A Holmes Chapel man said an already “heartbreaking” experience became worse after his 15½-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was put to sleep at a veterinary practice in Gatley.
Anthony Trussler told the “Chronicle” that Misty had not been well for three days, so he decided to take her to the Medivet in Gatley.
“Upon arriving, we were rushed into a room and we were told the devastating news that she was suffering from organ failure,” he said.
“We made the heartbreaking decision to put her to sleep. So they put her to sleep. Emotions were high. I was crying and devastated. We were ushered out of the surgery, so I just assumed that the cremation would go ahead and then I would settle the bill when they brought her ashes back.”
He said he was waved away by a receptionist before he could ask about settling the bill for Misty’s cremation.
“I thought it was a bit unprofessional. I’d just lost the dog I’d had for 15 and a half years, and they just ushered me out of the surgery with no explanation, no mention of settling any bill.
“Then I was outside the surgery, breaking my heart. Nobody came out to make sure I was alright or anything like that,” Mr Trussler said.
A week later, Medivet called to say Mr Trussler had to pay before his dog could be sent to be cremated.
“To not hear back from the vets before then is just awful. I was devastated at the thought that my dog had just been laying there for a week. It was just horrendous,” Mr Trussler said.
“I was completely heartbroken.”
He said he questioned why he was not contacted the day after Misty was put to sleep when his emotions “weren’t so high.” He sent an email to complain, and received an apologetic email in which the practice said it was going to “retrain staff”.
Mr Trussler’s previous dog, Max, was also put to sleep at Medivet Gatley three years ago – but it wasn’t like the experience he had with Misty.
“He was put to sleep there, and it wasn’t like what happened this time. I was told to pay the bill there and there. We paid the bill as soon as we put him to sleep.
“But with Misty, nothing was explained to me.”
Despite this happening over a month ago, Mr Trussler still feels “lost” and “in limbo.” He said he spoke to the “Chronicle” because he did not want other pet owners to experience what he did.
“I need to know that this isn’t going to happen, and that prices have to be made clear before you make the heartbreaking decision of letting one of your pets go,” he explained.
“As for going to the paper, I thought, if it stops people going through the same things we’ve gone through for five weeks, it does make a difference.
“I don’t want my dog to go thinking I didn’t do everything I could for her.”
Mr Trussler said that when he collected Misty’s ashes, he “wasn’t given an apology” and was just handed the ashes.
He added that the “only option” he was offered was a scatter tube, a lightweight, biodegradable container designed specifically for scattering ashes.
There is no specific UK legislation that states how many days a deceased pet may be kept at a veterinary practice before being cremated.
A Medivet and Partners spokesperson said: “Losing a much-loved pet is incredibly difficult. Our team at Medivet Gatley is committed to providing pets and their owners with compassionate, respectful care throughout every stage of that experience.
“We take all our queries extremely seriously, and we have been in direct contact with the client in question to address their concerns. We have also reflected on the case with our team to help ensure our communication is as clear and sensitive as possible.”
(Photo: Anthony Trussler).
