Charitable Vet Sevices In Sa

[Kristov]

Vets actually have an obligation to treat sick or injured animals and can't refuse treatment on the basis of perhaps not being paid which contravenes the prevention of cruelty to animals act. It also contravenes the obligation guidelines set out by the Veterinary Board and can be struck off the register to practice if found guilty of an offence in those circumstances. They can refuse routine procedures like desexing, annual check ups etc, but not animals suffering illness, pain or injury on a financial basis. They can pursue payment for services via civil court action from a business perspective, but they can't tell an animal owner presenting a sick or injured pet to a registered practice to take the animal away on the basis of finances, neither can they delay treatment awaiting financial instruction allowing an animal to suffer unnecessarily or die in the process.

Likewise an animal owner contravenes the prevention of cruelty to animals act by not presenting a sick or injured animal to the vets on the basis of being unable to afford treatment and does not provide a defense to a charge raised against the act. Although from a financial perspective it can be hard on vets at times with non payment and chasing accounts, it's part of the job and obligations they undertake in a similar fashion to a registered Doctor.

[Steve]

This is pretty much what one of the things Pacers does. All it means is they fill out a form tell us why they are having trouble paying and we work out whether its genuine or really necessary.

If its something un expected such as when we had the lady in Queensland who's son burnt her house down killing one of her dogs, and her little dog which she saved was run over the first day in their new home after staying in a women's refuge and the vet said the leg needed to be amputated - but no credit available because she didnt have an income other than her pension - we stepped in and paid her vet bills, gave her some supplies,linen,crockery, cultery,dog food, human food to help her out and paid her a cash payment too. We had another in Victoria where a single Dad needed help to pay for emergency surgery for the family dog or have it put down.The dog and the kids had a good outcome.

We dont just do things like pay for desexing - there are other charities which do that - and its not an emergency situation - but if someone is in the position they are in due to some personal or natural disaster we do what we can.Sometimes it paying vet bills, or suppllying food for their animals for a period of time, helping with boarding or foster care.

Even if its something we cant help with because they dont fit the criteria we help them work out their own solutions and give them support to be able to do it themselves.

Pacers is Australia wide and so far we have helped lots of people in each state but we have now set up all the admin needed to take it to a chartered club situation.

The aim is to have a Pacers group close to every pet owner in the country so if we are needed we can get in quicker and be better prepared and set up networks etc in each community.

This keeps the fundraising in the local area its being raised in, it will allow us to see and understand local issues and resources etc while allowing each club to have the benefit of the wider Pacers community and resources and insurances,trademarks etc.

Right now with the floods in Queensland and Victoria there are many issues which could be avoided and a lot less stress on animals and their owners.

Apart from the obvious which is being able to identify risks pertinent to that area, having plans in place of where to go and quick access to portable pens and horse yards,crates,and necessities it solves many other logistical and administration issues. Of course it also allows people who need help to pay a vet bill or feed their animals, local help which can screen them and work with them.

We havent been around that long yet but over the last 18 months with the wonderful help of Eukanuba we have fed thousands or Dogs and cats and we have also been able to feed horses, donkeys, poultry, birds etc. We have paid dozens of vet bills and provided every day supplies to pet owners to make their lives easier, we have provided foster care, paid boarding fees,we have cleaned kennels and houses when people have been taken to hospital,we have provided counselling services and grief counselling and even helped a couple start their own businesses or find employment, find pet friendly accommodation etc to be sure they are better prepared and they dont stay in the spot they are in.

Everything you need to know about us and perhaps starting a Pacers club in your area is on our website. Within the next 5 years we want a Pacers club close to every animal owner in the country so when anyone needs a vet bill paid,an animal fed, evacuated or kept safe that help can get to them quickly and efficiently.

www.mdbapacers.org.au or you can talk to me on 0269276706

Julie

[Staranais]

Vets actually have an obligation to treat sick or injured animals and can't refuse treatment on the basis of perhaps not being paid which contravenes the prevention of cruelty to animals act. It also contravenes the obligation guidelines set out by the Veterinary Board and can be struck off the register to practice if found guilty of an offence in those circumstances. They can refuse routine procedures like desexing, annual check ups etc, but not animals suffering illness, pain or injury on a financial basis. They can pursue payment for services via civil court action from a business perspective, but they can't tell an animal owner presenting a sick or injured pet to a registered practice to take the animal away on the basis of finances, neither can they delay treatment awaiting financial instruction allowing an animal to suffer unnecessarily or die in the process.

Yes, vets have an obligation to relieve suffering - however, this includes providing euthanasia if the treatment is too expensive for the owner.

So sending a suffering animal away without treating it is an offence. Giving the owner two options (PTS or pay for treatment) is not an offence.

In other words, the vet is under an obligation to do something to relieve suffering, but they are not under any obligation to provide the owner's preferred treatment if the owner cannot pay for it.

[Kristov]

Vets actually have an obligation to treat sick or injured animals and can't refuse treatment on the basis of perhaps not being paid which contravenes the prevention of cruelty to animals act. It also contravenes the obligation guidelines set out by the Veterinary Board and can be struck off the register to practice if found guilty of an offence in those circumstances. They can refuse routine procedures like desexing, annual check ups etc, but not animals suffering illness, pain or injury on a financial basis. They can pursue payment for services via civil court action from a business perspective, but they can't tell an animal owner presenting a sick or injured pet to a registered practice to take the animal away on the basis of finances, neither can they delay treatment awaiting financial instruction allowing an animal to suffer unnecessarily or die in the process.

Yes, vets have an obligation to relieve suffering - however, this includes providing euthanasia if the treatment is too expensive for the owner.

So sending a suffering animal away without treating it is an offence. Giving the owner two options (PTS or pay for treatment) is not an offence.

In other words, the vet is under an obligation to do something to relieve suffering, but they are not under any obligation to provide the owner's preferred treatment if the owner cannot pay for it.

9.4.1

Euthanasia may be considered a legitimate emergency treatment of an animal (under the definition of an "appropriate treatment" in subsection 9(1)(i) of the PCA) in those circumstances where it is impossible or impractical to provide for satisfactory alternative treatment, and where indicated by the registered veterinary practitioner's clinical examination.

An owner and vet can come to an arrangement in regard to costs involved in treatment versus euthanasia, but a vet cannot choose to euthanase on the basis of payment for services. Payment is a civil matter and nothing to with the Act especially if the owner authorises treatment and commenses a contract to treat the animal appropriately. The same applies if midway through treatment the owner runs out of money, the vet cannot euthanase the animal as an alternative to providing a treatment regime on the inability to pay basis, or return a partially treated animal to the owner knowingly that suspending the treatment will cause the animal to suffer. Although vets from a business perspective try to avoid these situations, money is secondary to the appropriate treatment of an animal and is one of the reasons so many vets get caught up in non payment situations.

[HugL]

Many years ago I used an emergency vet for twisted gut in my GSD. I paid what I could at discharge and arranged a payment plan for the rest, over $2000. I made sure I paid if off quicker so I now have history with them that can be referred to if anything happens again. Think they were so amazed that within hours of surgery for 720 degree twist the dog was scrounging for food and this led them to believe I was a pretty good owner - may have been credit deciding factor?

I also agree with the comments that if you can't afford the vet bills (expected or unexpected) then maybe you should consider not having one. I hate seeing Dr Harry having to treat animals that should have been taken to vet months before but the owner didn't even think. This is animal cruelty and I don't know how Dr Harry doesn't slap sense into them.

[Staranais]

Our Code of Conduct is similar, but slightly different:

6.6 Emergency assistance

In an emergency, every clinical practice must be prepared to assist and administer first aid to sick or injured animals when called upon. The welfare of the animal is paramount, particularly with reference to the relief of pain and suffering.

In the case of attendance or treatment of an animal where ownership is unknown, every reasonable effort must be made to locate the owner (or the appropriate authority) and/or to determine if the animal is under treatment by a colleague.

The obligation does not extend to ongoing treatment. For this to follow, a decision on the appropriate course of action should be made within reasonable time, taking into account the financial, commercial, emotional and other areas of concern of both the client and the veterinarian and the welfare needs of the animal.

The bolding is mine.

So if we become aware of an animal in an emergency situation suffering unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress we must take action to ensure that the welfare issue is effectively dealt with, in one way or another. Stabilise the animal, provide pain relief, and let the owner decide how they'd like to procede, at their cost. We're not required to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars of our own money repairing the animal, only required to give first aid & relieve suffering.

I'd imagine yours is the same, if you posted the whole of the document - i.e., saying that a vet is obliged to provide pain relief and treat any immediately life threatening conditions when an animal is presented to them, but is not necessarily obliged to fix the animal or provide ongoing care at their own expense.

Obviously a vet is not allowed to euthanise a non-suffering animal on the basis of the owner's inability to pay, or return an animal to the owner knowing it will suffer. I should hope that is not accepted practice anywhere.

Edited January 20, 2011 by Staranais

[Bluefairy]

I am from SA and one of the vets I used to go to, refused treatment on my dog until I paid up front for care. They had no idea what was wrong with her, but they said they had a new policy where you had to pay a large some (about $200) before being seen, if the treatment was less you got a credit. I told them I wasn't going to get paid until the next day, they still refused to see her.

I ended up speaking to the main vet at the clinic and he checked her out, even operated on her, when another vet told me to put her down. She was riddled with Cancer and there was nothing this vet could do, but he tried his best and I will be forever grateful to him. But not the the rotten so and so who refused to see my dog.

I have since gone to another vet clinic, these now do a 0% interest payment plan over 12 months. So long as you stick to your payment amount each month you can pay it off. I now have pet insurance, so I hope to never be put in that situation again.

It the most horrible situation to know your dog is in pain and suffering, and the only thing a vet will offer is PTS if you can't pay up front.

BF

[yarracully]

Vets actually have an obligation to treat sick or injured animals and can't refuse treatment on the basis of perhaps not being paid which contravenes the prevention of cruelty to animals act. It also contravenes the obligation guidelines set out by the Veterinary Board and can be struck off the register to practice if found guilty of an offence in those circumstances. They can refuse routine procedures like desexing, annual check ups etc, but not animals suffering illness, pain or injury on a financial basis. They can pursue payment for services via civil court action from a business perspective, but they can't tell an animal owner presenting a sick or injured pet to a registered practice to take the animal away on the basis of finances, neither can they delay treatment awaiting financial instruction allowing an animal to suffer unnecessarily or die in the process.

Likewise an animal owner contravenes the prevention of cruelty to animals act by not presenting a sick or injured animal to the vets on the basis of being unable to afford treatment and does not provide a defense to a charge raised against the act. Although from a financial perspective it can be hard on vets at times with non payment and chasing accounts, it's part of the job and obligations they undertake in a similar fashion to a registered Doctor.

We had a dog that required surgery to end her suffering and the specialist vet basically said "She needs this operation immediately (That is to say RIGHT NOW) but we won't do it until x amount of dollars is paid upfront". This was after we had travelled 550 k's to see this particular vet. It turned out to be three and a half thousand dollars. But they were refusing to treat and were prepared to allow the dog to suffer unless we paid up.

Result is we paid up and had the operation done. There was never any question in my mind about it. But they were quite prepared to allow the dog to suffer if we didn't pay up.

[Jaxx'sBuddy]

my understanding was vets were required to stabilise an animal in an emergency situation (or pts depending on circumstance) but were in no way required to undertake remedial work on the animal.

so for instance, a dog that had been hit by a car and broke it's leg, the vet would stabilise the dog, give it pain medication but was under no obligation to mend the broken leg.

i think this is entirely reasonable otherwise how on earth can they get paid.

i for one want my vet clinic to charge....i want them around in the long term, they are good and i want to keep using them.

[Dory the Doted One]

Well, after doing some research, I think my bestest option to help is to join up with Pacers!

I emailed other organisations for ideas and all they did was refer to me to other organisations who had refered me to them and vice versa.

Love it. But at the same time

So I'm now having a good lookie look at how I can help via Pacers.

My Vet (employer) is one of those that suffers more than a few non payers. He never has the heart to tell them to go somewhere else and geniunely cares about those doing it tough. Thankfully a vast majority of clients do pay and happily, even pay it off happily over a loooooong time. Only a couple of memorable butt rings that have arrogantly taken advantage of us.

Generally if he can cover his costs and not his or our time (nurses) he seems okay with it.

[MolassesLass]

PPPS http://www.adelaidevet.com.au/our-services have a payment plan called "care credit"

Care Credit accounts through GE, are 6 months interest free! Southern animal hospital at Morphett vale does these accounts

You can get up to 12 months on interest free and up to 4 years with interest (depending on approval etc).

I this line of credit, such peace of mind!

[Jaxx'sBuddy]

PPPS http://www.adelaidevet.com.au/our-services have a payment plan called "care credit"

Care Credit accounts through GE, are 6 months interest free! Southern animal hospital at Morphett vale does these accounts

You can get up to 12 months on interest free and up to 4 years with interest (depending on approval etc).

I this line of credit, such peace of mind!

GE may not help people on low incomes or benefits as potential customers have a credit criteria to meet

[MolassesLass]

It wasn't my intention to recommend it as a "charitable service", I was just giving information for anyone reading who is interested.