Service Cats U.S.

Meweek all, hope yous Fursday is shapin’ up to be a gweat one.  Fank you all fur readin’ meez rant ‘bout adoptin’ and surrendewin’.  Meez fawt since weez wuz on a tear anyways and fings not goin’ well here at ow house weez wuld write anudder one of those hopefully helpful and insightful stories.  But afur we get into dat me knows yous all wunnewin’ how fings awe purrgwessin’ here.  Well dat’s just it, they’re NOT!!!  When last weez weported, a mover had come out to giv a bid fur packin and stowin’ ow fings while da work wuz bein’ dun.  Mommy’s not heard fwum anypawdy since. So yesfurday hers called da manager (ended up callin evewyone includin’ housin’) and wuz told anudder mover is comin’ out today to do a look see and giv a bid.  Then hers wuz told they needed 3 bids (they’ve known this all along and hav sat on their hands and dun nuffin’ till mommy called cuz da lawyer be sittin’ on hers hands too.  So weez hav nuffin’ scheduled as yet, and housin’ hasn’t called mommy back (they wuz out of da office).  Now we will get on wiff da posty in hooman speak so there can be no mistakin’ what’s bein’ said.   

Just a little foto fun fur ya’.

We wanna talk a bit today about the saving of some animals.  Now obviously we’re not talking about hoarders or abusers, but your average pet owner who is, well…..let’s just call ‘em church mouse poor.  If you haven’t figured it out by now, we don’t pull any punches and we don’t sugar coat much.  We are a tell it like it is family here.  We got some great feedback on our stories about grief, but we also got a few expected emails that weren’t so nice.  It’s okay, it’s not like we haven’t heard what they said before, but now we’re in a position to speak out and reach more than just them.  As you’ve also figured out by now if you didn’t already know, we live on a very fixed income and there’s not enough to go around monthly, so there sure isn’t any emergency fund. 

More than once mommy has had a kitty in need and gone to the vet only to be quoted an outrageous price and then turned away when she couldn’t afford it.  And they don’t just turn her away, there’s always one of the staff there that has to tell mommy she shouldn’t have animals if she can’t afford to take care of them (you know the one, lots of vet offices have them. usually the one in charge of the books).  Mommy’s not the only one this is happening too tho’. We’ve watched many a show and even read stories about poor people surrendering their beloved fur family to shelters or rescues so that the animal can get medical help that won’t be provided unless they relinquish ownership.  It’s like they’re being told that if they can’t afford massive vet bills then they shouldn’t have the animal. 

Obviously we know that withholding needed medical care is a form of abuse in and of itself, but where do we draw the line? Is it really right to take away the families pet if they are someone who adores their fur family member and other than the medical emergency takes great care of their beloved furry?  Is it really right to say that unless you have  unlimited funds you shouldn’t have an animal?  Is this really how the world thinks?  As more and more studies are proving the health benefits of animals for humans are we saying that the elderly and/or disabled who are on fixed incomes and would benefit from owning an animal shouldn’t have one?  

Well me has a few questions me self.  Why is it that vets need to charge such outrageous prices to begin with?  And how is it that they who purportedly went into their profession because of their love for animals can watch one they know they can save walk out the door because it’s humans can’t afford treatment.  And why is it that rescues will help but ONLY if the owner surrenders the animal and agrees for it to be rehomed?  And why is pet insurance so expensive and yet covers so little?  Why?  After all would we take a human child from their parents if they couldn’t pay the hospital bill?  For that matter would the hospital turn them away and refuse treatment?  (and yes, we know there are a few hospitals that might, but there’s at least one that won’t)  And if we did take the children would there be lots of write ups and news stories about how wonderful it is that we saved the child and it’s now up for adoption?  Often times children who are truly being abused don’t even get removed from the home.     

We know mommy would be devastated if she had to relinquish one or both of us, and we would be lost without her.  Maybe mommy couldn’t afford the latest greatest treatments and in an emergency she would have to beg and plead for money to pay for our treatment (as our vet who we love, doesn’t do payment arrangements).  But there is no one on this planet (or any other for that matter) that could love us more or care for us any better.  Mommy struggles with money all the time, and thanks to some of our wonderful friends/framly she doesn’t have to worry as much as she has in the past, but there are still lots of things that mommy has to provide for us. But if all that stopped tomorrow, mommy would find a way to provide for us.  She did for years and we never expected the outpouring of love we have received.  We appreciate each and everyone of our friends/framly and love you all dearly, because of who you are, and not because of what you do.   

Now we know most of you reading this post feel like we do.  That sometimes a good home has nothing to do with the amount of money one has but instead the feelings for and daily care of the animal<s>.  But again last night we read a story about an older cat that desperately needed dental work but it’s elderly owner couldn’t afford it.  A rescue stepped in and got the cat the needed treatment, but only after the human signed it over to them to be rehomed after treatment.  It was and always is a heart wrenching story.  And while we are grateful the kitty got the treatment it needed we are heart broken for it’s previous owner who obviously loved him enough to let him go so that he could have what he needed to feel better.  Today there are 2 elderly beings in the world who are grieving a loss as if death had come to visit. 

Again we didn’t write this story to offend or hurt anyone.  And since joining the blogging community we have met a lot of peeps just like us who are surviving on fixed incomes and would be in a tizzy if they had to come up with emergency vet money.  But on the chance someone comes across our blog that fits into the other category, we hope they have second thoughts the next time they come across a situation such as this.  Just because a person can’t afford all the trimmings and extra vet expenses doesn’t make them a bad pet owner.  Just a thought.

Til da nex time…………Be Blest!!!

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses   ♥♥♥

Dezi