Post by tonib on Apr 19, 2024 14:04:10 GMT
Even to the end Lexie was capable of causing chaos.
Starting on her final day when I went back to the vets to see Lexie & we arranged her cremation etc. I ordered sole cremation so I would get her ashes back & a pawprint as I did for Roman & Osiris. Historically I'd been asked if I wanted a wood/bamboo box & if so open or closed. It didn't register that I hadn't been asked that for Lexie. I also mentioned the issue with a poor pawprint for Osiris which they had refunded me for last year. I should mention that both Roman & Osiris had been pts at the main hospital as opposed to my local branch where Lexie was.
They didn't charge me for the consultation just the cremation.
When I looked at the invoice at home that afternoon the only thing on it was the cremation no mention of pawprint so I went back & queried that. They said they had done the pawprint & were just waiting for them to dry before laminating them & they didn't charge for them. This seemed odd to me so I queried & discovered that they now do ink pawprints not impressions in some sort of clay/wax which is in a box as was Roman's & Osiris'. They still do the impressions but this branch hadn't got any blanks. They checked with the hospital who had & I offered to go & get one so that they could do it that day as it was getting close to the start of their consultations starting. In fact I brought back 5!!! Also they told me that apparently they now don't charge for the impressions either
Historically Roman & Osiris' ashes took about 2 weeks to come back. Bearing in mind that Easter was in this period I realised that it could be a bit longer. However I did query it (all calls go to the hospital) after Easter & again on Wednesday 19/4 when they told me that her ashes were back & that someone was due to ring me to ask what I wanted on the casket, I had told them when I ordered it but I reminded them that it was just Lexie. This was late afternoon & apparently the person who deals with the plate wasn't on on the Thursday but would deal with it on the Friday & then it would sent to my local branch to join the pawprints etc.
When I hadn't heard anything by Tuesday I rang again, everything was ready & they would get her over to my branch & they would ring when she was there. I didn't hear anything Wednesday but when sat in the doctor's waiting room I got a phone call which I answered but then it was cut off. So once I was out of the doctor's (I'd been due in just as the phone rang so decided I'd better wait, however it was a long wait!) I rang them back & they told me I could collect her anytime. As the vets is just up the road from the doctors I went to pick her then. It was also convenient as the vets have a car park & is nearer the chemist where I needed to pick up the meds change the doctor had prescribed
They present everything in a paper carrier with nice string/rope handles containing, ashes box, pawprint box, candle on a jar (historically made by the head vet who died on Good Friday last year), card from the vets & the sole cremation certificate. When I looked inside Lexie's bag, I noticed the ashes box was different, it was more casket like & had her name on the side instead of the lid. I then queried was it sealed & apparently it was as that is the only choice they do now. That explains why I didn't get asked the questions I'd had with Osiris & Roman, for whom I chose open as we have historically sprinkled the ashes under a plant rather than bury the casket. The box would then be kept with collar/tag or any other small reminder on display with the pawprint. The plant idea came from only getting a carboard box with Penny & Chloe the options got updated for Roman onwards. Admittedly as It's possible I may move Roman & Osiris ae still in their box!
Oh well not an issue if I do decide on a plant for Lexie in the future I'm sure her casket can be carefully opened & one advantage id the casket is narrower but a bit taller so easier to find the right space.
Today I checked on Lexie's paw print impression, I knew that they'd changed but not quite by how much! It's now just a single print in a dark brown sort of foam/dried sand not sure which whereas the others where 2 paws in a white solid (looks rather waxy) Ah well although not as good I also got her ink prints as well
I'm not complaining, the person I was dealing with at my branch although very competent was new to the practice since Osiris & probably was not thinking how longer term clients may have not known about changes. At least I'll think to ask any relevant questions in the future, which I hope will be a long time away.!
As I said chaos to the end. She also would have appreciated that while I was the vets I booked the 2 new boys in for their annual vaccinations!
Starting on her final day when I went back to the vets to see Lexie & we arranged her cremation etc. I ordered sole cremation so I would get her ashes back & a pawprint as I did for Roman & Osiris. Historically I'd been asked if I wanted a wood/bamboo box & if so open or closed. It didn't register that I hadn't been asked that for Lexie. I also mentioned the issue with a poor pawprint for Osiris which they had refunded me for last year. I should mention that both Roman & Osiris had been pts at the main hospital as opposed to my local branch where Lexie was.
They didn't charge me for the consultation just the cremation.
When I looked at the invoice at home that afternoon the only thing on it was the cremation no mention of pawprint so I went back & queried that. They said they had done the pawprint & were just waiting for them to dry before laminating them & they didn't charge for them. This seemed odd to me so I queried & discovered that they now do ink pawprints not impressions in some sort of clay/wax which is in a box as was Roman's & Osiris'. They still do the impressions but this branch hadn't got any blanks. They checked with the hospital who had & I offered to go & get one so that they could do it that day as it was getting close to the start of their consultations starting. In fact I brought back 5!!! Also they told me that apparently they now don't charge for the impressions either
Historically Roman & Osiris' ashes took about 2 weeks to come back. Bearing in mind that Easter was in this period I realised that it could be a bit longer. However I did query it (all calls go to the hospital) after Easter & again on Wednesday 19/4 when they told me that her ashes were back & that someone was due to ring me to ask what I wanted on the casket, I had told them when I ordered it but I reminded them that it was just Lexie. This was late afternoon & apparently the person who deals with the plate wasn't on on the Thursday but would deal with it on the Friday & then it would sent to my local branch to join the pawprints etc.
When I hadn't heard anything by Tuesday I rang again, everything was ready & they would get her over to my branch & they would ring when she was there. I didn't hear anything Wednesday but when sat in the doctor's waiting room I got a phone call which I answered but then it was cut off. So once I was out of the doctor's (I'd been due in just as the phone rang so decided I'd better wait, however it was a long wait!) I rang them back & they told me I could collect her anytime. As the vets is just up the road from the doctors I went to pick her then. It was also convenient as the vets have a car park & is nearer the chemist where I needed to pick up the meds change the doctor had prescribed
They present everything in a paper carrier with nice string/rope handles containing, ashes box, pawprint box, candle on a jar (historically made by the head vet who died on Good Friday last year), card from the vets & the sole cremation certificate. When I looked inside Lexie's bag, I noticed the ashes box was different, it was more casket like & had her name on the side instead of the lid. I then queried was it sealed & apparently it was as that is the only choice they do now. That explains why I didn't get asked the questions I'd had with Osiris & Roman, for whom I chose open as we have historically sprinkled the ashes under a plant rather than bury the casket. The box would then be kept with collar/tag or any other small reminder on display with the pawprint. The plant idea came from only getting a carboard box with Penny & Chloe the options got updated for Roman onwards. Admittedly as It's possible I may move Roman & Osiris ae still in their box!
Oh well not an issue if I do decide on a plant for Lexie in the future I'm sure her casket can be carefully opened & one advantage id the casket is narrower but a bit taller so easier to find the right space.
Today I checked on Lexie's paw print impression, I knew that they'd changed but not quite by how much! It's now just a single print in a dark brown sort of foam/dried sand not sure which whereas the others where 2 paws in a white solid (looks rather waxy) Ah well although not as good I also got her ink prints as well
I'm not complaining, the person I was dealing with at my branch although very competent was new to the practice since Osiris & probably was not thinking how longer term clients may have not known about changes. At least I'll think to ask any relevant questions in the future, which I hope will be a long time away.!
As I said chaos to the end. She also would have appreciated that while I was the vets I booked the 2 new boys in for their annual vaccinations!