Posted on 09/16/2007 2:09:35 PM PDT by arbooz
The Duluth veterinarian who threatened to send a puppy to the pound, where he could be put to sleep, over an unpaid medical bill has changed his mind.
Dr. Garry Innocent said Saturday that if the current owner of the mixed-breed border collie named Pilot doesn't pay a remaining $974 balance on an overdue bill by Tuesday, he'll give the pet to another client who wants to adopt the animal.
Innocent said scores of angry and, in some cases, threatening phone calls and e-mails sent to his clinic influenced his decision.
"We're going to exercise another remedy provided in the law: adoption," Innocent said.
Pilot's owner, Josh Gomez, is suing Innocent to get his dog back.
On Saturday, Gomez's attorney, Ed McCrimmon, said he has warned Innocent not to give Pilot away.
"I said to Dr. Innocent on Friday that if you give this dog to somebody else and harm befalls him, we're going to hold you responsible," McCrimmon said.
The vet said complaints generated by news accounts of his dispute with Gomez have disrupted his business. He said he called the police Saturday after one of his staffers complained he'd been followed home from work by a car he didn't recognize.
Innocent also said the criticism is harsh and unfair, and he blamed Gomez for not taking better care of his dog.
On Aug. 26, Gomez took Pilot to Innocent's clinic, PetFIRST Animal Hospital, where the animal was diagnosed with Parvovirus, which is often fatal to dogs.
When Gomez came to the clinic three days later to pick up his dog, he was presented with a bill for $1,152, $488 higher than the amount he claims to have agreed to pay.
Innocent disputes Gomez's claim. He said Gomez visited Pilot every day while the dog was being treated. Each time, Innocent said, clinic staffers updated Gomez on his pet's rising medical costs.
In a letter dated Sept. 8, the veterinarian warned Gomez that if Pilot's bill wasn't fully paid by Tuesday he would "dispose of" the pet.
"At that time, we will report this matter to all authorities including Gwinnett County Animal Control for pet abandonment and disposal," Innocent wrote in the letter to Gomez.
Under Georgia law, a veterinarian can keep a pet until charges are paid. If a pet owner doesn't settle up within 10 days of receiving a demand for payment, the pet can be declared "abandoned" and sold, given away or sent to a shelter and euthanized.
Now, instead of sending Pilot to the pound, the dog will be given to one of Innocent's "star clients," the veterinarian said.
"It will be a much better home," Innocent said. "He'll be neutered, he'll have his [Parvovirus] vaccination and he'll be well cared for."
. Ping for later. .
I think placing the dog in a home where it will receive proper care is a good idea. Too bad the vet acted like an idiot before proposing this sensible course of action. Now he looks bad, rather than the owner who didn’t have his dog vaccinated or neutered, and now won’t pay his bill.
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