Alyvia Svx
map-marker Miami, Florida

Heartless Avian Vet in Miami Florida only cares for making money

I want everyone to know about the horrible experience I had at the Avian & Exotic Animal Medical Center recently. My son and I were driving on a busy road in Miami, Florida and noticed an injured bird standing on the edge of the road. I put my and my son's life in danger by having him stand on the side so I can go and grab from the jaws of speeding cars this poor helpless bird (beautiful white dove) who was bleeding profusely from his chest and wing. I am lucky that I did not get hit by passing cars.

A few blocks down the same road I saw a police officer standing on the side and asked him if he knew of any vets that can help the bird. He told me there is a place called Avian and Exotic Animal Medical Center that apparently specializes in birds. When we got there I told the receptionist about what had happened, even showed the bird, but was told that the veterinarian WON'T help the bird. I begged, pleaded for several minutes and told her in tears the risk I had put myself and son through in order to help this innocent injured bird. She grabbed the bird in a rough and abrupt manner (mind you, the poor thing was injured and bleeding) and took her without saying anything else.

I waited thinking that the doctor (Dr. Don J. Harris) was examining the bird. I waited and waited, than after waiting some 15 more minutes without any word, I approached the receptionist and asked what was going on. She said that she did not have any authorization to help the poor bird (even put a cotton swab on the gash to stop the bleeding) unless I pay $75, then she would have the vet just "look" at the bird (i.e., not even do anything) otherwise they would just let the bird die. I was astonished and very disgusted and disappointed-- what on earth were they than doing with the injured and BLEEDING bird for all this time (put simply, nothing). I did not mind paying to help the bird, but not to someone who only cares about money.

I can't believe how uncaring and cold hearted this so-called Vet's office and his staff are. Doctors are supposed to have taken an oat to take care of the sick and the ill who are in desperate need of help. This vet, however, is solely in it for the money and only sees those clients that are able to pay a hefty fee. Everything should not be about money-- especially when it comes to a seriously injured and helpless animal. He cares less for the welfare of the animals than his pocket book. Whomever I tell this story to is horrified by this vet's lack of empathy or compassion. Luckily I was able to find another doctor who not only saw the bird for free but only charged me for the medication needed to help the bird-- unfortunately, due to all the delay and blood loss, I am not sure if this little bird will make it.

So, if you care at all about animals, please DO NOT support or use this vet to take care of any of your animals. Society should encourage those who have a heart, are compassionate and are not "in it" solely to get rich-- a few moments of time would have been all that was needed to help a God's helpless and injured creature. This Vet, however, only cares about making $$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Please share my story with your friends and family and be a voice for this poor white dove, which is a symbol of purity and peace.

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23 comments
Guest

Sick *** that assistant & doctor!

No heart...

Glad you found another doc.

Please give info. Of other bird or exotic animal doctor in Miami, Florida

So I can take my parrot there for beak trimming, thanks...

Hope the dove made it. You and your son are two of the few that go the extra mile. Good job regardless

Drequan Daa

This is Animal and Avian Medical Center in Brunswick, Ohio. We have never had a Dr Harris on staff.

I do know their is another veterinary clinic with a similar name in Florida. Could that be the one you are referring to?

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Drequan Daa

No the vet being mentioned in this article is located in South Miami, FL. I had a similar experieimnce with the cold attitude of the staff and can't say the vet was much different.

My exotic animal was not some expensive import but a raccoon I rescued as a newborn who fell from his den. I dedicated many hours feeding and nurturing this creature.

I'm sure he was quite confused when he first opened his eyes and saw his 'mother' ... after this first encounter I found another vet to take care of my baby.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1075668

I had a similar experience at an Avian vet (So called ?) on the East side of US 1 in South Miami who charged me an extra $40.00 for an emergency call because my having to rent a car to get to his office only allowed me to get there at 5 PM which was his normal closing time.

He obviously was cold and uncaring and only cared about money and even insulted me as I was leaving saying go have fun or enjoy driving your rental car ! I do not remember what the medical problem was with my Cockatiel, It must have seemed quite serious to me, I do not rent cars and go to expensive veterinarians for no reason ! , But she survived (;^)

Guest

You are a WONDERFUL person may you AND your son be blessed and have nothing but love and prosperity for being so kind.

Guest

I agree with the exotic bird vet center. I just spoke to his secretary and was very sarcastly rude and had an urge to be using my difficult moment for her entertaing sarcastic ways.

It is the same doctor Dr.

Harris office which Aventura HOspital referrd me. now that I read your comment I need to be lookign else =where.

Guest

eso es verdad ese dr solo quiere dinero

es buen dr pero solo $$$$$$$$ yo personalmente he estado alli y he visto como ha rechazado mas de uno si no pagan

si deberia tener mas corazon

Guest

Don't know what happened the day you were there, but that is NOT my experience. I have helped rehab wild birds for 20 years, and on numerous occasions I have sought Dr.

Harris' help with injured wildlife.

He has ALWAYS done everything he could, including orthopedic surgery, and has NEVER charged a dime. Something tells me you're not telling the whole story.

Guest

While it seems like your heart is in the right place I would NEVER NEVER NEVER risk my child at the side of a busy road for a bird. How on earth would you feel if something had happened?

If you choose to gamble on your own welfare that's your choice but your child looks to you for protection. I would be ashamed to even admit that I did something so ***.

Secondly injured wildlife can only be handled by people with certain licenses. Although some appropriately licensed vets may kindly CHOOSE to work with it for free you cannot just EXPECT that every Vet will be willing to take time/resources away from their other patients to deal with it for free.

They have a business to run too & if they took in every stray/injured animal that was bought to them their business would suffer. That is why there are wildlife centers.

Guest

I work at a different animal clinic, however I take my bird to Dr. Harris.

First off, the receptionist does not have authority to touch any animal period. They are receptionists, not doctors. Secondly, Dr. Harris is the best avian doctor in Miami.

His knowledge of avian care and medicine is above and beyond. Unfortunately, most medical facilities have wait time, especially for walk-ins at a clinic that is not an emergency clinic. That's just how it is anywhere you go. Clients love to assume that the vets are evil and out for money, which isn't necessarily always incorrect, but they are so quick to judge when something doesn't go as expected.

That is the first thing we hear when people don't like something, "THAT VET IS EVIL AND ONLY WANTS YOUR MONEY AND KILLS ANIMALS!" I've heard it a million times.

Its unfortunate that you had to wait what was probably an exaggerated amount of time, because with that tone and level of anger, people make hyperboles of everything, but if you expect any clinic to stop what they are doing for animal that isn't even a pet, then you have the field all wrong. What you SHOULD have done was taken it to the wildlife center at the Museum of Science. Its free for you so you don't have to complain about money, and you simply drop it off and they tend to it immediately, meaning you don't have to wait more than the 5 minutes it takes to sign their form.

Best of all, it frees you from feeling compelled to tell dramatic tales of almost getting hit by cars to an audience that, for the most part, finds your story to be ***.

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