I cannot recommend Lap of Love or Dr. Kathleen Ward. I’m writing this so no other family has to go through what we did. What should have been a gentle, love-filled goodbye for our 16-year-old cat, Shuggie, turned into a heartbreaking nightmare.From the very first call, something felt wrong. Dr. Ward said she’d be arriving early without asking if that was okay, offered no words of comfort, and seemed focused only on ensuring the consent form had been signed. (It had been signed, and she should have checked her email instead of burdening me with this detail. I had enough to contend with having to say goodbye to my beloved cat, and the fact she was now coming early and time was even shorter.) When it came time to sedate her, my partner asked Dr. Ward to sit with us on the couch where Shuggie lay peacefully purring in my lap. Instead, she chose to stand over her to administer the shot. I believe this is why she missed the mark. I believe she hit the bone which is why Shuggie reacted in sudden pain and fear, biting and scratching us for the first time in her entire life. It took three attempts, and rather than showing concern or taking responsibility, Dr. Ward coldly said, “She bent my needle.”At this point I was sobbing hysterically and uncontrollably. Dr. Ward said “Well, I told you it wouldn’t be painless”. Her words were devastating and unnecessary. There was no compassion, no empathy, no remorse, just detachment. She took no responsibility for her actions. She rushed through the process, saying she “didn’t have all day,” leaving us no time to calm down or say goodbye. On her way out the door, said to my very stunned partner, “I’m sorry it did not go as Caryn had hoped.” Another insensitive comment that completely undermined the gravity of the situation. In retrospect we wished we had the wherewithal to ask this question, were you happy with how it went, Dr. Ward?We’re left haunted by what happened. Our last memory of Shuggie is not of peace, but of panic and pain, and a violent death. We can’t even begin to grieve properly because the trauma overshadows everything. I share this in the hope that no one else ever has to endure such a cruel, careless goodbye to a beloved pet at the hands of a vet and company that is allegedly built on compassion.
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