Brian Lerich
2/5
I want to make it clear I am writing this review not from the viewpoint of one of the veterinary students but as one of the volunteers who brings their dogs for instructional purposes. In return, the dog receives a free treatment at the end of the session and a prescription for Chinese herbs. My previous experiences had always been positive here. So what changed?
I believe it is the new staff they now have handling the face to face encounters with the volunteers. I have been bringing my dog here for several years. I am well-educated (beyond the master’s degree level from top notch universities); my dog is highly trained, holding 4 obedience titles, former therapy dog, current service dog. He is intelligent, docile, and easily handled, exactly what they are looking for in a volunteer subject. In order to participate, I have to give up an entire day and, depending on the teacher’s wishes, disappear from sight.
Here is what happened at my most recent visit. After checking in and being given my room assignment, I was walking to locate my room, when I passed two large dogs who were behaving badly. One growled at us while being restrained, where she had urinated on the floor; the other lunged for us. This is not supposed to happen here.
I found our assigned room, turned my dog over to the instructor, who then asked me to disappear until the break. Looking for a quiet place to read or to work, I was directed to the library, which was filled with a large group of very noisy young people, making it impossible to concentrate on anything. I don’t know why they were there.
I found another place to work, collected my dog for a walk at the break, and was told to collect him again at 6:00. I had wanted to see the teacher treating him, but she had already done so when I returned. (The door to the room was shut until the students started to leave.) I asked her some questions, and she did speak to me, but it was very perfunctorily, as she continued to pack up her materials as she talked to me. She recommended that I sign up for as many sessions as I could, as my 10.5 year old dog had issues which could benefit from regular treatments.
I went back to the main reception area to see if my herbs were there (they were not – I would have to have them shipped to me) and to talk with the young desk personnel to see if I could sign up for the next session (based on the teacher’s recommendation). They would not allow that even though Joanne, who used to occupy the desk, had done so in the past. I wanted to avoid the frustration of having no spots available when I responded to their email, as was often the case in the past.
Now my frustration was rising. I asked to speak to Joanne, and was told she was not available. Having felt disrespected in most of my encounters the entire day, I voiced some of those concerns to the new desk persons, but they seemed very offended that I expressed these concerns to them. A few days later, I tried to call Joanne to talk with her about my concerns, but was told she was not available. After putting me through an inquisition, the person said she would deliver a message to have her call me back. Did that call ever come? Was that message even delivered? Or perhaps worse, was I defamed?
I decided not to volunteer my dog again for their teaching sessions. A few weeks went by, I had softened a little, and I noticed an email that they were seeking volunteers for another session. There were openings, so I relented and signed up for a slot. This was confirmed. HOWEVER, AND HERE COMES THE REAL INSULT, I SHORTLY THEREAFTER RECEIVED AN EMAIL SAYING ESSENTIALLY I WAS BEING BLACKBALLED FROM THAT SESSION AND ANY FUTURE SESSIONS. I had been told they do this for people who bring dogs that were not compliant with their guidelines. Therefore, the only thing I could conclude is that the “snowflakes” at the interface with the public had blocked my attempts to talk with the director, had intercepted my messages, and had either taken it upon themselves to blackball me or had delivered a slanderous report to their supervisors.
