Many of us have had to make the heartbreaking decision to help our beloved pet move over the Rainbow Bridge. Usually this difficult decision comes after getting an incurable diagnosis or living uncomfortably in old age. However, none of us would have expected a vet, a trained animal doctor meant to love and protect animals, would try to put down a healthy cat!
Over the last decade, Lisa James has been rescuing cats and kittens from her home aptly named Cat and Kitten Rescue. And she has used the local veterinary, Whitecross Vets, since the beginning. However, now after 12 years, James is looking for a new vet to help her 35 rescue kitties. Why? Because of a particular situation that recently occurred with Whitecross in which Lisa didn’t blindly agree with their doctor.
Jason required attention for the wounds from fighting, but vet suggests the unthinkable.
Lisa rescued a cat named Jason and took him to the vet for a check-up after seeing he had facial wounds, likely received during street fights.
However, there was more to it than that. Lisa was told that Jason needed to be euthanized after the vets found he had FIV, which is feline immunodeficiency virus.
But Lisa chose not to have Jason put down…because FIV isn’t a death sentence for kitties! It is these outdated stigmas and uneducated medical staff that are perpetuating the stereotypes. And cats are dying because of it. Sadly, even in America and wherever TNR practices are done, this is often recommended for stray and feral cats. Vets constantly push to euthanize FIV positive cats who are not ideal for adoption, thinking if they are on the streets, they will not receive medical attention if needed. That is why colony caretakers and feeders are so important. Caring for their cats doesn’t stop once they are fixed and vaccinated. They are monitored to ensure they stay as healthy as can be while living their deserving lives.
Whitecross Vets then sent her a letter stating that she needed to find another practice to take her kitties to!
The vet went even further to say that they would no longer treat the two cats who were already booked to be spayed, vaccinated, and microchipped. It’s not a simple solution to go find another veterinarian practice for a few cats. Because since receiving the letter, Lisa has rescued 33 more cats from a hoarding situation in an apartment. This rescue even included an adorable paralyzed kitty rescued from the property near Albert Park in the UK.
GoFundMe and Finding A New Vet
Currently, Lisa has raised more than $6,000 pounds on GoFundMe. Unfortunately, she still can’t find any veterinary practice to take on the care of her kitties.
“I received a letter suspending my accounts and explaining [Whitecross] will no longer treat my animals or any in my care. This is because I refused to take their advice on putting a healthy cat to sleep because he is feral and FIV positive. He is not poorly, he is not suffering, he can live an entirely normal life! Why should that be taken from him because he’s FIV positive? I’ve rang and emailed everywhere and veterinary surgeries are either not taking on new clients or cannot take on such a mammoth amount that all need immediate vet care – health checks, neutering, vaccinations.”
Lisa is currently very angry at Whitecross. She states that instead of sending a letter just days after Jason’s appointment, this should have been done face-to-face.
Here is what Whitecross Vets in Coulby Newham had to say on the subject.
“A satisfactory professional relationship between a client and their veterinary surgeon must be founded on the basis of mutual trust and confidence. From our perspective, it is clear that there is no longer such a basis to our relationship. We therefore give you 21-days notice that our professional services will no longer be provided for your animals and ask you to seek the services of another veterinary practice.”
Still desperately trying to find a vet service, Lisa has expressed her valid thoughts on their actions.
“I just feel it’s a cowardly way to do it. Why couldn’t I have been called up to discuss things and sort out what the problem is. I just get a letter instead. We have always had a vet on our side, we’ve never had a problem to get in. Since covid started there has been a shortage of vets. I knew that. But I didn’t think it would be as hard as it is at the moment to get someone.”
All of us here at Cole and Marmalade hope you get some relief soon Lisa and stand behind your decision. Because CaM’s parents also left their former veterinarian practice after they refused to stop calling FIV “Feline AIDS”. You wouldn’t ask a human who has HIV how their “AIDS” is doing, would you? NO. Let’s end these life ending stereotypes before a kitty doesn’t have a human to stand up for them is labeled such. THEY COULD BE THE NEXT MARMALADE!!! <3
