Is private veterinary care really affordable?
This experience contradicts recent reports that Roodepoort residents can afford private veterinary care.
A resident’s recent experience with a private veterinarian was a shocking revelation regarding veterinary care and greed.
Philip Kuhn contacted the Record after taking his pregnant Boerboel to a veterinarian. Kuhn and his family are Boerboel breeders and have decided that this litter will be their canine parents’ last.
“My dog had puppies and I was concerned that she still might have unborn puppies inside her.”
Kuhn explained how he rushed the female dog to their regular veterinary clinic, but “the female veterinarian that we usually consult was not in. We consulted the veterinarian that was there and I inquired about the approximate cost, since we knew what procedures had to be done.
“Obviously this was an emergency and I was affraid that I will not have with me enough cash to cover the procedures’ cost.
“My intention to pay with what cash I had at the time and doing an electronic funds transfer (EFT) at a later stage was misunderstood.”
According to Kuhn, the amount he eventually was billed for was 60 per cent more than what he had discussed with the veterinarian.
“I had to leave my dog there over night for her surgery and recovery and returned to fetch her the next day.”
Kuhn had a family member with him and admits that he did not respond well to the increase on the bill.
“I asked to speak to the veterinarian and he turned it into public humiliation. In the lobby of the clinic in front of everyone he told me that they do not deal in arranged instalments at that clinic.
“I was furious. I never wanted to arrange a payment method, I merely had to transfer the rest of the money to them.”
After much ado the veterinarian agreed to give Kuhn a 10 per cent discount on the bill.
However, this still meant that he had to pay 50 per cent more than he had agreed to.
It begs the question, is private veterinary care really affordable to the average resident? Can the average Roodepoorter really afford exorbitant veterinary fees, or is there logical reasoning behind trying to take care of every situation through the Roodepoort SPCA?
