Should betrayal be a reason to not trust again?
Today I would like to connect with you on the topic of trust. I assume that everyone reading my weekly newsletter has spent enough time on this planet to have experienced broken trust. I find the term highly accurate because when something is broken, it is shattered into pieces and can never be repaired back to its original state. It does not matter whether it's a cup or friendship.
This is one of the reasons why we love our dogs so much and why I have heard the "I love dogs more than people" comment from so many dog lovers. Now that I think about it, dogs may be the only species on the planet that bring us the gift of unconditional trust, aren't they?
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Searching for the "Best vet in my area"?
From my experience, trust between veterinarians and their clients is also very fragile and the topic of many complaints I hear from dog lovers. Recently, I ran into a longtime friend and veterinarian colleague, Dr. M, and she gave me insight into why so many people find it hard to trust their vet.
I have known Dr. M for more than 25 years. She is caring, genuine, down-to-earth, knowledgeable, and doesn’t over-bill, so it is not a big surprise that she has a stellar reputation.
During my conversation with Dr. M, she was concerned about the state of veterinary care, mainly because a large number of veterinary clinics have been bought up by corporate shareholder entities that care more about money and bottom line than pets.
Perhaps you have personally experienced the corporate business model and already know that it's miles away from the animal care centric model all pet lovers seek. In fact, Dr. M shared with me that she was reprimanded a few times because her “average” billing was not high enough, despite doing nothing medically wrong.
Some of you write to my team, saying that it is hard to find a vet you can trust, and the above-mentioned reality may be why. If you are lucky to click with your vet, and they have not sold their clinic to a corporation, I suggest you express your gratitude because running a veterinary hospital is rewarding, yet hard.
For those of you who are still searching for a trustworthy veterinarian for your dog, don’t give up, because they are around! Here is a link to an article that may help.
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Looking for friends you can trust?
Besides trustworthy doctors, vets, accountants, lawyers or tradespeople, we also love trustworthy friends. In my opinion, they are the key ingredient to a happy life.
When a friend breaks our trust, the relationship can never be fully restored to its original state. Some may lie to us; others may talk behind our backs or be dishonest. They may think that a "small betrayal" is not as bad as a "large one", but they are mistaken, because in the grand scheme of things, they cause the same emotional pain and disappointment.
If you entrust a vet with caring for your dog and they suggest unnecessary drugs or procedures for the sake of higher billing, it is a bummer, but if the betrayal comes from a friend, it leaves us with a much bigger hole in our heart.
I know this is the very reason why we truly love and appreciate dogs, but let's not throw our human friends overboard. I wholeheartedly believe that we have to dare to trust over and over again, so we can recognize and connect with real friends. They fill our life with the feeling of support, beautiful moments and memories, just like our faithful canine friends.
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Related articles:
A 7 step guide to picking the best veterinarian
9 steps for a good relationship with your veterinarian
5 steps to getting a dream team for your dog
Holistic vs. conventional veterinary medicine: An interview with Dr. Radica Raj
© Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM
