As a veterinary technician, I would have been fired for grabbing a bird by the neck and yanking it from the carrier by neck. Licensed and trained veterinary technicians are thoroughly educated on animal restraint, and have an understanding of the litigation involved in mishandling a patient (and client).
No doubt about it, veterinary visits are an emotional time for the client and patient. Veterinary staff need to understand the human emotion involved in patient care, and learn to respect the owner's feeling. Veterinary technician schools are now teaching the art of client care, and how to create a dialog during emotional times.
I recommend you contact the office manager, and if there is no office manager, talk to the veterinarian who managed your case. Ask about the certification of those who care of your pets, and discuss how you felt during the visit. Remember, you are spending your hard-earned money and deserve an explanation. While your visit may be emotional, you should never leave the office feeling abused or neglected.
I'll tell you a story about in a clinic I worked in. While this story does not involve a bird, you might still find this entertaining. However, I learned a valuable lesson.
I entered the room to get samples and a history for a routine exam. Getting samples involved getting a fecal and a blood sample. The owner was a buffed out EMT whose bulging muscles had my eyelids fluttering like a fool. The patient was a sweet boxer dog who licked my face in the manner only a boxer dog could do.
Once I was thoroughly saturated by dog saliva I proceeded to get the samples. The owner wanted to hold the dog, which in this clinic was tolerated for anxious patients. Although the dog was well mannered, I allowed him to 'hug' the dog while the assistant blocked off the vein.
"Don't faint," I joked.
Flexing those mighty muscles, he chuckled. "I'm a EMT," he proudly announced. "I've seen much worse than this."
So, I prepared the syringe, and inserted the needle in the vein. The owner promptly fainted. I mean dropped like a shot duck. He fell back and crushed the wall behind him. I capped the needle and knelt beside Mr. Muscles while the assistant distracted the dog with a treat. A few seconds later Mr. EMT opened his eyes.
"What happened?" he asked.
"You fainted," I replied.
"Oh my," he muttered. "I've never done that before."
"Well, don't feel bad. I've had a heart surgeon leave the room before I drew blood on his dog."
Chuckling in embarrassment he rose to his feet. I made him sit in the chair, and allowed his dog to lick his face.
Nobody was hurt except the wall, and I learned a valuable lesson: People do have deep emotions when it comes to their pets. I learned to watch the body language of not only the patient, but the client, too.
If at any time you feel your pet is being mishandled, stand up and tell the offender to stop. While bad things have to happen like getting nails trimmed, wings clipped and blood drawing, at no time should the pet be abused. People who demand the most create change, and change leads to improvement. Don't be afraid to stand up for you pet. That's your job.
