ULPT Please help apartment requesting most recent veterinary record
Posted by Agile_Friendship1723@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 37 comments
Before diving into this yes I know I’m a complete bastard but I’m a broke bastard trying to survive so lay off. Currently going through an emergency move that is going to demolish the little savings I had and I got approved but now they are asking me for a most recent veterinary record for my cat. Have had him for 2 years, he’s about five. Found him on Craigslist from a nice couple that needed to rehome. They said he’d been up to date on his shots, rabies, and neutered. He never had any issues and like I said I’m broke so I never took him to the vet so I don’t have shit to give them. I don’t have any extra money right now to take him to the vet just so they can have a damn record. It’s a cat. Had him for years and he’s indoors only. My parents have a cat and happen to have a record I can use if I switch some info out. Easy peasy. Here’s the question though, do apartments ever actually check is said documents are valid? Do they call up the vet or something? Are vets even allowed to confirm information on a patient? Or is it just bullshit and I can get away with a little fake out? If you’re going to reply that I’m oh so bad, shut up. If I had the money, little buddy would be at the vet every week if he needed to but he doesn’t. He’s healthy and happy and loved (too much).
CelestialThestral@reddit
I do TNR, so I have a ton of recent vet records for cats. I can send you a pic of one if that helps. If I have one that matches the color of your cat, if they call to verify then my vet will confirm the record since it's real.
I highly doubt that they're going to call a vet to verify, but they can. There are no HIPAA laws for pets. I've had a vet call another vet to verify vaccine records right in front of me.
jostensking@reddit
I’m in a bit of a similar sticky situation, I sent you a DM, thanks in advance, you are appreciated so much
Agile_Friendship1723@reddit (OP)
Man that would be amazing, my cat is a neutered male, orange domestic long hair, he’s about 5yo and weighs 12lbs. Thank you tons
PhlegmMistress@reddit
You can also use cat safe pet dye from opawz if s/he has another male long hair that's different color.
CelestialThestral@reddit
That's a tough one. I don't have any for long haired or orange cats. I'll send you a chat
Agile_Friendship1723@reddit (OP)
No worries. I’ll take anything you think I could use honestly, I can photoshop some info if I need to
CelestialThestral@reddit
I sent you a chat, it might be in your requests. I think you have to accept it before I can send you any images
rabid_cheese_enjoyer@reddit
I love you
blindtoe54@reddit
Welcome to Costco
rabid_cheese_enjoyer@reddit
I do also love Costco
ObviousSalad6982@reddit
You are a badass!!! ! If I had a bunch of money I would give you all of it! You are an amazing person!
WinLopsided8938@reddit
ChatGPT most of the time) and other AI apps can make fake paperwork.
tirdg@reddit
Just doctor your parents records and put a phone number that will ring to you or someone you know. Answer calls to that number like a vet office. You'll need another number, so that may cost something. Not sure on that.
Key-Candle8141@reddit
Didnt that vet in (other state) go out of business? Make your own and thank you for looking out for the cat but do take him for a check when you can afford it 🫶
AGenericUnicorn@reddit
Vet here. One, if you’re in the US, there are low cost vaccine clinics everywhere. You can call your county extension office for help locating one.
Two, rabies is a legal requirement in most (all?) states, so they’re doing their due diligence in case your cat bites someone.
Finally, don’t be an asshole who ruins it for everyone else by switching out records.
Rabies is dirt cheap. Please just get your cat up to date instead of trying to cheat the system.
whyyyyyjustwhyyyyyyy@reddit
I agree with the cheap shots. The low cost mobile clinic in my area is $19.
AGenericUnicorn@reddit
I offered Rabies for $10 when I did these clinics.
Nonetheless, this is OP’s opinion on the health of their cat, so they clearly don’t care.
whatshamilton@reddit
If you’ve had him for 2 years and not returned to the vet he’s not up to date on shots or rabies. Those are annual. Take care of your pet or find him a home that can.
selfdestructive1ny@reddit
If you’ve only had him for 2 years, get the records from the previous owners. Rabies shots are valid for 3 years in adult cats.
tetheredvoid@reddit
Change the name of the veterinary clinic to a fictional one or a clinic that shut down, so they can't trace it back.
Agile_Friendship1723@reddit (OP)
Isn’t that even more sketchy though lmao. How would I find a clinic that’s been shut down? My thought process is a real document but I just changed out the weight, age, and color of the cat. It looks legit asf honestly, they wouldn’t question it by looking at it at all, i would only be in hot water if they actually called up the vet
ellequin@reddit
I don't think you even need to change anything. There aren't photos on the record and it's not like the apartment knows what the cats look like.
Agile_Friendship1723@reddit (OP)
Sadly they asked for his name, age, breed and color on the application and a picture of him. It was after the application got accepted that they requested the vet record 🙄
infinitekittenloop@reddit
I work at a vet clinic. I have never once had a property manager call to verify anything. And anytime someone asks us for shot records or whatever, for boarding, for grooming, for travel, for doggy daycare... There are never follow up calls from any of them. And all they would ask for and verify if they ever did call, is owner name (we wouldn't give it out, but we'd need it to find the record)/pet name/ vaccine status. As a rule, though, we don't just randomly give out medical info to 3rd parties.
People just want to put eyes on the document so they can tick the box of getting/checking vaccines.
You're almost certainly over-worrying about it. If you adjust any records I would simply make sure the original last name is still on the paperwork and it just has you listed as secondary contact. (Again, they're almost certainly not going to call and check anyway)
Agile_Friendship1723@reddit (OP)
Okay cool thank you so much you just made me feel so much better lmao. I just don’t really do stuff like this and have rented three apartments in the past with him and never had this happen so I was shitting myself specially bc I’m broke and they’re already charging a $300 pet deposit and pet rent. Should’ve just not told them I have a cat at all but I’m too chicken shit and buddy man loves to look out the windows so I’d for sure get caught 🤣
infinitekittenloop@reddit
Also for what it's worth, your local animal control/humane society/city shelter probably has low cost or free "clinics" (in quotes because it's not a standard brick and mortar office with regular hours, it's often more like a pop up event that happens at specific intervals like once a month or twice a year) that offer routine vaccines and even spay/neuter. And/or they have connections to them or coupons for local vets that offer similar low-cost routine services you should ask about.
In case you didn't already know that, it's worth looking into just so you can panic about this less in the future (and so you can know how much $ to save for it if it's not just free).
a5121221a@reddit
I think you could use paperwork with a different name, no edits necessary. It is very common for pets to have a registered name that is nonsense compared to what the pet is actually called.
MensaCurmudgeon@reddit
You will not get caught. It’s almost the end of the month, so managers will be busy with move ins/move outs, rent coming due, etc. I would send it at 4pm:
InkedVeggie@reddit
I know this does not belong in this sub, but just an FYI many animal shelters have free vaccine clinics. I volunteer at my local SPCA and with the clinic they do. One primary purpose is to vaccinate pets for people who need to show proof to a landlord.
Not unethical, but worth asking your local shelters about.
whyyyyyjustwhyyyyyyy@reddit
I would totally do this. The humane society has free or low cost vets. In my area we also have a very low cost pet clinic that travels around and helps people who can’t afford the vets.
ObviousSalad6982@reddit
Probably not! Those shots and unnecessary boosters are harmful for your cat anyway. I was furious when I learned this. I hope you don't have to take your cat in ever.
UnethicalLifeProTips-ModTeam@reddit
Misinformation!
boringcranberry@reddit
I can guarantee that no one is even going to look at that doc never mind compare it against your actual cat. It's just so they have something on file. They're covering their asses.
Direct_Piccolo1247@reddit
Absolutely. We want them at move in and they wouldn’t be brought up again unless, say, the dog bites someone and then it would be a vet problem anyway. You have an indoor cat ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
tetheredvoid@reddit
Find one? Man, you don't realize how many tiny very clinics come and go. Pick a name that doesn't exist in your city and be done with it. You're already lying.
Griffinej5@reddit
There are several companies that do mobile vet clinics out of stores. Petco by me has them, as does tractor supply, and maybe a few others. Some place like that, you would never be able to call and get records.
Pomegranate_1328@reddit
I hate AI but can you try that? Maybe print it out then crinkle the paper and take a pic with your phone so it looks like it might be something you had in a drawer for a while.