My vet completely screwed up the cremation of my beloved Buddah

I called today to find out where his ashes were. The receptionist tells me "oh no, that was a public cremation, no ashes were to be returned". With that my head exploded. They charged me $300 for the private cremation, which includes the return of my dog's ashes.

I hit the ceiling. Froth gurgled from my mouth. I had most of the day to calm down and grieve again until A few minutes ago, the vet calls to apologize and admit he checked off the wrong box on the form. So I get nothing back except an apology for incompetence and a broken heart.

The Vet hospital here in NJ is Werner Animal Hospital in Morris Plains, a place NJ pet owners should avoid like the plague.

I have a good mind to sue these incompetent pricks. An apology doesn't go far enough.


I am devastated. I won't be able to scatter his ashes on the lake and say one last goodbye.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

I am so sorry about that. :(

I hope that you can take some comfort from the fact that your Buddah's final resting place is with other dogs. I know it doesn't begin to make up for the loss.

:hug:

I am so sorry, sweetie...

What a dreadful mistake...

I hope that you will at least get your money back...


And I also hope that your good memories of Buddah will sustain you through this fresh loss...

:hug:

I entrusted him to them for safe keeping and to make sure his ashes were returned. I had set a place for him to remember him. Now I can't even celebrate his passing with my friends who were away during the Holidays.


It may seem selfish, but I needed closure with him. He was my closest companion for 13 years, and I'm getting too old to start over again.




They are irreplaceable.

I am so sorry DB.

:hug:

Make sure you get your $300 back too. :mad::mad:

:hug:

I know you wanted to say goodbye again....

but he knew you loved him... and thats what matters


lost

thats too bad that happened

and I'm sorry for your loss

there are other ways to say good bye and honor your dog
:hug:

they'd damned well better give you the $300 back, not that it will make up for their mistake but they shouldn't profit from it either. :hug:

I'm so sorry. Dispute the charges.

Beautiful dog. :hug:

I'm so sorry.

:hug:

I'm so sorry!

And wow, what a beautiful doggie!

:cry: I totally understand how you feel. Such tragic incompetence.

:hug:

Or a rose bush or something, in a spot you two loved together. And make a small shrine. Do you have a toy or something like that? A blanket? A dish? Put that in a box with a photo of the two of you. Put in a lock of your hair. Put that in the shrine, or bury it under the tree or bush.

I am so sorry. I would be brokenhearted.

I don't have ashes from my beloved cats, because I buried them in big whiskey barrel planter as they passed, with beautiful bulbs and flowers that come up every year to perpetuate the circle of life. Easier with a cat than a dog, I realize. I also clipped a swatch of fur from each one when I knew the end was near, and have those in a little trinket box.

Peace to you and your darling chum. Damn it all.

Plant something, I have done this when my last dog passed on.

I am so sorry that this mistake was made.
:hug: :hug: :hug:

And spreading the other portion across the lake we live on. But it's moot.

I am a tough guy, I cannot begin to tell you what a prick I can be in real life and on these boards, but this has ripped me to pieces. Thirteen and a half years with a great dog ends because the vet fucked up.


There are time when I wish pounding flesh as penance for fucking up was legal, and I don't mean backslapping.

Trust me. You'll win. Demand punitive damages and emotional distress.

They'll probably want to settle out of court to avoid anymore of their incompetence getting exposed.

:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:
It's horrible when they screw up like that!
I do hope they're refunding your money, at least.

While it's not what you had planned, I'd suggest that you conduct a service anyway. You know that Buddah's spirit is not lost to you...He's in your heart forever. You could bury his collar or, as someone suggested above, you could plant a tree. It's important for you to have that last goodbye.

I wish I could give you a real hug...

No doubt in my mind. If my vet had f'd up the cremation of my big boy, ohhhhhhh lordy, I might be hanging him over a balcony by his ankles.

I'm sorry for your troubles. Obviously the last thing you need at this time.

Not at all. I'm so sorry to hear about this. I'd be pissed off too. In the past, I looked into having one of my birds cremated and I found out they always do a public cremation with birds because they are so small. I didn't like that idea at all so I understand why you didn't want it either. And you paid for a private one with ashes returned; they should refund your money anyway, not that it would make up for what they did, but they should. What a beautiful dog.

I can't let incompetence like this stand. No matter how hollow the victory may be.

I'm so sorry :hug:

x(

I'm very sorry. :hug:
You should get a refund and a written apology, at the very least.

small claims... I'll bet you'd win

That's just awful. :hug: It makes me angry that the vet could make such a horrible mistake. My gosh why didn't he double check his form? I would think you'd be entitled to not only your money back but damages. I mean, this is your furbaby and saying goodbye is so important to grieving. I know how we felt when our old guy passed. His ashes were and still are a comfort to us.

I agree with the person above who suggest planting a tree or some ornamental shrub/plant in his honor. We have ornamental shrubs planted where the cats are buried and some plaques. We also have a dog statue in our garden, dedicated to our dear boy.

...happened to a friend of mine also. Our thoughts are with you.

We just got back the ashes of a beloved cat so I know how much it means.

You've certainly been having a rough set of months. Hope things start getting better for you.

:hug: Please go down to the office in person and ask for your money back. If they don't do that for you, then call the crematory and explain the situation. I wouldn't let this rest.....

I've had several of my dogs cremated over the years and I often wondered if I really did get their ashes returned - or a combo of animals :cry:.

The important thing is this: You loved Buddah and Buddah loved you.

and by their own admission didn't deliver the service, they they should be refunding your money. That's a no-brainer.

it's answered up the thread

There's no way they can do that, at this point.

And deepest condolences re: your loss.

If they don't refund your $300 (which is the freakin' LEAST they could do), sue the bastids.

Here are a couple of ideas:

1. Breach of contract (obviously).

2. Negligent infliction of emotional distress (if your state allows this cause of action). That'll get their attention.

I got the ashes from my beloved cat Riley, and he's with me on the mantel in the living room, spot of honor.

Your vet sucks.

Bake, Esq.

That would tear me up, too. I have both my beloved Boxers's ashes in urns on a shelf just above my computer desk. It meant a lot to me to have them privately cremated.

And you're right - an apology does nothing because its an error that can't ever be rectified. :hug:

I wish things had turned out better, but this really busted me up. Some health issues have reared their ugly head again so I'm trying to dwell on the positive and not even bother with politics for a bit.

I thought it was going to be a better year, but it is just a continuation of the past suck ass year.

Later

get ahold of the Veternary licencing body and have his accreditation challenged.

This is way beyond $300. This is emotional damage. He just doesn't give a fuck.

If he's that incompetent, it makes you wonder what else he's doing wrong. Hence, it's time to call in the big guns.