As a devoted pet parent, whenever I drop off my furry baby at the vet for her checkup, I feel as though a part of me is missing. So, I always find myself counting down the hours until I can have my sweet girl back in my arms again.
Vet visits can be really scary for our furry friends, especially when their appointments are a bit longer. We humans need to prioritize picking them up as soon as possible.
I thought every pet parent felt this way until I came across a story about a puppy who ended up staying at the vet longer than he should have.
Left Behind
Photo Credit: domihum
Dominique Humphries shared a heartbreaking video on TikTok about an owner who brought their puppy in for an appointment and never came back to pick him up. The internet was left in shock.
Humphries mentioned she made multiple attempts to contact the owner of the Pit Bull and Labrador Retriever mix. Each time she reached out, they assured her they were on their way.
When nobody came to pick up this sweet boy, the veterinary assistant from Atlanta, Georgia, was left puzzled. Why would someone do such a thing?
“The owner didn’t want to pick up the dog because they were scared of losing him to a health issue, even though the doctor assured them the dog was fine. They just got up and left the dog in the exam room, and we didn’t hear from them until the next day,” Humphries told Newsweek.
She also said the pup was super friendly and loved playing with humans. The Atlanta vet office made sure to give him as much playtime as possible, even spending their lunchtime with him.
The video Humphries posted gained a lot of attention and quickly went viral. Countless viewers expressed their concern about this adorable two-month-old puppy.
Pick-up Day
Photo Credit: domihum
Three days later, the owner finally came to collect their pup. Unfortunately, since she was working on another patient, Humphries couldn’t confront them.
“They came to get the dog on the third day, which made me sad because I feel like the patient deserves a better home. I have not heard from the owner since, and I’m fearful but also don’t want to know if something happened to the dog,” Humphries said.
Although many commentators believed the pup shouldn’t be with such a neglectful owner, Humphries was bound by the veterinary protocol to care for the pup until the owner picked him up.
“I wish there was more I could’ve done for him, but I have to follow hospital protocols. I hope he’s doing great, but if I get an update later on, I will keep everyone posted,” she concluded.
Final Word
Photo Credit: domihum
The biggest takeaway from this story is that veterinary clinics aren’t dog daycares! It’s crucial to remember that our dedicated vets have a challenging and sometimes stressful task of keeping our furry babies happy and healthy. It’s our job to make it as easy as possible for them.
So, when the next vet appointment rolls around, make sure you not only clean and feed your pups but also be punctual for both check-in and pick-up!
