We just a really upsetting experience with a well known veterinarian practice .
This (well known) veterinarian clinic took our cat in for spaying and microchipping and refused to return our cat. Claiming instead, that they've found the 'real' owners of the cat.
We have reason to doubt this however, because (we suspect) the cat happens to be a pedigree cat, and therefore of more value than just another stray cat. Also the vet's behaviour leading up to the incident was highly suspicious.
The details of what happened are as follows:
We found a very friendly cat in the streets, we petted the cat, spent some time with her but went on our way eventually. A day later, we found the cat in the same spot and hungry so we bought some food for her. The cat was never seen with a collar, if that makes any difference.
She followed us home. In two days, we took the cat to the vet (The same ones who later took away our pet) in order to check for microchips and she didnt have any. They said, in their own words, they tried "three different scanners and none of them revealed a chip.
In the meantime, we scoured social media for reports of a missing cat, walked around the neighbourhood looking for 'missing cat' signs without success. The kids had taken a liking to her (adults too) so we decided to keep her.
(Its worth noting that we have no inclination for a pedigree cat specifically. We just like cats)
We booked an appointment with this vet to microchip her in a couple of weeks. The vets did not microchip her on the spot, claiming that its "too painful" and to bring her in the next day instead. (We mentioned this to someone who deals with such matters and she said that doesnt sound right. They could have just microchipped her)
We dropped the cat off the next morning with the agreement that the cat would be returned to us by the afternoon as is normally to be expected.
The vets didnt say anything about 'finding' the 'real' owners at this point. By the afternoon however, we got a call from them saying that, in the intervening hours the real owners had 'come forward' and they were going to 'return' the cat to this mysterious person.
When we asked what evidence they had, all they could say was that this person apparently had a photo of a similar looking cat.
There were no vaccination records, the cat wasn't microchipped (the cat was 2 years old as estimated by the vets themselves previously)
We were extremely distressed and had made it clear that we do not consent for the cat to be taken away but the vets refused.
They even kept our cat carrier which we used to drop the cat off in. (this post isnt about the carrier however, .... we dont care much about that) We never got to see the cat again.
The whole incident has left us extremely shaken (Not to mention this has affected our children who are still, a week later upset) and we're shocked as to how a veterinarian practice here can operate with such brazen disregard for basic human decency. Much less appoint themselves judge and jury as to who an unchipped cat should go to.
A couple of things to mention :
1. I completely understand the cat never belonged to us. However, the point of contention from myself is that it doesnt belong to the vets either.
2. Even if we are to believe the vet's side of the story (that the cat is with the original owner), that still doesnt give the vets any authority to hand the cat over. I never got to see any evidence that the cat went to its rightful owner. Having cared for the cat for 2 weeks I think I should deserve to see that. But strangely, the vets are being quite cagey about the whole thing. And regardless, I dont see why I should pay the vet's account without any question.
3. I understand one needs to have in possession for "1 year plus 1 day" to claim as their own, but again, the contention is that the cat was not with the vet for that long either.
What recourse do we have? Can we bring it up with small claims?
This (well known) veterinarian clinic took our cat in for spaying and microchipping and refused to return our cat. Claiming instead, that they've found the 'real' owners of the cat.
We have reason to doubt this however, because (we suspect) the cat happens to be a pedigree cat, and therefore of more value than just another stray cat. Also the vet's behaviour leading up to the incident was highly suspicious.
The details of what happened are as follows:
We found a very friendly cat in the streets, we petted the cat, spent some time with her but went on our way eventually. A day later, we found the cat in the same spot and hungry so we bought some food for her. The cat was never seen with a collar, if that makes any difference.
She followed us home. In two days, we took the cat to the vet (The same ones who later took away our pet) in order to check for microchips and she didnt have any. They said, in their own words, they tried "three different scanners and none of them revealed a chip.
In the meantime, we scoured social media for reports of a missing cat, walked around the neighbourhood looking for 'missing cat' signs without success. The kids had taken a liking to her (adults too) so we decided to keep her.
(Its worth noting that we have no inclination for a pedigree cat specifically. We just like cats)
We booked an appointment with this vet to microchip her in a couple of weeks. The vets did not microchip her on the spot, claiming that its "too painful" and to bring her in the next day instead. (We mentioned this to someone who deals with such matters and she said that doesnt sound right. They could have just microchipped her)
We dropped the cat off the next morning with the agreement that the cat would be returned to us by the afternoon as is normally to be expected.
The vets didnt say anything about 'finding' the 'real' owners at this point. By the afternoon however, we got a call from them saying that, in the intervening hours the real owners had 'come forward' and they were going to 'return' the cat to this mysterious person.
When we asked what evidence they had, all they could say was that this person apparently had a photo of a similar looking cat.
There were no vaccination records, the cat wasn't microchipped (the cat was 2 years old as estimated by the vets themselves previously)
We were extremely distressed and had made it clear that we do not consent for the cat to be taken away but the vets refused.
They even kept our cat carrier which we used to drop the cat off in. (this post isnt about the carrier however, .... we dont care much about that) We never got to see the cat again.
The whole incident has left us extremely shaken (Not to mention this has affected our children who are still, a week later upset) and we're shocked as to how a veterinarian practice here can operate with such brazen disregard for basic human decency. Much less appoint themselves judge and jury as to who an unchipped cat should go to.
A couple of things to mention :
1. I completely understand the cat never belonged to us. However, the point of contention from myself is that it doesnt belong to the vets either.
2. Even if we are to believe the vet's side of the story (that the cat is with the original owner), that still doesnt give the vets any authority to hand the cat over. I never got to see any evidence that the cat went to its rightful owner. Having cared for the cat for 2 weeks I think I should deserve to see that. But strangely, the vets are being quite cagey about the whole thing. And regardless, I dont see why I should pay the vet's account without any question.
3. I understand one needs to have in possession for "1 year plus 1 day" to claim as their own, but again, the contention is that the cat was not with the vet for that long either.
What recourse do we have? Can we bring it up with small claims?