At Our Panel Vets
AnimalCare 
Dec 30, 2011 
AnimalCare, NGOs 
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As you know, ever since one lady created so much trouble for us amongst our panel vet, another vet and myself, we ceased having panel vets for medical treatment with immediate effect. Ever since that incident, rescuers get to go to any vet they like, and they are welcome to claim a subsidy from us if they satisfy our criteria for claims.
I thought that would have solved the problem and we kept to just two panel vets in Subang Jaya for spay-neuter only where we sponsor in full.
Apparently, no.
Today, someone called me asking for spay-neuter help for her many cats. She claimed that the assistant at one clinic had given my number to her to seek assistance to sponsor the spay-neuter of her cats. But here’s the problem – this person is a regular client of our panel vet.
As such, it would really be “undercutting” if I agree to sponsor the case as our rates is discounted and it’s like the vet “losing” a regular customer.
The proper way to do this would be to:
1. Seek the vet’s consent and get the vet to recommend her to me, which our other panel vet does for really needy rescuers who cannot afford the bill. Once I have the vet’s consent (only the vet, and not the assistants), I can come in to help with sponsorship at our rescue rate (with the vet’s blessings and agreement).
For the above, I need to hear from the vet directly, not from any assistant.
2. The feeder pays the normal rate first and later claims a subsidy from us based on our rates.
It is totally unethical of me to barge in and sponsor a case at our rescue rate when the vet can charge his regular rates since it is the vet’s own client. That’s taking away business from our vets. Remember our vets are commercial vets and they have already graciously consented to give us a rescue rate for spay-neuter (at their loss and our gain). They are not the ones running a charity, we are. That is why I don’t even ask for discounts for medical cases, knowing how expensive medicine and materials can be.
Vets are professionals, and if that’s their price and we cannot afford it, let’s go to another vet. It is unprofessional of us to ask for a discount. Vets do not owe us a discount. We must remember that. We are the ones who are willing to help the stray animals so we should take responsibility for the bill as well. Why throw a demand on the vets?
So, I had to (which I have, numerous times) gently tell the vet assistant that in the event she wants to help any of the vet’s own clients, please do NOT refer the person directly to me, but to the vet. Let the vet refer her to me, then we can help.
There is a proper way to do things, please.
Unfortunately, it has not been (and is still not) easy to get this message through.
You know how it is, some animal lover’s and rescuer’s attitude where they don’t care about anything except “But we are helping the animals!” and all ethical behaviour flies out of the window.
If this goes on, I do not want to lose our vets, I may just have to stop having panel vets for spay-neuter as well.
Everyone goes to any vet they like, claim from us later at our subsidy rates.
I hope it doesn’t come to that as the genuine rescuers would have to pay instead of getting everything fully sponsored by us.
On the other hand, it might also be a good thing to cultivate a community of financially responsible rescuers. We share the bill. No more freebies.
In Singapore, the Cat Welfare Society does not pay any bill. They do education and have panel vets to provide a discount for strays. All rescuers pay the bills themselves.
For me, ethical behaviour comes before money.
Source: http://myanimalcare.org/2011/12/30/at-our-panel-vets/
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