This was sent to my vet in regards to what he did to my goat. He called me today and told me, that if I turned him into lisencing that he would turn my threats over, becuase he had someone else "lay eyes" on it. Can he cause me a legal headache? He shouldnt be allowed to intimidate me from turning him in for his mistake. What should I do? I dont want to spend $1000 defending myself because he is retailating.

This letter is in regards to the little wether that was injured during disbudding at your office on Monday, May 3rd. On Monday, June 15, 2009, his eye started to cloud over. This was a week after you saw him. I called your office that day and was given Neo Poly Dex drops but no one offered to see the little wether again, or offered to attempt surgery to release the eye sooner than originally told. After much discussion and debate, I felt it was in the best interest of the goat not to wait an additional week to try to fix the eye since it was already damaged. He was very uncomfortable I contacted another veterinarian the next day who was willing to try to help me attempt to save the little wether’s eye and he had the surgery done the next morning. That was done June 17, 2009. When the surgery was being performed, the vet told me there was so much scar tissue that he wasn’t sure the eye would be able to be released but the surgery needed to be performed sooner than later if there was any attempt to save his eye. He has no movement in the upper eyelid and the eyelids still do not meet. I have since called your office on several occasions to try to explain the situation and left many messages. Only one phone call was received and that was to cancel the appointment that I had that afternoon. When I called back, I left a message asking for you to contact me sooner than later so we could discuss the matter. After a few weeks I was finally able to get in contact with you but only after numerous calls to your office.
My goats are a business, just like your vet service is a business. This is a big issue for me. The quality of his face has severely diminished his value and has left him with a handicap that he was not born with. I have a lot of time and money wrapped up into my pygmy goats. I get them tested for Johne’s disease and CAE to ensure that I am selling healthy goats, and I also hand picked my breeding stock from all over the united states to ensure that I have a show quality herd. I realize this may just be a goat to you, but to me this is my reputation as a breeder, which to me is a big deal. I have voiced my concerns about the fact that there is a high likely hood of him injuring that eye on three difference occasions. I have taken a $150 loss on this wether, not to mention the cost for the first “fix” that ultimately failed that I paid out of my pocket. I cannot sell a wether with an upper eyelid that is stuck up. I did not cause this problem, therefore, I should not have to lose anymore money than what I already have. I have tried to be patient, and followed your directions, did everything you asked me to do and then some. I am sorry you do not agree with me that the eye needs to be removed. I have a second opinion, and have no problem getting a third opinion. I am sure the third opinion would also agree that leaving a goat that cannot use his eyelid the way he is, is a bit unethical. You have blamed me for the slipping of the iron, and have talked to me very rudely. I gave you several chances to make this right, at one point I thought you would, but it seems that my opinion is not respected as what I feel is best for the goat. I feel that you need to take some responsibility for your actions instead of blaming me. At this point, I would like to a different vet to fix this problem, one that is responsive and cares about the animals quality of life. To date I have lost over $240 because of your mistake and looking at spending another $200 to get someone else to remove the eye. Not including all my time and gas spent, I have made eight different trips trying to get this resolved, seven of these were to your clinic. In lieu of your continued services, I would like to take the little wether to a different vet and would like to be compensated $200 that will go toward future vet expenses and in return I will sign a release of liability for any future problems that is incurred from the disbudding and drop it. If you choose not to do the right thing, or choose to ignore me, I will have no choice but to take you to small claims court for the FULL amount of all my losses as well contacting the licensing board because I feel you are not considering the well being of this animal and not taking responsibility for your actions at all. If you choose to do the right thing, I will drop everything and leave it and let someone else fix this problem. He is my goat, my responsibility. Why is it you can screw up, blame me for it, and tell me I don’t know what is best for him? I just wanted the eye removed, and this whole thing would have been over. I have voiced my concerns many times. But instead put this little wether through several different surgeries only to be back where we started. The other veterinarian was at my farm the day after the disbudding and did witness the damage done from the disbudding. This is the same veterinarian that did the first surgery on June 17, 2009. He recommends removing the eye to keep the little goat from further injury and discomfort. I never wanted it to come to this, but at this point, I am frustrated and know leaving this goat the way he is, it not the best thing for him. I understand mistakes are made. I understand that this was an accident. But responsibility has to be taken. I never even received an apology. Not only responsibility needs to be taken but you need to care about the quality of his life. You seem more concerned about making money than making sure this goat is comfortable. This has been dragged out long enough, I have to decide what is in the best interest of this goat because you obviously will not, you are deciding what is in the best interest of you, not him. I except an immediate response.

Sincerely,