Dogs especially have an insane superpower of a nose, they surely smell the fear and even just regular body odour of all the previous animals who’ve come through there in the last week. I don’t know if the cleaning protocol of even the most fastidiously-hygienic clinics could get rid of that ‘doggy Holocaust train’ smell. It puts me in mind of my own struggles with autistic sensory overload. It must be the equivalent of someone like me being walked through a door and out onto the stage at Wembley Stadium without anyone telling me what was about to happen. At least in my case, I’d see the crowd, whereas the dog only smells the ghosts of animals past and has to imagine what might have caused their pheromone bukakke.
The same goes for the vet/groomer themselves; they surely emit the screaming echos of slaughterhouse stank like a pealing church bell every second of the day. They are absorbing pure animal terror into their clothes and onto their skin like an adrenochrome-fiending Clinton.
My wife works at a certified Fear Free clinic. Customers are only allowed in the building when their animals are being put down. (A greeter goes out to retrieve animals from the cars and return them after the appointment.)
Animals are happy to be there, because it doesn’t smell like fear any longer. There’s no waiting room with other animals. Just the staff who are happy to see them.
It is a real game changer.
My dogs absolutely love the waiting room and meeting the people in it.
Also, for those who can manage it, it’s far better to have your dog put down in their own home.
I’m glad you’ve had good experiences in waiting rooms! Mine were mixed and now I honestly never have to deal with any of it because she does.
And I completely agree on the latter. We have that done and it’s so much … better? To have that closure, with all the other pets able to be present and see/smell them and say goodbye.
I experienced this last year for the first time.
I don’t think our other dog really understood. I think we would have had to wait longer for her to come sniff in order for her to have understood.
I was afraid that I wouldn’t want to use the piece of furniture that we had always cuddled on and that we chose for her euthanasia, but after a week or two, it was fine. I don’t even think of it now, when using that furniture.
It was definitely the right choice.
You get to grieve there with your family. The weird people leave with your old dog (sob), after everyone gets to give their respects, and then it’s just you and your remaining family.
It’s a funeral. And I’m so lucky to have this because we don’t get charged for that extra service - the boss considers us family for that. The hospital went corporate and that touch won’t last but I appreciate his efforts there for us.
This puts a lot of trust in the vets and vet staff, I don’t think I’d be comfortable with it. I definitely see the benefits but it seems like owners should accompany the pet to the visit, at least for the exam portion. It’s too much of an opportunity for good communication between the vet and the owner, especially since the pet can’t speak for themselves.
Just replying again since my wife got home.
She said what actually happens is that when the pet is in the exam room, the customer is brought to the room. I just didn’t know the whole process post-covid. You were right!
Do you mean specifically in regards to euthanasia?
Typically the owner is in their car outside so they can still inquire and be brought inside as needed.