The 5 Types of Annoying Pet Owners

Sociological research, detailed in a 1994 article in the journal Qualitative Sociology, reveals that veterinarians classify annoying pet owners into five different types. I suspect I would fall into the animal-nut category.

Ignorant clients
"Some clients were so hopelessly ignorant of the basic requirements of animal caretaking that they were viewed with a sort of sad bemusement. Frequently, these owners were the focus of joking among the staff." Example: One client insisted that, because she had paid over $350 for her cat, it should be immune to fleas.

Inattentive and Demanding Clients
"Belligerent clients complained, disputed diagnoses, demanded special considerations, and generally did not behave in the compliant and appreciative manner deemed appropriate by the doctors."

Neglectful Clients
"Unlike the ideally compliant and realistic client, some owners were viewed negatively by the staff because their pets' physical condition indicated that they were neglectful of or indifferent to their animals' well-being, For the most part, the veterinarians maintained that this type of client was rare since the very fact that a person brought their animal for veterinary services demonstrated that he or she feels at least a minimal concern for the creature's health."

Over-Involved Clients (animal nuts)
"Over-involved clients were deemed troublesome because of the extra time and unnecessary attention that frequently had to be devoted to them. This client commonly provided the veterinarian with excessive and overly detailed information about his or her pet's condition and behavior, thus making it difficult for the doctor to determine what was actually going on with the animal... Not all 'animal-nuts' were defined as problems, however. Frequently, the vets recognized that people who are strongly attached to their animals were the prime consumers of their services."

Cost-Focused Clients
"Clients who were more worried about the cost of the service than they were about the welfare of the animal tended to be negatively evaluated, while those for whom money was a secondary issue were more positively defined as appropriately conscientious owners."
     Posted By: Alex - Mon Jan 12, 2009
     Category: Animals





Comments
There's no category for people who have to spend huge amounts of money on their pets because the rest of the family is so attached.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 01/12/09 at 07:59 AM
Cost-Focused Clients Do those who think a few grand is a bit much for a simple round of liposuction fall into this category?
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 01/12/09 at 08:37 AM
I would be in a different category all together.
I would be the one who slept in the vets waiting room for days rather than leave them there "alone."
Posted by AGFH on 01/12/09 at 08:41 AM
I can't possibly be the Over-Involved Clients type. My dog had his animal nut(s) removed.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 01/12/09 at 08:55 AM
Hey Madd Maxx,
Did you get him a pair of neuticles? That would be nuts(but not really) 😉
Posted by Matt in Florida on 01/12/09 at 09:36 AM
Gary, narry a one.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 01/12/09 at 09:55 AM
Sorry, if my dog or cat needs chemotherapy that's gonna cost me thousands of dollars, I'll just get a new one. I don't care if the vet thinks less of me, if I can replace the animal for less than the cost of fixing it, that's what I'm doing.
Posted by Ryan in Philly on 01/12/09 at 12:14 PM
Ryan, I do agree that there is a limit. Thousands...I don't think I could do it. But up to a thousand, depending on the pet species (dog=yes, fish or gerbil=no), I would have to give it some thought.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 01/12/09 at 01:11 PM
Gerbils don't cost much to fix. Just a bit of duct tape and away they go!
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 01/12/09 at 01:26 PM
Expat - $100 bucks at the vet for my daughter's $14 gerbil. Yeast infection in the nose. Any more than that and I would have just squeezed the gerbil a little too hard.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 01/12/09 at 01:48 PM
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