Had an interesting case today. Kinda taking some aspects out to make case details intentionally vague, but ... owners (not veterinarians) called to report they had performed a surgical procedure on their pet and it wasn't healing. Patient presents with a massive purulent lesion at the site of the procedure. And on Advil for pain.
Because that violates the practice act and is potentially animal cruelty, reporting is a no-brainer. Our policy, however, is to not inform the owners (at least initially) that we will be reporting them.
So I go in, offer an estimate for surgical correction. They decline due to cost (it was expensive - $1600, but it was a pretty nasty wound that was going to require quite a bit of time in surgery).
So I inform them that if they don't opt for treatment, I will be holding the patient overnight at our cost to transfer to Animal Control in the morning so that I can ensure it gets treatment.
After lots of discussion where I just keep repeating "You have two options; treat your patient and pick him up after recovery, or I will turn it over to AC." (Either way I report the case, but our policy is not to tell owners that because all it does is escalate things. At one point the owners asked directly if I'd be reporting it, and I acknowledged that I would, regardless of their choice. Of course, that just upset them more.)
Finally, at one point one of the owners steps toward me and tells me he can find out where I live and am I sure that's what I want?
So I step out, lock the doors separating the tx area from the exam rooms, and call the police so there's at least safety. Cops show up. After more discussion with the cops standing there to keep client from doing anything dumb, they agree to pay for tx.
So here I sit at home, handgun easily accessible, dog nearby because I trust his hearing. Sadly, as vets our names are out there for the world to see and in today's digital age, anyone's address is easy to find.
Welcome to vet med, pre-vets and vet students.......