Pet Philosohy - Ever have to just bite your tongue?

[MasonC2K]

I had no problem with the vet or the other staff. The vet was highly knowledgable and it really my only choice in the area so I am glad for the place.

It just struck as odd that someone that works at a place that see reptiles often would have that attitude.

[joepythons]

I took my snake to the vet yesterday for the first time. She hasn'r eaten in a few months and I wanted to have her checked out. Everything is fine in that regard but something happened that bothered me a little. As I was checking out, the lady hadling my paper work asked if she could see Chloe (I had her in a pillow case). So I took her out and she thought it was a was great. She tried to get one of her coworkers to touch her. She wanted nothing to do with it but that wasn't what bothered me.

The coworker said "Any animal that has to be kept in a cage shouldn't be a pet."

It took all I had to not rebuke her for such a comment. And on top of that, why would you say that in front of a customer that obviously disagrees?

Did you mention it to the owner of that place? If she has to make ignorant comments about others choices of pets maybe she should work elsewhere

[joepythons]

I agree like 645%...I would have said something right there tho.

"Then I guess you should look for another job out of the PET INDUSTRY since I'm taking my pet need business elsewhere."

...and I'll write the local paper and I'll tell all my friends not to do business here...grrr...

Are we related somehow .I would have done the same thing

[snakelady]

hmmm, does your snake fit the definition of a pet? let's see...here read the #1 definition:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pet
You know, my family thinks I'm nuts for wanting to have a snake as a pet. they all say things like "what can you do with it? you can't play with it in the floor like a dog or cat!".

Yea. I hate it when people say that. What can you do with it? How stupid. Just because my snakes can't catch a ball they suddenly become boring or unfit as a pet.

Why to people go to zoos???? They can't play with the animals.

[snakelady]

LOL, blond moment eh? Some people just don't think before they speak.

Unfortunately, she was thinking. She's was thinking she was right.

So, she thinks this entitles her to voice her "facts". A trap a lot of people fall into.

[Texas Dan]

I agree like 645%...I would have said something right there tho.

"Then I guess you should look for another job out of the PET INDUSTRY since I'm taking my pet need business elsewhere."

...and I'll write the local paper and I'll tell all my friends not to do business here...grrr...

Hellll yeah! I would gone straight to the vet him/herself and tell her i'm done. I would try not to pay for the appointment, lol, but that probably wouldn't work too well.

You don't pay for opinions.

[spix14]

By that logic we shouldn't have dogs or cats as pets either. Even a house with a yard is nowhere near as big as their territory in the wild would be. Next time you go up there you should ask her if she has cats or dogs and hit her with that bit of logic. Beat her at her own game.

And she wouldn't even touch your snake? Was it because she was afraid of it or what? Or was she just so morally offended that she couldn't bring herself to touch him? I'd have serious concerns over someone like that working at a exotic animal clinic.

[missi182]

I agree with everyone! simply said. The employees at the vet I take my bp to are not ignorant, but oh boy are the customers. Comments like "why would you need to bring a snake to the vet!?" and "is it slimey? Can I touch it!?" sigh....You gota love it when people leave the room and cower in the corner when they find out you have an ity bity little python. But I can guarantee I would have had a rebutal for that young ladies ignorance

[Bruce Whitehead]

I would definitely inform the owners of the clinic. Verbally, and in writing. I would also ask for follow up on how they are going to rectify this situation. I think this is information they need to have in order to evaluate their staff.

What was said was glid, high-handed, elitist, and insensitive.

No one dealing with a potentiall sick animal, in a state of stress, and coming from a semi-powerless position needs to hear that.

And for the record. I used to bite my tongue... till I realized that clenching it between your teeth prevents you from saying things such as "excuse me?" "Hey dum dum... I can hear you"... things like that.

Bruce

[wolfy-hound]

Well, she's entitled to her opinion. Some people don't believe in keeping cage birds, or reptiles, or... or...
BUT. If she's working at the vet clinic and voices such an opinion, I would tell the vet as well.
"I'm sorry to have to leave your services here, but your staff doesn't approve of my choice in pet, and with that atitude towards a large portion of pets that I keep, I just don't feel comfortable spending my money here. There's more to pets than just dogs."
Her attitude is lousy, especially for anyone dealing with the clients.
I have a vet tech next door to me who said "I don't believe in feeding animals to other animals."
I then gleefully pointed out what a COMPLETE hypocrite she is, since she owns cats and dogs. Since she doesn't use any vegan kibble she feeds processed animals to HER pets, and at least my snakes are more honest!
She doesn't like me much. I really don't mind that she doesn't like me.