That was exactly what happened to me and my dog on May 28 at about 8.32pm at Mount Pleasant Animal Clinic.

That was the time I entered the clinic and asked to register my dog but the two nurses there shook their heads and said that I could not do so because they were closed.

There were easily three people sitting in the room and three more standing outside.

I asked what time the clinic closes and they told me 8.30pm. I told them that I was only two minutes late and that they could be flexible - it's not as if I was 10 or 15 minutes late.

One nurse said that the waiting time is over an hour and I told her I was prepared to wait.

She went into the room to ask the vet and came out to say that the vet refused to see my dog and that I return the next day.

I told her that I was leaving town for an overseas trip but they still would not relent.

I told them that my dogs are patients of the clinic for the past five years and that they should at least be flexible. They flatly refused.

I was disappointed and upset. I was two minutes late and the vet flatly turned down my appeal.

I went home disappointed that my dog could not get any medical assistance.

Neither the nurse nor the vet bothered to ask how my dog was.

All she cared about was that I would delay her even further.

Is this how a vet is supposed to behave?

Monica Chua Suan Lin (Ms)