From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2001-12-11 20:01:00 UTC
Subject: Re: complaint -- IMPORTANT
--
Okay, I spoke with a cardiologist at the heart website,
http://www.vetheart.com/ , as well as with the sweet ferret-mom who
wrote, and I think that basically what happened was a
misunderstanding. there are very few questions asked about ferrets,
so they could figure out who it was even though I hid the identity.
The person with the ferret needed to know about alternative
medications due to a difficulty with one, BUT the alternatives
required that more information, the sort which would be available
only after an ultrasound -- which was not mentioned in the letter to
the cardiologists as having been done -- to know which meds would
work or which would be counter-indicated. The only place he knew of
close to her that could do an ultrasound was Cornell so that
location was mentioned in case the test wasn't otherwise available.
He sounded greatly saddened that the ferret had passed, and sorry for
the person who wrote to him -- very sad that a misunderstanding had
occurred. The letter I got was very sweet, actually, and very loving
toward animals.
It's hard to ask questions sometimes when one is very upset and truly
afraid for a loved companion animal, and it's hard to answer in full
sometimes when such efforts are on a volunteer basis.
Sadly, this instance didn't resolve until the ferret had passed away,
but I hope that people will remember that sometimes e-mails aren't as
clear in any direction as they could be, and that can result in
misunderstandings which can fortunately often be cleared-up. When a
person is trying every last recourse she can think of, the
short-comings of e-mail can be hard on everyone.
Oh,and they have consulted with Dr. Debbie Kemmerer at times when
they needed to know more ferret-specific info, which is a good sign,
too.
Bill, if I have used up my three mails, could you PLEASE attach this
to the "complaint" e-mail, or skip both today if there are too many
posts. I am very sad about this.