Two Minnesota vets refuse to treat an animal from a no-kill farm sanctuary

[Beringia]

http://www.citypages.com/news/two-minnesota-vets-refuse-to-treat-an-animal-from-a-no-kill-farm-sanctuary/507671351?fbclid=IwAR0Y8XdhUVfjsIkM1bevFk8McCnjfjOiM-FiwWkbLVbzR8PnQl8V9g33wkk







Spring Farm Sanctuary in Long Lake, Minnesota is a nonprofit farm animal sanctuary. It’s a place where Pete, a Hereford beef steer, was bottle-fed as a calf. It’s a place where he could expect to live out the rest of his natural bovine life – no slaughterhouse included.

But in mid-March, Pete slipped on a patch of ice and splayed on the ground.

This was a concern for sanctuary director Robin Johnson. Pete’s brother, Scruffy, died from a fall a year earlier. So volunteers called the Lester Prairie Veterinary Clinic for their usual vet. But a return voicemail said that no one was coming to help Pete.

“We do not come out there for emergencies – you are just too far away,” a Lester Prairie staffer said via voicemail. This hadn’t been a problem for Spring Farm’s former vet. Lester Prairie is a modest 38-minute drive away. But the staff member explained that that vet no longer worked there. And there was another reason they wouldn’t be coming:

“We’re also not really in agreement with the advertisements that are posted there [at Spring Farms],” the staffer said. “So we are not the vet there any longer.”

The “advertisements” are a series of posters displaying grim facts about big agriculture – like the fact that cows are separated from their calves on the day they’re born. Part of Spring Farm’s mission is to educate the public on the upsetting conditions some animals face within the industry. Apparently, Lester Prairie didn’t like that so much.

“I tried to reason with them,” Johnson says. She explained that it was an emergency, and that Pete was in a lot of pain. The response, she says, was that Lester Prairie only treats “animals that feed people,” and that she should try Buffalo Equine and Large Animal Clinic instead. (Lester Prairie declined to comment on this story.)

Johnson called Buffalo Equine, but nobody there was willing to come. If Pete wasn’t being raised to be slaughtered, they weren’t going to save his life, Johnson was told. (Buffalo Equine didn’t respond to interview requests.)

Under state law, veterinarians have the right to pick and choose their patients. What gets Johnson’s goat is that, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s oath, vets have sworn to “use [their] scientific knowledge and skills” for “the prevention and relief of animal suffering.” She had a steer who was suffering, and two clinics had refused to help.

Pete got lucky this time. The volunteers put down some sand and padding, and he regained his footing. He seems to be okay. But it could have just as easily gone the other way.

“What is their deal?” Johnson asks. She pays her bills on time, she takes good care of her animals. Why are her 21 animals such a “threat” to them?

Whatever the reason, the refusal of help is definitely a threat to Spring Farms. If they can’t get a vet to make emergency calls, they can’t keep their operation running. They’re already reluctantly looking to relocate their steers.

“It breaks my heart,” Johnson says. “It’s legal, but is it right?”

[Maraya1969]

1. WTF?

Are they saying that what the no kill shelter says about regular farms is untrue? If that is true that would be great news as I am sickened by what I read about the animal farming industry.

Or do the other farms give these vets a lot more business and thus more money and they disapprove?

Seriously F#cked up.

[Beringia]

4. I think the vets just don't like bad publicity regarding animal farming

The vets could have commented and they declined.

[Duppers]

2. 😠

[Jake Stern]

3. Willing to wager that greater than 90% of their practice is Ag related

In rural areas like this Ag has huge pull and if they told the vets in the area that they'd lose clients if they treated animals from the sanctuary it wouldn't surprise me those vets told Spring Farm to bugger off.

Doesn't make it right or fair but some pissed off animal lovers on the 'net won't do nearly as much damage to their practice as a boycott by area ag operations which could potentially destroy it.

[Beringia]

7. How would the Ag businesses

even have a clue the vets treated an animal at Spring Farm. This seems to me to be a decision made without pressure.

[Jake Stern]

14. The Vet Techs and receptionists are locals

who would be more than happy to spill the beans.

Folks in these areas are very defensive about the ag industry. I've lived in the Heartland where animal rights groups are viewed as a threat to people's livelihoods and therefore as welcome as syphilis. Had a couple PETA types come to town to protest a CAFO (aka factory farm) and ended up being escorted out by deputies to keep from getting their asses beat by pissed off locals.

[keithbvadu2]

5. only treats "animals that feed people," - dogs and cats?

only treats “animals that feed people,” - dogs and cats?


Caring for all animals
All animals deserve compassionate veterinary care. Call today.

http://www.lesterprairievetclinic.com/

[Beringia]

6. Right

[dflprincess]

15. When I clicked the link you provided

the first thing that appeared was a picture with the words "Caring for all Animals. All animals deserve compassionate veterinary care"

Liars.

[Doreen]

9. So, the slimeballs are punishing some poor

creature for their intolerance of others with different opinions. I can not stand trump supporters but I would never let an animal of theirs suffer if I were a vet.

Shame on them.

[cstanleytech]

10. So lets see, they became vets to help animals but they refuse to help an injured animal

unless its going to be used as food? That is absurd.

[not fooled]

11. Disgusting

per their web site, the clinic treats companion animals. But, apparently, a client can't choose to treat "livestock" as a companion animal and still receive service.

[the_sly_pig]

12. Money.

Money.

[Maggiemayhem]

13. Their websites says Pets

Cats...Dogs...Farm Animals

[Beringia]

16. I posted a message to Buffalo Equine on facebook

Not sure what to make of their response.

Me: You should have helped the steer who had leg trouble at the Spring Farm Sanctuary.

Them: Thank you for your questions and concerns.
The facts of the story are not completely true. The quote is 100% false. 90% of the animals we treat are not intended for slaughter. We also cannot comment on this case due to client confidentiality.

Our farm animal doctor treats cattle, sheep, goats etc. The large majority of which are pets and sanctuary or rescue animals. You have been misled and misinformed.

Me: I think Sanctuary Farms would be ecstatic if you commented. If they approve of your commenting, there should not be a problem with client confidentiality. If you cannot even explain why you did not treat the injured steer, how can I understand the truth that is not being told?


Them: Please refer to above comments as to why we cannot comment. If further explanation on client confidentiality is needed this can be explained by the state board of veterinary medicine. Again, we appreciate your compassion and concern.

[SunSeeker]

17. What a bunch of doublespeak bullshit! Buffalo Equine should be ashamed.

Thank you for trying to get them to explain themselves. In my mind, their evasive non answer basically confirms the statements of Sanctuary Farms.