Grounds for a lawsuit??

redwingsfan51

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Feb 15, 2015
Messages
34
Purraise
8
Location
Livonia, MI
On Sunday (10-11-15) I got up to start getting ready to go to work and noticed that one of my cats had diarrhea and had had a couple accidents where she couldn't get to the pan fast enough. I decided to take her to the vet and notified my boss that I had to take care of her, so I wouldn't be in. He texted back that he was contacting his supervisor, but since I wasn't giving him the required 4 hours advanced notice, I had to go cover my shift.

I then contacted his supervisor about it who said I had to go in so just "put the cat (diarrhea and all) in her crate." and get to work. In other words (in their minds) covering their account was more important than taking care of my sick cat, and they weren't going to, and didn't, try to find someone to cover the shift for me. I even told them I called the guys who were already there and one said he'd stay until they found someone else. He didn't care, he wanted ME to "screw the cat, cover your own shift."

Long story short, I left a sick cat at home and went in to work because I didn't want to give them an excuse (they'd try no call no show) to fire me.

My question is, had the cat been sick enough that it died while I was at work, would I have good grounds for a "Wrongful Death (of a pet) lawsuit against them.
 

swampwitch

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 30, 2006
Messages
7,753
Purraise
158
Location
Tall Trees & Cold Seas Vancouver Island
 
My question is, had the cat been sick enough that it died while I was at work, would I have good grounds for a "Wrongful Death (of a pet) lawsuit against them.
No. Your being with the cat would not have prevented her from dying, in a real or (thankfully) hypothetical situation. Even if she were your human child, you couldn't prove that your presence would not stop death. They would expect you take her to the vet outside of working hours.

I'm sorry your co-workers are being insensitive jerks. Hope your kitty is okay. 
 
Last edited:

denice

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
18,839
Purraise
13,146
Location
Columbus OH
There really is no way to sue a vet in the U.S.  The law views pets as property so there is no provision for emotional pain and distress, you can only sue for actual monetary loss.  In purely financial terms pets have no worth so there would be no grounds for a lawsuit.  Even in a situation where a vets actions or inaction resulted in death you can only sue for return of any vet fees paid.
 
Top