It's ruff going
It's better to be Mariah Carey's dog than to work for her. The veterinarian whom the songbird allegedly stiffed out of some $30,000 slept with the sick pooch at the diva's California mansion during the doc's 2½-week assignment and even sent videotapes of the pup to Carey when she was out of town.
New York-based Dr. Cindy Bressler cared for Carey's Jack Russell puppy, Dolomite, around the clock with her team, constantly feeding the pooch and making sure it was all right. "We were up all night caring for and tube-feeding the puppy," said a source who worked with the vet. "Mariah loves her dogs and requested the best care, and that's what she got. Dr. Bressler left her practice [in New York] and was there through the pre- and postnatal care and the delivery. We provided 24-hour day care."
The singer visited the ill pooch several times a day, and Bressler sent her videos of the dog when Mariah could not be there, the source said. Bressler and her staff stayed in a room at Carey's sprawling Bel Air home when they were not taking turns holding vigil in the dog's room. Little Dolomite needed in tensive care after being born to another of Mariah's dogs, Cha-Cha - who was only six months old when she gave birth.
It soon became clear that Carey did not appreciate that hiring a vet for weeks of in-home care would cost more than some of the other services to which she was accustomed, the source said. "She [Bressler] is a doctor, and Mariah acted like Dr. Bressler was one of her hair or makeup people," the source said.
According to Bressler's suit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Bressler gave Carey a bill for $37,790.32, but the singer only paid $8,231.50. Bressler is seeking the remaining $29,559, plus legal fees. Bressler declined to comment, but her attorney, Michael Posner, said she "provided lifesaving, round-the-clock medical care to Mariah Carey's puppy. This was a serious medical matter that required professional care by a veterinarian and veterinary nurses. Dr. Bressler also helped deliver the puppy, which was of low birth weight, and administered nutritional feeding in the absence of an appropriate level of milk production during nursing. The costs were clearly communicated costs associated with this level of treatment. Despite successful treatment, Ms. Carey still refused to pay her balance."
Carey's attorney, Orin Snyder, said, "This abusive lawsuit appears to be a crass publicity stunt. As a matter of principle, Mariah intends to fight this baseless case and is confident that it will be dismissed." (New York Posts)
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