Has anyone heard of a Vet's office doing this after a dog has been put to sleep?

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

This happened to a very good friend of mine in October when she had to have her 8 year old Golden Retriever put to sleep after complications from bloat. I had gone to the same vet but had quit going to her before this happened because I didn't care for her a whole lot and her office staff even less.  Another discussion made me think about this situation and I wonder how common it is?

My friend took her Holly, Golden Retriever, to this particular vet in an emergency.  She had to take her there 2 weeks before this when Holly came down with bloat, she somewhat recovered but never fully.  She found her unresponsive and rushed her to the vet.  Unfortunately, there was nothing to be done and my friend decided to have Holly put to sleep because she didn't want her to suffer.  After Holly had been put to sleep the vet refused to give Holly back to my friend.  She told her it was "illegal".  My friend is not a very assertive person at all and didn't really argue or demand that Holly be given back to her, she was such an emotional mess to begin with she just believed the vet.  This vet told her that she could have Holly cremated for $200 but other than that she could not have her back to bury her at home.  Financially my friend and her family were really hurting at this point and just two weeks before had spent $1500 for the emergency care for Holly when she came down with bloat.  She just did not have the $200 to pay for the cremation so she left Holly with the vet.  

I asked my current vet what she did when someone had to have their pet put to sleep and she said that she either gives them back or offers to have them cremated.  I asked her about the other vet saying it was illegal and she would not make a comment.  Thinking back I know why she wouldn't comment, she originally worked for the other vet and was supposed to take over the practice when the other vet retired but according to local gossip they had an ethical falling out.  The nice vet I go to opened her own practice and the other vet is still practicing as well.

Has anyone ever heard of this happened?  What would you have done if the vet would have told you this?  I am going to see if I can find any Ohio law that says its illegal.  

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Aww Shelly, I am so sorry, that had to be such a tough situation for you to. I hate to think this happens often.

[Linda Graham]

I don't know about Ohio, I live in Canada. I know here, it is "technically" illegal to bury and animal on your property. It is not (to my knowledge) illegal for the vet to give the animal to their family. Vets here also can keep the pet and have it burried in a mass grave which is cheapest, or the family can have the vet get the pet creamated and returned to the family, or, the family can take the pet home right then from the office. I asked all this when I had to make the appointment for our cat to be put down and I was able to gather a blanket and box to bring him home in.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Here is a sensible blurb on this topic, which even contains one of my favorite sayings: “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to ask permission.”

http://www.memorials.com/Rules-for-Pet-Burials-information.php

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Good article F, and I agree, ask forgiveness later. I wouldn't have the option at our home to bury as it would take a backhoe to get 5-6 ft deep in our hard packed clay dirt but I would opt for keeping a swatch of fur, collar, tags and having cremation with ashes returned. This was a thought provoking post and I think I am going to have my vet put this in their chart so it's clear and there are no last minute decisions. Hard to make choices in an emergency.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

That is one of my very favorite sayings to!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Sounds like a $$making scheme to me. What a heartless thing to do to a grieving owner. Disgusted. What probably happened to Holly was she was cremated with others.

I too had my dog Zach cremated...he was 48lbs, the vet said he was 45 so he was a little less expensive. I opted to take the ashes home. When I picked him up about a week later I had to wait in the lobby with people and puppies in a long line, it was awful, I just started to cry when she asked "how can I help you today". When I told her she said she was so sorry and went to get his ashes. They were in a little white tin with dog bones all over it...how am I ever going to do anything with this tin (frankly it looks like something you would put your dog treats into).

He resides in my china cabinet (no china in it just pictures). If we ever move he will go with...if we stay till our dying days I hope my DD remembers what is in that tin, it is marked on the bottom.

A week after I picked up the ashes we got a card in the mail from the Vet who did the procedure (under the oak tree in the back yard behind the office). On it were Zach's actual paw prints and a copy of the rainbow bridge. It was lovely.

All of the above $240 and worth every cent.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Oh my gosh Lisa-that is a nice vet! How sweet and understanding.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

We had our last two dogs, Hershey and Honey, cremated. The cost for Hershey was around $160 and the cost for Honey was around $210. I have both of their boxes with their ashes inside on my bookcase in the living room. Inside, I put a bit of their fur and a picture. On the outside, is a plaque with their name. I know this sounds insane, but I wanted them inside our house and not buried outside, because they never liked to be outside by themselves. Both of them were velcro dogs and it bothered me to think of them outside all alone. Nuts, probably, but it made me feel better.

[F, Calla & Luca]

You sound like my mom. When my father died unexpectedly while in Florida, where they lived part time, she decided to bury him there because she didn't want him in the cold ground. So when she died in NJ we had to all go to Florida to bury her next to him.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Sweet F!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I would probably keep the ashes inside also instead of a burial if they were cremated.It would be nice to have them with you.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Denise I feel so bad for your friend's situation. I would have been on the phone asking for a loan from someone-anything to take the dog home. This is shameful of the vet to do what he did. I can actually picture my vets doing the same thing. Trying to get DH to switch but he says the rest are too far if there is an emergency. That's what 24 hour vets are for right?

Anyway, I hope she can find some peace. this is so sad,but thanks for getting us all prepared with this post.