The Humane Society of New York — Attraction in New York

Ignorance, wrong judgement and a rabies vaccine caused the passing of our cat! MUST READ.

12 years ago I brought an abandoned beautiful Korat kitty, named Jake home. He became a dear family member and my wife and I took very good care of him. In 2020 Jake developed hyperthyroidism. Our former veterinarian, a careless individual, didn't forward the blood results on time requested by specialists for a I-131 treatment, which has a 95% success rate.

Upon recommendation I contacted the Humane Society - A FATAL MISTAKE! They said, they would conduct a blood test, but also administer a rabies vaccine. I knew from experience Jake would be suffering from this shot. THEY MISTOOK HIM FOR A RUSSIAN BLUE! It's written on the blood test! The amount of fat in a Korat's body is much less than that of a Russian Blue. I had to tell these trained, licensed "Experts" that Korat cats are known for their sensitivity to vaccines and URGED THEM NOT TO ADMINISTER THE VACCINE. They didn't listen, gave me an attitude and administered the shot anyway, without my consent! One hour later I was handed back an unrecognizable cat!

When I arrived at home, Jake stumbled out of the carrier and needed to rest. He drank water, but he wouldn't eat. It is common, that cats become lethargic and don't want to eat for 1-2 days after receiving the rabies vaccine. I made sure that he always had water. On Tuesday he still wouldn't eat. Wednesday morning my wife rushed to the HS and received Mirataz to stimulate his appetite! A medication on top of a fatal vaccine, to fix the mess they've caused. It didn't help. Jake ate some chicken broth and rested. Early Thursday I mixed some of his favorite food with water. He ate more and we both were full of hope he would soon begin eating again as usual. He didn't.

We called the Humane Society. The operator, not so friendly anymore assured us: (Quote) "Yaron will call you back. You are the first on his list, I promise!" (Unquote). NOBODY HAD THE DECENCY TO CALL BACK! It must have come to their mind, something may have gone very wrong...

On Friday Jake slept a lot. We were holding him in our arms and gave him water, which he rejected. Now it became clear: The rabies shot finally took its course. His system began to shut down. Jake's eyes became teary, he knew we did everything in our power to help him. It was heartbreaking. Shortly after he fell into a state of "half-asleep". We both comforted him in our bedroom, his favorite place, where he loved to watch the birds, played with his two fellow friends and cuddled with us. Finally he took one more deep breath and passed. Luckily, he was not in pain. WE CALLED THE HS and received the same answer by a now annoyed operator.

Following Monday, I was fed up with their ignorance and I told Sandra (exec.director), that our Jake had passed. She made excuses right from the start. She wouldn't listen and repeatedly said: "We helped. We approved the food. Your cat was sick". Me: "Given that fact, the doctor could have made a different decision." SHE ADMITTED, THAT THE KORAT BREED WASN'T LISTED IN THEIR SYSTEM. Her reluctance to listen made me angry. I raised my voice and asked: "Why did Yaron, who administered the fatal vaccine never returned my call, although I was promised he would? My cat didn't get to eat the prescription food , BECAUSE of the shot. The blood test made no sense, BECAUSE he isn't around anymore to receive further treatment." She had no answer to that. HELLOOOO... ANYONE HOME?

You don't give paying clients who entrust you with their beloved pets an attitude! You don't make excuses. We all make mistakes, but not admitting it, insisting you didn't do anything wrong, not responding in critical situations - is NOT what I consider professional or "Humane" care. Yaron has never called back, nor did he express A WORD OF COMPASSION!

WE ARE SHOCKED by such behavior and won't seek their services again. We have to find a reliable veterinarian for future exams of our two tabby cats. Someone who cares, listens to his clients concerns...

Was referred by Brian from Bird Camp to book an appt and see Dr. Malka. I needed a health certificate to board my bird Bird Camp for a day or two in the near future. Just got back from a vet appt with Dr. Malka and this experience was sooooooo much better than going to Avian and Exotics by far! That and waayyyyy cheaper. I have an indian ringneck parakeet. Got to the Humane Society a half hour early for my appt just in case I had to fill out any paper work which I didn't.

Was seen by the doctor early, asked me the usual questions about his cage, toys, check- ups, cleaning habits and his food, fine. (Tips: take pics of his cage, toys and food to give him an idea what your bird's space looks like) I have to say I was scolded on for a couple of things BUT appreciated it because he was so passionate about the health for my bird which is fine by me. He checked him out, checked his feathers and wings and everything good was good. He took his blood in front of me and it was interesting to experience face to face because Avian and Exotics DOES NOT let you witness that in which I thank Dr. Malka for giving me the chance. I didn't freak out or disturb him, kept my mouth shut and sucked it up (cause it was my first time seeing this) and let the professional handle it. He had a very kind intern with him and being that my bird was so tamed, he was giving him pointers on how to hold a bird "this way" or "that way" for "checking this" or "that procedure" and I was okay with that.

After the blood was drawn, asked him a question about an experience that happened at Avian and Exotics when his blood was drawn, (had a exam, they took him to the back, they drew his blood, exam was done, took him home and when i got him out of his kennel and placed him on his cage/top play pin he sneezed blood 3 times on the wall!) Asked Dr. Malka if that was normal and he got a little bothered and said no, it's not normal at all! Of course I got bothered too but moving on, he explained what they or whoever drew his blood might have done wrong and asked me who the doctor was. Didn't remember the name but described the person and turns out it was an intern (who isnt there anymore) who examined my bird! Not a doctor.

All in all, the appt went was better than I expected. Waaayyyyy cheaper. Paid $50 for the consultation for a bird (they have different prices for rabbits or any other type of exotic and blood work and stool sample coming out to $103 for a grand total of $153! At Avian and Exotics, same exam, but paid a grand total of $437! (I save all my paperwork) Looking at both receipts now and smh with disappoint with Avian and Exotics. So happy I came to the Humane Society. Dr. Malka was very nice, so was his intern and Mary Ann at the Cashier window. Everyone was nice there. Dr. Malka was nice but he's strict (in a good way strict which is fine, after all, it's my health's were talking about). I use the word strict but yet passionate about his work, he takes his work seriously and that's great.

Tips: When you call to make an appt, if you have unlimited minutes on your phone plan, just hold until you get a live person. Put the phone on speaker and multitasked doing something else. I'll admit, I waited about 40 minutes until I spoke with a nice person on the other end but saw other negative reviews about people booking an appt via email so being that I had unlimited minutes so is why I waited. Being placed on hold also made me understand, (cause of the recordings) if I book an appointment, I HAD to pay a consultation fee prior to going to the appt and it's non-refundable. If you want to cancel or reschedule, DON'T! That fee can not be transferred to another day or time so make sure when you book, don't you...

In the past I would have given this location more stars.

I appreciate their mission and that the provide affordable health care for pets in an otherwise expensive city.

However, over the last 10 years I have used this vet exclusively for my dogs annual checkups. Generally there is nothing wrong with the checkups here but I am feeling buyers remorse that in the 10 years of my dogs life dental was only recommended two times.

The first time my dog had no significant problems but was age five he had some disease but no one here told me he had any disease and positioned it as a routine cleaning.

By the second time they brought up dental my dog was 8 1/2 years old and had developed advanced irreversable periodontal disease, and that is when they finally decided to recommend a dental cleaning for me again. They also told me it was ok to wait when COVID started. I held off for another year waiting for the dentist to come back, which never did. In that time my dogs teeth got very very bad. But the vet that told me to wait made it seem like it wasn't a big deal.

This is my first dog so I can't understand why they would never recommend dental to me but they were writing down abnormal for his teeth for years on his records. No one told me that. They told me he was fine and to see them next year every single time.

I didn't know anything was wrong with him. I did brush his teeth daily but it wasn't enough. If they are checking abnormal on their pad then why didn't they tell me anything was wrong?

Now my dog needs expensive dental care frequently he has irreversible bad dental disease from lack of routine dental. He is in pain and he has lost about two dozen teeth with quite a bit of bone loss in his jaw over the past three years. Despite my efforts his disease is at a point where it only progresses. It could have been avoided if anyone here even bothered to tell me they were observing abnormal teeth.

I requested medical records when I finally went to a new vet. And every year at the humane society they wrote that his teeth were abnormal checking the moderate to severe box on the record but no one said anything to me or mentioned that I should get him dental.

You do get what you pay for. I understand the great help they are to the community in offering affordable healthcare but it was also incomplete and not detailed. They didn't talk to me about something so important to my dog.

I shouldn't have been cheap. My dog has an advanced preventable disease because no one here bothered to tell me that his teeth were abnormal and to get dental.

Instead my last doctor essentially told me everything was bad for him chicken, freeze dried foods, jerky. She lectured me. But guess what she also checked the abnormal dental box on her record but couldn't be bothered to bring that up to me which is more important than chicken.

**I also read that you are hoarding animals so downgrading to one star and never coming back. Honestly with the care my dog had with his dental this doesn't...