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Question:
My beloved pet Shelby pasted away three years ago this week. She was privately cremated in hopes of reuniting with her best friend, Max, some day. They lost my Shelby's ashes! I have nothing left of her. I am heartbroken for the past three years and God knows for how long...I have been calling every week but, I am getting the same response, "We will continue to look," What are my rights or, should I say my dog Shelby's rights to be with her best friend Max? I know it's been three years, but I am still searching for help in getting justice. Not to get even or to get a monetary return. But, only to let these people know that they can't just "lose" a beloved pet and be so casual about. She is a big part of my life. Can't you tell? I am still looking???? Need help.
Answer:
Pet cemeteries and crematoriums are regulated in NY by the Department of State. These entities must be licensed although there are a few exceptions. You can contact the NY State Department of State to file a complaint by calling 212-417-5800 in NYC or 518-474-4752. You can also file a complaint online by going to www.dos.state.ny.us. The statute of limitations for negligence is three years and six years for breach of contract so it is possible that you may still bring an action against the crematorium for monetary damages. If you want to proceed with a lawsuit, consult with an attorney in your area or go to Small Claims Court.
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Question:
Thank you for taking time for my question. There were many times when I was looking for a shelter to take in a cat and everyone had the same answer - no we are full. I know there is a huge overpopulation problem and I try my best to rescue and spay and neuter as many as I can, but every time I go to a shelter I get the same answer. I was just wondering why nobody ever has an opening.
Answer:
My column is for inquiries relating to the law and animals. However, I suppose the answer to your question is that there is a serious cat overpopulation problem and not enough space at no-kill animal shelters for all of the cats that need help. Many municipal shelters (although not all) will take cats, but if they are not adopted, they are sometimes euthanized. Clearly there is a need for more spaying and neutering and more shelters. The Town of North Hempstead, for example, has refused to accept cats for several years, eventually announced it would build a shelter for cats, and still this has not been done. Encouraging local officials to fund low-cost spay/neuter programs and animal shelters with proactive adoption programs could help.
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Question:
I notice my dog mouth was swelling, so I thought it was a bad tooth in his mouth. I called a veterinarian and she told me to bring him in. When the vet looked at him he said he would keep him overnight so they could run tests on it and do an x-ray. I find out he has a cyst on his upper gum that they removed partially. They started on 12/23/08 with anesthesia isoflurane, oral surgery, penicillin, benz/procaine, 72-hour dexamethasone/depommedrol injections, all on one day. This cost $735.00, which we are paying on a payment plan. We are on a fixed income. However, the vets did not get all the cyst and it swelled back up even bigger than before toward the front of his tooth. I am concerned and I hope it doesn’t turn cancerous.
Answer:
If you believe that the veterinarian did something wrong, you can make a complaint with the South Carolina Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners at 803-896-4470. You can also go to their website and file a complaint online. I cannot tell you if the veterinarian could have gotten the entire cyst or if he did something wrong to cause the additional swelling. If you think the veterinarian acted negligently, I suggest you go to another veterinarian to get a second opinion about your dog’s condition. I hope this all works out.
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