Tree roots in pipes, very common.. yep very expensive... Although this will not fix the problem you need to pour a box of rock salt down that drain to retard the growth of and possibly cause some retreat of those roots. You will eventually still have to replace the broken pipes but the roots will not like the salt you provide. Changing vets? I can't say what someone else should do but I can say that when I encountered the same situation of rude and indifferent medical office staff at a new doctor's office I informed the doctor that I would not tolerate rudeness (although I had on several visits) even though I thought she was one of the better physicians I'd had, and I informed the office manager that she and her staff were rude and that I would send for my medical files, as I was changing doctors. If I were in the position of liking my vet but abhoring his staff I would tell him of the problem and ask him if there was a chance (if we were friends a snowball's chance in Hell) of him changing practices. I see nothing wrong with you saying that you feel he is much too caring and compassionate to work in that environment and you would like to continue using him but that you simply can no longer support a business so calloused. If he takes issue with what you say then maybe he's not who you think he is, but your stand will show your ethics. Boy Big I said nothing more for at least a month and I've just been chatty chatty chatty.. But really I'll disappear into cyberspace again soon. Vicki Vicki Montgomery Tricks and Treats Rescue Pasadena, TX 77506 713-472-6599 [Posted in FML issue 5020]