It used to be that in a small town, we knew every person by their first name and were related to half of them! Since there were no credit cards or not for profit groups, every business had to make credit available.
When trying to keep a small business open these days, we have had to change some of our thoughts on billing to be fair to everyone including ourselves. We have found that there are many options available for people needing a small short term loan besides us trying to give them one. Many companies make their living doing this now. Almost everyone has at least one credit card for unexpected emergencies and we accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover. That way we can perform all the treatments you pet needs and let someone else do the interest and fees we find so hard keep track of. There are even reputable companies dedicated entirely to dealing with held checks.
There are also not for profit groups that are willing to help those in need. The Floyd County Humane Society, the Floyd County Animal Rescue League and the Animal Care Society are just a few. These groups receive donations just for this situation and do not have the overhead and bills to pay that a small business owner has to worry about.
We are here to help animals, not to worry about money. That means that we cannot be a Bank or Check Cashing Service. We leave this up to the experts.
If money is a concern for you, you have several options. You can space out the needed treatments, sometimes over several months instead of trying to get them all done at once. You can pay some of the bill with cash, some with a check and some with a credit card. You can also contact one of the places mentioned earlier.
As with any business, we do expect to be paid when your pet is picked up or when the appointment is finished and may require a deposit. We are always willing to show you an estimate and then help you work out a plan. Please let us know before we perform any services if money is a concern for you. Thank you for your understanding.
When establishing an after hours emergency policy at our clinic, we tried to answer the question, “If this were my pet, what would I want?” The answers were simple.
At the Animal Hospital of Lanesville we want the best possible care for our pets and yours. We know we could not realistically work a normal day and then be available for emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for our entire adult lives. The best we can do for you and your pet is to refer you to an emergency clinic we trust.
But knowing all this doesn’t make you feel better when it is your pet that is sick or injured. What can make you feel better is being prepared. Keep a list of emergency numbers by your phone, have a medical kit at home and know how to stop bleeding with a bandage and how to perform CPR. Keep your pet on your property and keep them up to date on all preventative procedures including spaying and neutering. If your pet is not acting right, don’t wait until it becomes an emergency before calling the Veterinarian.
Working together we can keep your pet from ever needing an emergency clinic, but if he does, please call the Jefferson Animal Hospital at 1-502-966-4104. To get to the Jefferson Animal Hospital take Interstate 65 South to the Outer Loop East Exit. Stay on the Outer Loop but after you cross the Preston Highway intersection the clinic is ½ mile down the road on the right, across from the Steak-n-Shake.
Our goal is to help you keep your pet healthy and happy. If you have any questions about emergencies, please let us know.
Although it is very difficult to talk about, the best time to make your decisions about euthanasia is before the day actually arrives.
First you must decide if euthanasia is what you need to do. If your pet is suffering with little hope of relief, then a painless death is all you can do for him. When the time is right, you will know, it is different for everyone. Don’t let someone else talk you into doing something you are not comfortable with.
If you decide to euthanize your pet, you then need to decide if you are going to bury your pet at home or have us take care of the remains. If we take care of the body, The Ohio Valley Pet Cemetery does a communal cremation for us. They can provide both burial and individual cremation if you wish to do either of those. If you would like to contact them directly, their phone number is 282-3947.
Many owners say their good-byes at home and then have a close friend or family member bring their pet in to the Veterinary Clinic. This will hopefully keep the pet from seeing you upset and worrying about what is going to happen. You may wish to have your pet put to sleep at your home. You can contact Dr. Barbara Peppin at 502-836-4765 for house call services. When done at our clinic, you can choose to not watch, or to be present for the first stage of the euthanasia, where we give a sedative. Your pet can then fall asleep in your arms. We then take your pet to the treatment area where we give an IV injection. Your pet is asleep and feels nothing, but the heart stops. We recommend you bring a blanket or a box for your pet if you are taking the body home for burial.
It is best not to have children less than 13 years of age present for the euthanasia. Do tell children the truth about what is going to happen and use the words “euthanasia” and “dying”, not “going to sleep” as this confuses some children and causes them to be afraid of sleeping. Let them have their good-byes at home and let them decide what they would like to do to remember their pet. They may want to keep the collar or a lock of hair.
We will try to make this difficult time as easy as possible for you and your pet. We will do our best to schedule you for a time when hopefully we will not be busy with other clients. We will do our best to not make you wait.
Feel free to talk to us openly at anytime about this subject. We want you to share how you feel.
Please call us at the Animal Hospital of Lanesville at 952-3643 for an appointment or a consultation.
Did you know? To date, the oldest dog died at age 29.
