About bailey elizabeth Expertise I can answer pretty much any thing on animal rights. And if not I will search down the answer for you. I will try my best on answering questions on PETA that anyone may have, I have been a member for quite awhile now. If you have any further questions or want more information, I started a small website, www.stophurtingthepooranimals.piczo.com
Experience I have done lots of research over the past few years, and am a member of many animal rights groups.
Organizations PETA
Education/Credentials have taken a class on animals rights and done to much research
Expert: bailey elizabeth Date: 2/9/2008 Subject: My Furball's Medical Records
Question In December last year, my mom noticed blood in Furball's urine. She took him to the Arcadia Small
Animal Hospital and had his urine checked. There was a small amount of blood and in the urine
test but the doctor there told us that Furball was not in a critical state and he should be fine. He
did recommend an extra to check for bladder stones but Furball was still healthy and acting like
his happy self, so she did not force him to do any extra tests. A couple weeks later, she noticed a
large growth on his hind leg. She took Furball to the Las Tunas Animal Hospital on January 21st
because the doctor there also did surgery, so she thought it would be quicker for him to check
Furball as opposed to having to get a referral later on. This doctor, Dr. Peterson, gave Furball
another urine test and blood test. The blood test came back with negative results, he had a liver
problem and could not have surgery to remove growth. The mistake we made is that we trusted
Dr. Peterson completely and in the emotional state that we were in, we were willing to do anything
to make Furball better. He did not say that Furball had a bladder stone or UTI, even though there
was blood in his urine and he had the symptoms. Instead, he urged surgery instead to remove the
growth Furball had. He sent my mom and Furball home with two medications, and with
instructions to return 2 weeks later for another blood test to see if Furball could have surgery. My
mom followed Dr. Peterson's instructions and strictly gave Furball the medication for two weeks.
The night before Furball was to see Dr. Peterson again for his second blood test, my mom found
him lying on the floor in a pool of his own blood and urine. He was straining and stretching his
body in pain. My mom became panicked and was afraid to move him, she did not want to bring
him to the ER to cause him more pain. He made it through the night and my mom brought him to
Dr. Peterson again the next morning for his 2 week blood test. Dr. Peterson did not say anything
about Furball being in critical condition, he did not tell us what Furball had or what was wrong
with him even though we described all the symptoms Furball was experiencing. He just gave
Furball another blood test and sent my mom and Furball home. 4 hrs after that visit, Furball
passed away in my mom's arms.
Through this whole time, I was up in Davis for school. I was constantly by the phone for updates
from my mom. That was the most painful moment in my life, was when I got the call that Furball
had passed away. I am an only child and Furball was my companion for 13 yrs of my life and kept
my mom company while I went away for college, she is a single mom. He had the most beautiful
and happy personality, always cheerful and made me happy inside. It is very painful right now to
be writing this e-mail. After Furball died, I flew down to LA to be with my mom. The worst part of
this Las Tunas Animal Hospital is after Furball’s death, we requested Furball’s medical records so
that we might be able to bring them else where to figure out why he died. Any pet owner knows
how painful it is to lose a loved one and how it is necessary to gain closure. As a student at UC
Davis, I was formerly an Animal Science major and still have contacts with a few of my professors.
I want to be able to bring his records to one of my professors and perhaps gain some closure as to
why he died all of a sudden. The two technicians who work there, Sandy and Debbie, were
unsympathetic to Furball’s death and refused to give us a copy of his medical records and will
only give us a “summary” which we have yet to receive. Dr. Peterson saw Furball that DAY he died,
he still could not tell us Furball’s condition and could not tell that Furball was near death. I
question his veterinary skills. Now I question the medication he gave Furball, was that 2 weeks a
waste? Why did he not do anything for a possible UTI/bladder stone, he is the veterinarian – he
should be able to tell through the numerous tests he put Furball through. They stated that it is
their hospital’s policy that no record can be released to the dog’s owners. I don’t understand why
I can’t have a copy of Furball’s records, isn’t it legally my right as an owner? If they did nothing
wrong then what is there to hide? My mom I have asked numerous times to speak to Dr. Peterson
himself but he refuses to return any of our phone calls and nor talk to us about what happened to
Furball. We are always told “he is in surgery”, “he is with a patient”, “he has left the office” every
single time we call to speak with him. We even went in person to wait for him today, and he still
refused to come out to talk to us. I would assume as a veterinarian, he should love animals and be
sympathetic to his patients and their owners. We do not want to sue or get any money, but only to
hear from him what happened. He will not even have the decency to talk to us over the phone and
explain to us what might have happened, which is making Furball’s death very difficult for my
family. It also makes us question what he has to hide. I went to the Arcadia Small Animal Hospital
to request Furball’s records and the technician there made me a copy immediately and even told
me “I’m sorry you have to go through this” referring to the difficulty we are going through in
trying to get the records from Dr. Peterson’s office. If Dr. Peterson would just talk to us and tell
us what happened to Furball and said I’m sorry I understand what you’re going through, we would
have a better peace of mind and not be going through a lawyer to obtain Furball’s medical
records. I do not recommend Dr. Peterson and this clinic at all, I really hope sharing our
experience with Furball’s death will help someone in the future.
Question : Does the Las Tunas Animal Hospital have a right to hold Furball's records and only give
us their own written up "summary"?
Answer Hi, I'm sorry to hear of your loss. I know how it feels, I had a puppy "accidently" get shot on my farm when I was small, he was my whole life.
No he does not!!
If he will not give you the records, you have the right to obtain your pets records, if you write him a letter. This guy seems very suspicious, he will not give you the records so he probley has something to hide. If still after the letter, he will not give you the records, you could take it to court, it will probley also prove he did something intentionally to furball. I'm so sorry you have to go through this I know it is tough. If you miss your pet try to think of all the good times.
