my dog to discuss him and to take my credit card inside with them. 6.) Someone else then came out to give me my credit card, my receipt, the shot records and my dog’s Heartguard. Then I left.

It may not seem like a big deal (since this same kind of system is being used across the US for Vets, Doctors and Hospitals), but what really got me is every time someone new came out to deal with me they were nasty and I had to remind them that they were in the wrong and not me. Also this system will not be good once it gets colder and the snow comes and stays.

Also, what other US States are doing is not what is happening in my State. Our restaurants are allowed to be at 100% capacity for inside dining (with social distancing.) Every Hospital Patient is allowed 1 Visitor inside with them during regular Visiting Hours. Every Hospice/Group Home/Retirement Home/Nursing Home allows 2 Visitors per person inside. The majority of all our Elementary, Middle and High Schools and Colleges and Universities have in-person learning. My State has never been on another State’s Quarantine List.

Even with all of this the Covid-19 infection, hospitalization and death rates in my State are one of the lowest in the United States (not including US Territories) and have been that way since the very beginning.