Dear Friends,

Those of us with dogs, cats, family pets of any sort really, most of us have been there: You come home from work to find something has gone terribly wrong with your pet. You call your vet but get that mechanical voice saying the clinic is closed, after-hour emergency services are available. You google the nearest location, try not to drive too fast, and pray the condition is not as serious as it seems.

My friend Tara found herself in this position about three weeks ago. Her dog Janus presented an injury that could not wait for treatment. The emerg clinic vet diagnosed a severed tendon. Surgery was advised. The estimate ran into the thousands. The only alternative: euthanasia.

Janus, was a young and otherwise healthy athletic dog. A family pet, a sprint racing champion, a vital joyous creature, Tara could not in good conscience put him down. She handed over her credit card.

2 weeks later, she buried her dog. Long story short: the surgery was completed, Janus sent home with post-operative care directions that, followed to the letter by Tara, ended up killing him.

The instructions, written and verbal, were wrong. The errors were later confirmed by Tara’s own vet and other clinical professionals. Multiple attempts to correct the damage were to no avail. The mistakes in the clinc's instructions cost Janus his life. A complaint to the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, the professional agency responsible for regulating the delivery of veterinary medicine in Ontario, is in progress.

The CVO complaint will take months to resolve. While a finding of professional error may lead to disciplinary action, the CVO does not award financial damages. Meanwhile the emerg clinic at fault refuses to accept any responsibility whatsoever for Janus’ suffering and unnecessary death. The bills, running well into many thousands, must be paid.

As responsible pet owners we are all prepared for some level of emergency expense should the need arise. But we do not anticipate carrying the cost of medical error on the part of the professionals whose help we seek.

If you know Tara you know that she is a responsible, hard-working woman. If you don’t know her personally then I ask you to trust me on this. She is the loving custodial parent of two children, a tireless and committed community volunteer, a valued employee in her workplace, someone you can count on to do her best to do right at all times.

Tara isn’t asking for help. I am. Having buried her dog with a grieving heart, Tara now must somehow clear the debt. She is prepared to cut corners, face the upcoming holiday season on an austerity budget, teach her children the meaning of sacrifice in order to do right by a loved one. And yet, Janus died.

There but for the grace of whoever runs the show, go any of us with dogs, cats, pets we care for as best we can. Usually, our best is enough. Then something goes terribly wrong, exhausting our resources, personal and material.

If you can help, please do. Your kindness is a gift that cannot undo grief but will make getting by a little less hard. If you know Tara personally you know who she is. If you do not, it doesn’t matter. You know who I am. Honoured to be Tara’s friend, I make this appeal on her behalf. Thank you.