Alisa ([info]sleepsong) wrote in [info]pittsburgh,
@ 2007-11-28 14:29:00
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Current mood: worried
Current music:Sam Bush

I have an acquaintance with a large family dog that hasn't been registerred with the city in several years. Recently this dog has become quite sick (as well as having the general problems of age like arthritis and lethargy), to the point where it would probably be the kindest thing to put it down rather than have it suffer any more, but this acquaintance is worried about dealing with a vet lest they be fined lots of money and get in legal trouble for having gone years with an illegal dog.

You'll have to bear with me as I have a cat and know nothing about registerring dogs, but if you can answer any of these questions I would greatly appreciate it.

1. Is it possible to register a lapsed dog without getting in trouble or paying hundreds of dollars? If so, how?

2. Are there any vets in the area that you know of that will do a housecall to put a sick animal down?

3. Of these vets, are there any who are really good and able to see that this is a dog that got very sick very suddenly rather than thinking the animal has been abused? I know the owner well and know they would never hurt or neglect an animal, but the dog looks pretty bad because of its illnesses and this person is worried they might be wrongfully accused of neglect.

If you have any other ideas of what can be done for this poor dog, please feel free to leave them in the comments. I really don't know much about dogs at all other than that (in my opinion) they smell weird and most of the small ones yap, so please don't leave out any info that you assume I already know.

Thank you!


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[info]kimberlin
2007-11-28 07:48 pm UTC (link)
I don't know oof any vets that will travel to do this but I think a vet can tell the difference between an abused dog and an ill dog. As for the license - I wouldn't even worry about it. I've never had a vet ask me about any license.

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[info]sleepsong
2007-11-28 07:58 pm UTC (link)
That's good to know about vets not checking for licenses.

(I wonder about some people's ability to tell the difference between sick and abused sometimes. I have a friend whose former friend reported her to PETA of all places for "starving her cat" when it turns out her cat is just naturally very, very skinny. It took months for her to sort everything out after that.)

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[info]rapier1
2007-11-28 07:53 pm UTC (link)
1) Vets don't check for these sort of things.
2) If you have a working relationship with a vet this can sometimes be done but most vets don't do house calls. Those that do tend to often tend towards the less competent end of the spectrum.
3) Bring the dog in. Thats all you can do. The vet won't leap to unwarranted conclusions.

Basically, it sounds like your friend is more worried about how other people will think of them than getting the best treatment possible for their pet. This happens and is perfectly understandable but they need to get over this and get their dog to a vet.


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[info]sleepsong
2007-11-28 07:55 pm UTC (link)
The problem with getting the dog to the vet is that it's humongous and might be too sick at this point to transport. Argh, I'd talk to my vet for them, but I go to the Cat Clinic in Bloomfield, which doesn't help. I appreciate knowing that vets don't check for whether or not the animal is registerred, though, and will pass that on. Thank you!

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[info]macgirlie
2007-11-28 08:05 pm UTC (link)
Rapier1 is right. I had a VERY large dog in the City and I didn't register him. I have never had a vet check- policing is something done maybe by animal control if there is a complaint or they get caught by the pound (though when another dog I had took off and got picked up by the pound, there were no fines when we retrieved her, we just registered her on the spot as part of the recovery process.

Most vets don't make house calls, and unless your friend has some realistic plans, the remains will have to be dealt with. Most vets will take care of all that comes after euthanasia, with cremated remains being given back to the owner if they so desire. This is an additional fee of course.

Vets can distinguish between abuse/neglect and illness. A decent vet will talk about what is going on with the dog and their desire to spare him more suffering. They will be able to put him down on the spot (in most cases).

What part of the City are they in (generally)? I might be able to suggest a few good vets to you.



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[info]sleepsong
2007-11-28 08:13 pm UTC (link)
When my previous kitty died, the Cat Clinic in Bloomfield set me up with the Pet Cremation services in Chartier, and they were wonderful. The woman in charge of that treated me with respect and dignity, and when I received Oliver's cremains back, the bag they were in was then wrapped in a custom made fabric pouch the colour of his fur with a little silk rose and a bagged swatch of his fur attached. It was so beautiful... I don't know why I'm bothering to write all of that, other than to inform other people of their wonderful, wonderful service, but I'm definitly going to recommend them to this person to deal with the dog's remains.

This person's in the Turtle Creek / North Versailles area, so anyplace around there would be awesome. Thank you!

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[info]jacquez
2007-11-28 08:52 pm UTC (link)
The only thing I'd add is that my vet DOES have a notice up that animal control folks might randomly come in & inspect for licenses, and they won't let you board your dog with them if it isn't licensed. But that's all the enforcement I know of ANY vet office doing in this regard.

If your friend would feel more comfortable registering the dog first, all they have to do is fill out a form and send it in with a check. Neither the city nor the county will do anything about coming after anyone for back registrations -- after all, for all they know, the registration is for a dog just adopted from a shelter, or whatever.

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[info]sleepsong
2007-11-28 09:17 pm UTC (link)
Ahh, good old "covering your ass in case the feds come." I love that sort of thing. ;D

Do you know how long registration usually takes? Just in case they decide to go that route?

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[info]jacquez
2007-11-28 10:45 pm UTC (link)
It usually takes a few weeks when I renew at the end of the year, but only took a few days when I registered her the first time (in the off-peak season).

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[info]iamleaper
2007-11-28 07:54 pm UTC (link)
I have heard wonderful things about the Greenfield vet on Greenfield Ave near Beechwood. A recently deceased friend of mine had a dog who had cancer, and the vet there apparently came to her house to put the dog down since the dog could not be moved. I think that my friend and the vet were old acquaintances or something so maybe that was a special favor, but she was an animal lover and said that they were the best.

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[info]sleepsong
2007-11-28 07:59 pm UTC (link)
I'll pass that on, thank you! Even if it is a matter of them being old acquaintances in that vet's case, it brings me hope that there are other vets out there who will do house calls for the love of the animal.

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[info]redherring
2007-11-28 07:59 pm UTC (link)
I am a vet and I've never asked an owner about whether their dog was properly registered. I don't know of any vets in the area who do housecalls, but I'm sure there are some out there. And as for the ill vs neglect issue - I cannot really comment without seeing the dog, but I think most vets are pretty good about listening to the story the owner is telling and determining the truth. And either way, if your acquaintance is truly worried about being accused of neglect based on the dog's appearance, it's time to do what's right for the dog.

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[info]sleepsong
2007-11-28 08:01 pm UTC (link)
I'm glad to hear all of this from an actual vet. Thank you.

(You don't make house calls, do you?)

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[info]redherring
2007-11-28 08:18 pm UTC (link)
The only house call I've ever made was to euthanize a coworker/friend's dog. And thanks for posting about Pet Cremation up above - it's nice to know about as many reputable services as possible.

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[info]finocchio
2007-11-28 07:59 pm UTC (link)
A dog can be registered any time. They don't check to see if it's been registered before, but once you do register, they'll send you follow up registration forms annually unless you report the animal is no longer in your household.

Vets don't typically check registration.

Google yields a good many hits on 'house call vet pittsburgh' but this is one I know personally and she's a good and compassionate person. She may be booked up, though.
Barbara L. Smith DVM
House Call Veterinary Service
PO Box 8070
Pittsburgh, PA 15216
Serving: City of Pittsburgh and South Hills
** Seeing dogs and cats only.
(412)278-2111

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[info]sleepsong
2007-11-28 08:02 pm UTC (link)
I truly love you, you know that? Thank you so much!

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[info]finocchio
2007-11-28 08:19 pm UTC (link)
You're more than welcome, and if that vet can't help, I'm sure she can refer. She's been doing this a long time, and unlike what some might say, is not on the "less competent end of the spectrum", she's just chosen to specialize in home-based care.

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[info]rapier1
2007-11-28 08:58 pm UTC (link)
That 'some might say' would be me.

Now, to be fair, I didn't say that all house call vets are less competent but some are and they seem to collect in this marketing niche. Thats what we found when the vet I used to work for did research in the field. House calls are much more expensive in term of a vets time and so they either charged appropriately or they cut corners. Either way, much of it is complicated by the fact that you can only take so much equipment with you to a client's house which limits the diagnostics you can run. I can't see a house call vet doing a fecal in a client's kitchen or setting up an x-ray machine in the foyer.

Now, if all this person wants is a euthanasia then that's not as much of a problem but either way the house call vet is required (at least it used to be required) to take the remains with them.



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[info]companymanners
2007-11-28 08:48 pm UTC (link)
I found an article that quotes her in the Veterinary Practice News.

I would ask for a referral or two from an emergency animal hospital. Castle Shannon Animal Hospital is a reputable one.

http://www.vcacastleshannon.com

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[info]sleepsong
2007-11-28 09:18 pm UTC (link)
That's a terrific idea! Thank you!

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[info]my2pennies
2007-11-28 08:59 pm UTC (link)
Check with the Humane Society on the Northside.

You would have to get the dog there but last I heard they will put it down for a reasonable price and they won't try to talk you into a pet cemetary. They dispose of the remains for you.

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[info]sleepsong
2007-11-28 09:20 pm UTC (link)
The problem is with getting the dog there - it's very old and very sick and it's almost definitly impossible to even get it to the car, let alone get it inside and transport it all the way to an appointment.

(I personally don't like the idea of "disposing" of remains. It's your pet! You love it and cherish it and take care of it for all of its life; you don't just throw it in the trash when you're done! When I die, I want my ashed mixed with those of all my cats that I'll ever own and then deposited in a coral reef.)

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[info]kimberlin
2007-11-28 09:13 pm UTC (link)
Also - there are Pet Taxi's out there. Castle Shannon Vet had adverts up for them when I lived in that area.

PS Chartiers Cremation is where I'm looking into for my large-ish dog's cremation. He's getting close to the end. I met her outside of my vet's office. Wonderful lady. Glad to hear nice comments about her services.

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[info]sleepsong
2007-11-28 09:24 pm UTC (link)
It's not a matter of what type of transportation available, it's that the poor thing is too old and sick to make it that far. I know the owners would rather have it go quietly and peacefully than have it collapse in a painful agony while on a death march to a car or pet taxi.


Chartiers is wonderful. I spoke with her hours after Oliver died and she just stayed on the phone and listened to me as I told her stories about what a wonderful cat he was and how hard it had been to make the decision to put him down for about an hour, and then when I went to pick up his ashes she let me sit there and talk some more in her lovely office. It was a very positive experience all around.

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[info]jacquez
2007-11-28 10:49 pm UTC (link)
I know the owners would rather have it go quietly and peacefully than have it collapse in a painful agony while on a death march to a car or pet taxi.

They could move him in a sling, perhaps. Even a large dog isn't too big for two adults in reasonable shape to move, in a sling. An old bedsheet would work.

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[info]amarook
2007-11-28 11:22 pm UTC (link)
If you go to this website www.pghdogs.com

you will find a link for a vet who does make house calls.

good luck

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[info]darkstorm_
2007-11-29 04:13 am UTC (link)
I would just like to point out that if anyone was abusing their pet, it would be highly unlikely that they would then ask for it to be humanely put down.

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[info]thru_the_veil
2007-11-29 03:31 pm UTC (link)
I am going through something similar. I have a very old lab mix, over 100 lbs, that cannot walk on her own, and my husband and I struggle to carry her around just to go to the bathroom, etc. Taking her to the vet's office would be very difficult for all three of us. I've been doing the research on house-call veterinarians. Very soon, she will have to be euthanized, and I want it to be at home. Try these links--this is what I've found so far:

General article on in-home euthanasia, with a reference to Barbara Smith, VMD, who someone mentioned above:
http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vet-dept/vet-practice-management/housecall-euthanasia.aspx

List of house-call vets, by state:
http://www.housecallvets.org/html/housecall_veterinarian_-_ameri3.html#Pennsylvania

Vet-to-Pet will perform in-home euthanasia also:
http://vetopet.com/site/view/65255_Home.pml

And, as also was mentioned above, www.pghdogs.com has some links to house call vets as well.

If you look at the [hard copy] yellow pages, there are some ads for vets that do in-home euthanasia also.

Don't worry about the licensing. I have six dogs and cats and have never been asked to show proof of registration by any vet.

All the best wishes to your friend--I know what he/she is going through.

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[info]guitarstrings
2007-11-30 05:59 am UTC (link)
If you hunt back to around May, there is a number of a vet that does house calls. They are really expensive though...but the people that work there are really nice.

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