Our journey began with Rose
At Pet Owners Defence Society, our mission is deeply personal. It started with the heartbreaking loss of our beloved Rose, an experience that unveiled critical issues in veterinary care. This led us to create a unique pet owners defence service, driven by empathy and a commitment to advocating for pet owners. We're here to offer trusted advice and experienced guidance to those navigating the very challenging veterinary complaint process and so that many more pet owners are heard and seek the justice that they deserve for their beloved pet's.
From heartbreak to advocacy
Our world changed on 10th August 2022. We took our beautiful Rose to our local veterinary practice for a minor procedure to remove a single wobbly tooth. As caring owners, we simply wanted to ensure Rose's comfort and care. To our shock and disbelief, upon collection, we discovered the veterinary surgeon had removed 10 x teeth in total, without any prior consultation, explanation or 'informed consent' Rose, obviously unwell, was discharged the same day. A Veterinarian can be permitted to 'deviate' from a 'planned 1 x tooth extraction' procedure without 'explicit, immediate consent' only if an 'emergency arises' and it is necessary to save the animals life or alleviate immediate pain and suffering!!!
In the subsequent days, due to inadequate post-operative care and actions, Rose's condition deteriorated rapidly. She was very poorly and ultimately rushed to Emergency Veterinary Care in the Midlands which is considered a 'super hospital' (we now know that both the practice and 'super hospital' are owned by the same group), where we were informed that Rose had suffered an 'ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY'! she did not recover from the trauma of having 10 x teeth removed. Just 12 days later, on 22nd August 2022, our beautiful dog died at home, surrounded by her family. We carry immense guilt, wishing we could reverse that decision of ever taking her in the first place. This devastating experience ignited our passion to create change and support for other pet owners who have also suffered like us.
More than just advice
Our service is unique, born from our personal tragedy and subsequent deep dive into making a veterinary complaint. Our painful experience and the knowledge we've gained since 2022 mean we are uniquely positioned to understand and support pet owners facing issues with veterinary practices and making a complaint. We fully comprehend the pain, anger, and the overwhelming need for answers from those who should have provided better care for all our beloved pets.
We are actively challenging the often-corrupt, money-orientated veterinary system that, at present, seems to protect vets. We are currently preparing our very own Letter Before Claim against our previous veterinary practice, which has now been passed onto The Veterinary Defence Society (VDS), who are a mutual indemnity insurer ran by experienced veterinary surgeons for their very own veterinary subscribing colleges. The VDS have recently informed all their premium and eligible members that they have a £1.5 million mutual bonus to be shared amongst its VDS members!!! ..................We will keep you updated regarding our claim in due course.
Trusted, advice, shared understanding.
We believe that pet owners who have experienced issues with a veterinary practice will appreciate and benefit from our unique approach. You might have felt unable to confidently make a complaint, just like we did. We know exactly how you feel – where to start, who to contact, what to say. These are natural feelings when you're in a vulnerable position, especially after losing a beloved pet. The veterinary sector often thrives on our emotional state, assuming we're too distressed to seek justice.
But we have news for them! Take a deep breath, stay calm, and know that we are relentlessly pursuing justice for Rose, no matter how long it takes. Our service offers not just compassionate pet owner advise, but also an understanding and invaluable insight into navigating the complexities of veterinary complaints, empowering you to take action.
"There is now help out there when things go wrong at your veterinary practice. We have felt and witnessed the pain and anger of losing a family pet due to poor veterinary care and service and feel that we are qualified to advise you further."
The Pet Owners Defence Society