Cavite vet clinic calls for respect after dispute with client over emergency case priority

EMC Veterinary Clinic said threats were sent after a non-emergency procedure was turned down so staff could attend to emergency patients.

A veterinary clinic in Cavite has ignited online debate after calling out a client who allegedly sent threatening messages when staff prioritized emergency cases over a routine procedure.

EMC Veterinary Clinic posted on Facebook on July 6, reminding the public to treat its staff with respect following a heated exchange with a client.

According to the clinic, it was handling two emergency cases shortly before closing on July 5. Another emergency patient was also accommodated after hours because of the severity of the situation. At the time, the clinic was operating with two veterinarians and one veterinary assistant.

A regular client then arrived for their pet’s aural hematoma drainage, which the clinic classified as a non-emergency procedure. Staff politely turned down the request because the cutoff had already been reached and advised the client to return the next day instead.

According to the clinic, the client sent threatening messages to the team the following day.

“We understand that every pet owner is worried about their beloved companion, and we genuinely empathize with that. However, emergency cases will always be prioritized to give critically ill patients the best chance of survival,” the clinic said.

The client has since apologized, but netizens continue to debate the incident.

Some came to the clinic’s defense, vouching for its service and hospitality. Many also criticized the client for being disrespectful and seemingly failing to plan ahead for the procedure, noting that patient cutoffs are standard practice in medical settings to help manage workloads.

Others, however, said the pet owner may have been acting out of distress and was not thinking clearly at the time, calling on the clinic to extend more compassion.