Wendy Stancil

Review of REACH & Asheville Veterinary S...

Today I picked up my 18 year old cat from REACH af...

Today I picked up my 18 year old cat from REACH after being there for 2 days. He seemed groggy and spaced out and I asked if he was still doped up and was assured he was not. I called back within 15 minutes of leaving because he did not seem to recognize me and reeked of urine. Before I continue...as time passed, he became more alert and things were thankfully fine on that front. I explained this to the gentleman that discharged him to me and was told that he (the employee) had had to remove him from his litter box several times that morning...I found it odd that he would smell of urine since I had also been told he had a catheter. The employee went on to tell me that he had 20 years of vet tech experience and when I asked to speak directly to a doctor went on to say that he was the ICU supervisor. I repeated that I would like to have a doctor call me, he told me the doctor had an emergency...so I added, at their convenience. By the time I got home I had a long message that I could understand little of, due to the bad connection...but could make out that it was this same employee--NOT the doctor, as I requested, calling to tell me what the doctor had said. At the end I could hear him say he was sorry I was so upset and that I seemed like a different in person when I picked up my cat than when I called back to discuss his mental state and odor. Once I got my cat home and out of the carrier, I found that it was not urine I was smelling but his own feces that was so dried and caked onto his fur, that I spent over an hour trying to clean him and ended up cutting out chunks of fur and dried poop. He is still not sufficiently clean and smells and really the only solution is to shave the area. While friendly initially, and then condescending, I am stunned by the lack of professionalism that this employee showed and find it completely unacceptable that I paid over 1000$ for two days of care and my cat was sent home in this condition. If the supervisor of the ICU finds it acceptable or is paying so little attention that they do not notice that an animal is covered in their own feces for so long that it dries in clumps to their fur, I truly question the level of care that is provided here. I will not return to this facility.