Dr. Carrie Nemec

"Monstrous" is a word that I don't employ very often.

But I would apply it to Dr. Carrie Nemec, in describing her both as a person and as a vet. Reviews of The Cat Clinic of Seattle on Yelp (and elsewhere*) amply attest to this.

* http://seattle.citysea...

* http://www.insiderpage...

Unbridled arrogance and false humility aside, the two not being mutually exclusive, Ms. Nemec is quite simply the most incompetent, venal, unethical professional I have ever encountered in my entire life.

She repeatedly lied and distorted facts. There was really nothing she and her husband Dr. Nevin would not stoop to, once I filed a complaint with the City of Seattle against their business practices. There no unkindness too small for both of them (or their Mme. Thenardier-inspired office "manager").

A month ago a Yelp member wrote me about a very urgent concern he had concerning the Cat Clinic of Seattle:

"Since the Animal Shelter recommended the Cat Clinic of Seattle when Kira was a kitten.( 3 years ago) I decided to bring her back there a second time.

She received an examination and a rabies vaccine (PureVax by Merial) it has been three days since we seen the doctor and my cat is paralyzed.

I took her to emergency last night at Emaralds emeregency care (Stone and 41st) They told me that she will need xrays $700 and possibly and MRI

Or I can wait till my vet (the cat clinic) opens up on monday. I asked how this could of happened? The Vet at emergency said she probably fell and injured her back.

Kira is an indoor cat that sleeps until i get home so no she did not fall. I plan on making a visit tomorrow morning to the CC.

My question to you is: How do I look up if a Vet has any malpractice suites against them?"

* * * * *

Here is my answer: (at the very least--a helpful link):

http://www.vetabusenet...

http://www.vetabusenet...

I wish I had found this site three years ago when I was a client of the Cat Clinic of Seattle:

But like many pet owners, I felt powerless...other than to write a review on Yelp!

* * * * *

Other possible avenues of recourse, depending on the situation, would include the following:

(1) Filing a complaint with the local Better Business Bureau;

(2) Seattle Office of Civil Rights;

http://www.yelp.com/bi...

http://www.bbb.org/us/...

(3) Washington State Board of Veterinarians.

http://www.yelp.com/bi...

I do not recommend option (3).


5/4/2009


[Note: I hope that the (highly) critical reviews (10)*--in the past two years--of the Cat Clinic of Seattle, owned by Dr. Carrie Nemec and her husband, has gently persuaded them to mend their ways. Judging from recent reviews--assuming they were written "voluntarily" and not at the behest of the owners--, it seems they may have, at least somewhat].

* http://www.yelp.c.... (10) including two that were filtered.

At a certain point, some veterinary clinics forget about their original mission and concentrate on maximizing profits, like the Cat Clinic of Seattle.

Would you be happy if you stayed at an expensive hotel overnight only to find out the next morning that you are being charged ("per calendar day") for two nights?

1. "How can you be so mean about them?"

I have described the behavior of the exceptionally incompetent Drs. Nevin and Nemec and their uncommonly venal office manager. Let's not mince words.

Being kind to people who abuse your trust is being--I won't use the word "stupid"--incorrigib ly naive.

I believe in donating to worthwhile organizations, but the Cat Clinic of Seattle is most definitely NOT a charity case.

And besides, if we hadn't kept plunking down $$ on their counter for all and everything, they would have, at the drop of a hat, dropped the thin veneer of "niceness" and switched modes begun playing "hardball."

Five years after dealing with these people, I cannot shake off the very demeaning treatment she meted out to me.

Ms. Nemec has the right to feel she is unquestionably superior to other human beings (especially those lower on the socioeconomic ladder than herself), but she has no reason whatsoever, from an ethical and human point of view, to feel "better" than someone who has not completed high school. Or a felon.

Her CONSTANT recourse to dissembling and glaring lapses in ethical judgment still shock me. Continuing to condone and shield her deeply racist office manager is just one example.

In fact, dealing with Dr. Nemec or her "loyal lieutenant" office manager felt like dealing with professional blackmailers.

2. "But they're so nice (they sent me a card, got me a same-day appointment, etc.)!"

Yes, and you're paying through the gills for it.

Businesses that are charging $60 - $1000's per visit don't usually treat them as if their clients as if they were waiting in line at McDonald's.

Besides, "niceness" is not a substitute for professional competence and integrity, either. Nor does it conceal, when push-came-to-shove, an attitude of--completely unwarranted--superio rity. Or gold-plated heartlessness.

A same-day appointment may not be that difficult if you have large blocks of idle time--you can always pretend otherwise--or if you just squeeze them in: Someone (else) will have to wait.

It goes without saying, in my opinion, that she would immediately call the police if, for instance, a homeless person wandering with his or her sick cat (and without the means to pay for veterinary care) turned up at her clinic.

"Nice" comes at a (very high) price tag with people like Ms. Nemec.

In her case, the real person (Carrie Nemec) can be glimpsed through the professional (Dr. Nemec) disguise. Some of the worst in human behavior that I have ever witnessed. How she gets away with it is anyone's guess.

* * * * *

3. Thanks to the efforts of WA State Representatives Dave Upthegrove, Tina Orwall and Senator Karen Keiser, pet owners, pet lovers and concerned residents of WA State have an opportunity to get involved and support a wonderful initiative - House Bill 1176 (WA State Veterinary Board Reform Bill).

The WA Veterinary Board of Governors is the ONLY disciplining authority, which is charged with the duty to determine appropriate disciplinary action on veterinarians who engage in unprofessional conduct.

Although veterinarians are mostly beloved and trusted by pet owners and no one expects their pet to suffer injury or death at the hands of their vet, it happens and more often than you may think. And when it does happen pet owners turn to the Vet Board for justice. Little do they know the chances of that are slim to none.

Why? Because this Board became nothing more than a protection agency for veterinarian clinics.

CONTACT your district legislators and urge them to support this Bill
by calling WA State Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000.

SEE
http://apps.leg.w......

*** The reason I have posted above information on HB1176 is that I have noticed that a number of unfortunate things done to cats have occurred at this clinic.

http://www.yelp.c...

Maybe a new board would make it less likely that vets spend so much time proposing (risky, unnecessary, expensive) procedures or be negligent in their work.

* Some of those reviews appear to have been removed by "gentle persuasion," as well.