Her name was Raider and she was adopted as an abandoned stray. She was fed with an eyedropper and was given a warm and loving home. She was funny, intelligent and appreciative. After being fed or given a treat she would curl up in your lap. She always came to you when you called her and she followed you around the house like a puppy. One of her favorite games was to sit on top of the refrigerator and playfully slap you as you walked by. She enjoyed batting balls around, chasing strings and sunning herself in the window. She was a wonderful friend and companion. She was full of love.
At the age of 6 years and on the night of October 12th 2009, she suddenly showed signs of Feline Infectious Peritonitis, an incurable and fatal disease. In a matter of hours her stomach had become pot-bellied with a sudden build-up of fluid. There was no emergency veterinary service on call in this area. We kept her as comfortable as we could but her health was rapidly declining. By morning light she was paralyzed. By the time Cape May Veterinary Hospital opened, Raider was also blind and gasping for breath. She was having painful seizures and howling in agony. We knew she needed to be mercifully put to sleep.
What happened was sickening, sad and unbelievable. I called Cape May Veterinary Hospital and explained Raider's condition to them. They put me on hold for 15 minutes and then told me I could make an appointment to have her euthanized. I was honest and told them I didn't immediately have the money to pay for this but would be able to make good on the debt 2 days later. They basically told me to go to hell. Cape May Veterinary Hospital would not extend the mercy to put a suffering animal out of misery unless there was cash on the barrel.
9:15 AM October 13th 2009:
A wonderful human being at the Cape May Animal Welfare Society named Betty took pity on Raider and my financial situation and agreed to pay for the procedure. By this time Raider was lying on a sheet on the laundry room floor gurgling, coughing and having violent spasms. It was heartbreaking to watch and painfully miserable for the cat. Cape May Veterinary Hospital was notified that Animal Welfare would pay for the procedure but they insisted on more phone calls and fax verification. By 9:40 AM all was in order. The appointment could be made. What happened next was horrible. Cape May Veterinary Hospital informed me that they could not "fit Raider in until 4:30 PM". I explained our beloved pet was in excruciating agony and suffering miserably. Cape May Veterinary Hospital didn't give a damn.
Over the next five and a half hours we sat with our darling little pet with her head cradled in our hands as she stared in blind darkness and confusion. Each of her breaths was an ungodly gasp filled with rasps and gurgles. Frequently her body convulsed and she howled in pain and suffering. We prayed for God to take her. We begged Cape May Veterinary Hospital to show mercy and euthanize her as soon as possible. They wouldn't alter their schedule or make room for the procedure before 4:30 PM. At approximately 3:15 PM Raider regurgitated and ingloriously choked to death on her own vomit. I'll never forget watching our beloved family pet struggling for air and convulsing violently as she died. This could have been avoided and our pet could have had a merciful and dignified death had Cape May Veterinary Hospital cared. They didn't. When I called them to say the appointment wouldn't be necessary, a carefree receptionist said "Oh, ok. Sorry. I'll let the doctor know."
Don't be fooled by these so-called professionals. The Mission Statement on their web site is an outright lie in light of their behavior here.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of our hospital is to fulfill the needs of our clients by providing quality pet health care services through a responsive, professional staff with the emphasis on individual attention and commitment to our clients, their pets, and our community. We will never be the reason any pet does not have the opportunity for the best care veterinary medicine has to offer.
Cape May Veterinary Hospital was exactly the reason our pet did not have "the opportunity for the best care veterinary medicine has to offer". They are liars and care about nothing more than money. They allowed our pet to suffer an inglorious and demeaning death. Avoid this business if you care about and love your pets.
Visit their web site by clicking here but don't be fooled by their empty words. They care about profits not pets.
