5
Come here for a comprehensive, respectful, and dignified assessment of your pets' health, treatment options and (if needed) euthanasia.
I have come here in the last three years seeking treatment and euthanasia for my rats. These small animals usually do not have many options for treatment, due simply to their size and risk of further damage or other illness cropping up during or after surgery. Two of my rats, Pancake and Pajamas, came here to be put down.
It should be said, this facility is more focused on birds and more exotic animals. Knowing this, I came expecting the veterinarians to look at the massive tumors on my rats and say "yup, that's a sick rat. So, do you wanna watch us euthanize or do you wanna sit here and wait?" Before coming here, I expected that a rat, once it got a tumor, was basically already dead without having realized it.
What I got there was a different perspective. "How's the quality of life?" they asked of Pajamas, the first of two rats so far to develop a tumor. I hadn't thought of that. I don't consider myself a bad owner, though the fact I didn't think of this simple question exposed a great deal of my lack of experience. I didn't think of my boomplesnoots when I came in that first time, I just came in wanting a tumor-ridden rat put down. They asked me that question of Pajamas and I looked down and noticed, she was still kicking. She wasn't too bothered by the lump on her underside. Yeah, she couldn't walk very well, but she had Pancake to help her. We discussed treatment options, but ultimately I couldn't afford any of them.
I'll have to figure out at some point (if i can ever overcome the costs associated with surgery, usually $200 for a rat) if a rat is ever worth surgery, considering their miniscule lifespans and the risk of complications (rats usually never develop just one tumor, but many; when you remove a big one, the smaller ones may grow). I feel like I can have that discussion with these veterinarians, and feel dignified asking such an audacious question. These are people in this career because of their heart for these creatures first, and it shows in their care and dignity.
A month later, with fur falling out and emaciated, Pajamas returned to be put down. Again, the question was asked, "how's her quality of life?" and this time I answered very confidently, "not good." I had followed her progress and noticed that she was no longer on the running wheel, no longer lifting herself to the food bowl on the second tier.
The euthanasia was done by Carbon Dioxide, with a shot of barbiturates to the heart as a final push. Both times, they respected my want to be there and my want to leave when it got too intense for me. The ladies up front who handled the payment ($60 for euthanasia of a rat, pretty fair) were informed of my loss and didn't ask any questions about the appointment, making sure to avoid anything that would break the facade of calm i had going.
I wish I could say that this veterinary care facility healed my rats, or that they had experts far more knowledgeable in the field of rat medicine than any other, or that this review would be cheerful and fluffy, but I cannot. What they have, though, was the confidence and heart to help me through the difficulties of putting my rats down. Theirs is a sterling example of how to give dignity to the suffering of the smallest and least of our family members.
If anyone from For Pet's Sake reads this, thank you for helping me through my pets' illness and their and my loss. I hope to never need to come back to you, and I know if I do your staff will help in any way you can. At every step your people have gone above and beyond, changing my perception of my rats and how they fit into my life. You've made me a better and more loving owner, and I and my current rats (Coffee and Waffle) would be worse off if I'd never been referred to you.