Samantha Schacht made the heartbreaking decision to give up her golden retriever when presented with an expensive vet bill for her extremely sick dog.
The Winnipeg woman was unable to afford emergency surgery on her eight-year-old dog, Lexi, after she developed a treatable uterine infection called pyometra over Easter weekend.
“I was screaming my eyes out,” Schacht said.
JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Samantha Schacht couldn’t afford emergency surgery on her eight-year-old dog, Lexi, after she developed a treatable uterine infection called pyometra over the Easter weekend.” width=”1372″ height=”2048″ srcset =”https://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/400*400/NEP344341_web_220419_Samantha_Schacht_2.jpg 400w,https://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/600*600/NEP344341_web_220419_Samantha_Schacht_2.jpg 600w,https://media. winnipegfreepress.com/images/700*700/NEP344341_web_220419_Samantha_Schacht_2.jpg 700w”/>
JOHN WOODS / FREE WINNIPEG PRESS
Samantha Schacht couldn’t afford emergency surgery on her eight-year-old dog, Lexi, after she developed a treatable uterine infection called pyometra over the Easter weekend.
“I was so overwhelmed. It was honestly one of the most heartbreaking times of my life.”
Schacht took Lexi to Winnipeg Animal Emergency Hospital on Pembina Highway on Saturday. It is one of only two 24-hour emergency veterinary hospitals in the city.
Dr. David Scammell told Schacht his pet needed immediate, life-saving surgery for the infection, which is common in mature female dogs who have not been spayed.
Under the City of Winnipeg’s Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw, dogs over the age of six months must be spayed or neutered unless the owner has a valid license for an unfixed dog.
Scammell said he described the diagnosis and procedure, that it would cost about $2,000, and put Schacht in touch with administrative staff to settle the payment.
Schacht said she didn’t have the money.
The emergency hospital does not negotiate payment plans with pet owners and instead suggested Schacht apply for Medicard, a third-party financier that allows monthly payments. She was not eligible because her husband’s income is too high, she said.
“They didn’t necessarily say I couldn’t (leave), they just said, ‘Those are your options, pick one. “” – Samantha Schacht
Such situations occur daily in emergency hospitals and are disheartening and frustrating for veterinary staff, he said.
“It’s a tension, to be honest…we just wish people had cash on hand or had an insurance policy or something,” he said.
The hospital offers reduced rates for the Humane Society, and staff frequently provide free animal care.
“We’re just not ready to fund everyone,” he said. “There are certain scenarios where we will reach out…but (we) can’t for every customer that comes in. There’s some accountability for pet ownership.
“Listen, if you take an animal, be prepared to pay.”
“We don’t want to keep them. There is no benefit to keeping them. We just want to make sure the animal is treated in the most humane way possible. –Jessica Miller
Insurance and preventative care such as spaying, neutering, vaccinations and regular checkups are always better alternatives, she said, adding that the Humane Society offers low-income residents support for these services. through its primary care program.
Schacht is grateful to have Lexi safely home.
“The whole experience was just terrible,” she said. “My end goal is just to educate people so they don’t have to go through the heartbreak that I went through. Thank goodness I’m getting her back, because it could have ended completely differently.”
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