As a devoted pet parent, whenever I drop off my furry baby at the vet for her checkup, I feel as though a part of me is missing. I always find myself counting down the hours until I can have my sweet girl back in my arms again.
Because vet visits can be really scary for our furry friends, especially when their appointment is a bit longer, we humans need to prioritize picking them up as soon as possible.
I thought every pet parent felt this way, but then I came across a story about a young pup who ended up staying at the vet longer than he should have.
A Sad Goodbye That Lasted Too Long
When Dominique Humphries shared a TikTok video about an owner who brought their tiny pup in for an appointment and never returned to pick him up, the internet was deeply touched.
Humphries explained that she made several attempts to contact the owner of the Pit Bull and Labrador Retriever mix. Each time she managed to get in touch, they reassured her they were on their way.
Despite her efforts, no one came to pick up this sweet little guy, leaving the veterinary assistant from Atlanta, Georgia, heartbroken and confused as to why anyone would abandon such a lovable companion.
“The owner didn’t want to pick up the dog because they were scared of losing him to a health issue, even though the doctor told them before that the dog was fine. They just got up and left the dog in the exam room, and we didn’t hear from them until the next day,” Humphries shared with Newsweek.
She also mentioned that the little pup was incredibly friendly and loved interacting with people. Because of this, the staff at the Atlanta vet clinic made sure to give him as much playtime as possible, even spending their lunch breaks with him.
Humphries’ video quickly went viral, drawing the attention and concern of countless people who couldn’t understand how someone could leave behind such an adorable two-month-old puppy.
A Long-Awaited Reunion
Three days later, the owner finally showed up to collect their pup. Unfortunately, Humphries wasn’t able to confront them as she was busy with another patient.
“They came to get the dog on the third day of it being at my clinic, which definitely made me sad because I feel like the patient deserves a better home. I have not heard from the owner since, and I’m fearful but also don’t want to know if something happened to the dog,” Humphries said.
Despite the overwhelming sentiment from many who believed the pup should not be with such a negligent owner, Humphries was bound by the clinic’s procedures, which required her to care for the dog until its owner returned.
“I wish there were more that I could’ve done for him, but I have to follow protocols from the hospital. I hope he’s doing great, but if I do have an update later on, I will keep everyone posted,” she concluded.
A Plea to All Pet Parents
The biggest lesson from this story is that veterinary clinics are not doggie daycare centers!
It’s essential to remember that our dedicated vets face the challenging and sometimes stressful task of keeping our furry babies healthy and happy. We owe it to them to make their job as easy as possible.
So, next time your pup has a vet appointment, make sure you’re prompt and fully committed to your responsibilities. Clean, feed, and above all, be there on time for both check-in and pick-up. Your furry friend depends on you.