There is a HORRIBLE "Consumer Reports" article on vets.  It is written
strongly from the perspective of someone who thinks of animals as
possessions and things rather than as family members which made it
repeatedly disgusting to us.  Steve was reading it alone at first but
he found himself reading aloud in disbelief at the often acidic content.
They could have done an article with useful tips (of which there are
some) without over and over and over again demeaning veterinarians,
veterinary hospitals, the work they do... It was really obvious that
the thrust was to a great extent one of animals as disposables and there
was no awareness of the incredible and sometimes nearly miraculous work
vets can do for very sick critters when the clients just truly love the
animals and simply know them well.  It was as if they couldn't even
imagine that viewpoint and care existing.  Oh, and as to the tips: some
make sense but others are the kinds of things one would do if considering
money so important that undermining health didn't matter -- things that
truly could endanger an animal even kill some depending on the situation.
Like I said, it is written mostly for people to whom animals are just
disposable "things" and to whom the hard work and love of vets mean way
too little.
[Posted in FML issue 4187]