My cat Cassidy
My cat Cassidy has been a member of our family for more than 20 years. In his old age he contracted diabetes. I have been taking him for veterinary care on a regular basis to Brickyard Animal Hospital in Salt Lake City for many years. For the most part I have had no reason to complain about their veterinary care other than exorbitant prices. Visits have cost between $200 and more than $500, depending on blood tests, medications, etc. I have been receiving medications from Chewy because their costs are less than half of that charged by Brickyard Animal Hospital. Over the years I have spent thousands of dollars on pet care with Brickyard.
About ten days ago I took Cassidy to Brickyard for a wellness check. The usual vet, Dr. Allen, was not available and so Cassidy was attended by Dr. Matthew J. Heller. I was not impressed with Dr. Heller from the beginning because his attitude was brusk. He examined Cassidy and asked me if Dr. Allen had mentioned that Cassidy's kidney numbers were high, in the 30s, at his last visit. I replied that he had not mentioned it. Dr. Heller said blood work was necessary and he would notify me of the results by phone in a few days. He then instructed his aide to take Cassidy in the back for the tests. As she went out of the door with Cassidy, Dr. Heller called out to her to also test his urine. I had no concern as this had been done in the past.
As I was sitting in the room, waiting for them to bring Cassidy back to me, I heard the most blood curdling scream I have ever heard in my life. It was Cassidy, squealing and screaming at the top of his lungs. I wasn't sure it was him at the time, but when they returned him to me, he acted strangely and cowered in the carrier I carried him with. When I went out into the lobby to pay the bill (over $500) the lady at the desk asked, "Was that Cassidy?" Only then did I realize what had happened. They squeezed his stomach to force him to pass urine! Barbaric! I brought my cat to seek relief for his pain and suffering, not to intensify it! I cannot even begin to explain that horrible sound of the pain he was in.
A few days later, Dr. Heller called and said that the test revealed that Cassidy's kidney numbers were extremely high, over 74, and that he likely had only weeks to live, if not less. I said nothing to him about the office treatment because of the shock of learning that I was about to lose my boy.
However, when I took Cassidy to the vet, he was in good health, happy and content; when I brought him home, he moved as though in pain, did not want to be lifted, and vomited several times and defecated involuntarily. He was sick and lethargic. He could not have declined that much in one day! He was injured internally by these barbaric "vets" and declined within several days. He was put to sleep to end his suffering on August 30, 2026, within ten days of the visit to Brickyard Animal Hospital.
My wife and I have no children. Our cats are our children. The loss of Cassidy has brought a sadness and gloom over our household. We could have had weeks to enjoy his little life before the visit to Brickyard. They robbed us of precious time with him and subjected him to unimaginable misery.
This veterinarian (and I use the term lightly) had no right to subject my cat to this cruelty without at the very least notifying me in advance for my approval. I would never have approved such barbarous treatment of an animal, especially my animal.
I have thought seriously about litigation against Brickyard, but in the end, it would be ineffectual. Cats are considered property and the most we could have gotten out of the effort was probably $75 or $100. I am in hopes that by making other people aware of this barbarous veterinary hospital it will discourage business with them. AVOID!