Clasione
September 10th, 2004, 11:09 PM
Hey everyone....
Being the webmaster for the LongIslandExchange.com I recieve many many emails per day, but today I got one of the most upsetting emails I have ever read.... I wish there was something more I could do....
Please read this email and tell me what you think.... I feel an injustice may have been done.... I value your opinions.....
I have removed the authors name for privacy......
________________________________
EMAIL:
I am writing this letter basically out of anger with regard to a situation my family and I experienced last night. A few days ago, while on our way home from North Carolina, my family and I found a stray puppy on the highway. The puppy was about 2 ½ months old. Immediately we all fell in love with her especially my grandchildren, ages 6,5, and 3. She was playful and so good with the children. The very next day, we took her to the vet where we were told she possibly had worms for which we were given medicine. Other than that the dog was healthy according to the vet. The next day, the dog seemed quite lethargic, growing even more so as the minutes passed. She was vomiting a great deal and kept passing liquid bloody stool. She appeared to be in severe pain, standing with her head down. She refused to eat and seemed like she needed immediate intervention. We called the vet but since it was after hours we decided to take her to a 24-hour emergency vet in West Islip. My son left my grandchildren thinking little Casey was going to the vet to get better. Yet instead of returning with the dog or news that the dog needed to stay at the hospital, he returned with nothing but tears. You see the dog tested positive for the Parvo Virus and my son was told it would cost $1,500 to 2,000 to treat her. We didn't have that money up front, so we asked about payment plans so we could save her life. While Casey lay on the table, deteriorating by the minute, my son's credit was being checked. Casey, obviously in pain waited. My son was told his credit was not that good and he didn't qualify for a payment plan. He was told that because he could not pay up front and was denied a payment plan his other alternative was euthanasia.
Our anger goes beyond words. We were not looking for free care for this puppy, that's unheard of in today's society. What puzzles us so much is that a puppy needed to die, a puppy that had been rescued and taken into a loving home. Not because we didn't get her to a vet in time or not because of some accident, but merely because of our inability to pay the entire amount up front. My son's credit was checked and he was denied. He wasn't denied a car or a credit card, which we could comprehend. But what is so incomprehensible is that a puppy's life was lost because his credit wasn't good enough. How truly sad and pathetic we find this. We took this puppy into our home, the humane thing to do, because it had no home, no place to be loved or cared for. We brought her to the vet immediately, and back again after she started her symptoms, paid for the visit and testing. Money at that point wasn't a factor in deciding whether or not to take her. I guess perhaps we should have left her on the highway, maybe someone who had better credit would have found her and been able to pay for saving her life.
Its sad but my granddaughter who is only 6 has wanted to be a vet since age 3. Her love for all animals goes beyond the normal love most children have. I hope her dream is one day fulfilled and that an animal doesn't have to suffer and die like Casey did. I could go on but I guess it is pointless. Our new puppy is gone and we struggle with what to tell the kids who think she is in the hospital and coming home soon. Society today teaches us compassion and to treat all animals humanely. Think again my friend, for this is truly as inhumane as those who torture, maim and kill God's creatures. It is a lesson that is so very sad. To add insult to injury, upon refusal to treat Casey, because of lack of $2000 up front, he then asked us if we wanted to take her body home or there would be a $50.00 cremation fee. I realize our anger should be directed at whomever abandoned her on a highway, but it is not. It is to the vet, who took a vow to save all animals. Casey could have been saved, for Parvo is treatable. How very very sad for us and for all of you, who love animals.
Being the webmaster for the LongIslandExchange.com I recieve many many emails per day, but today I got one of the most upsetting emails I have ever read.... I wish there was something more I could do....
Please read this email and tell me what you think.... I feel an injustice may have been done.... I value your opinions.....
I have removed the authors name for privacy......
________________________________
EMAIL:
I am writing this letter basically out of anger with regard to a situation my family and I experienced last night. A few days ago, while on our way home from North Carolina, my family and I found a stray puppy on the highway. The puppy was about 2 ½ months old. Immediately we all fell in love with her especially my grandchildren, ages 6,5, and 3. She was playful and so good with the children. The very next day, we took her to the vet where we were told she possibly had worms for which we were given medicine. Other than that the dog was healthy according to the vet. The next day, the dog seemed quite lethargic, growing even more so as the minutes passed. She was vomiting a great deal and kept passing liquid bloody stool. She appeared to be in severe pain, standing with her head down. She refused to eat and seemed like she needed immediate intervention. We called the vet but since it was after hours we decided to take her to a 24-hour emergency vet in West Islip. My son left my grandchildren thinking little Casey was going to the vet to get better. Yet instead of returning with the dog or news that the dog needed to stay at the hospital, he returned with nothing but tears. You see the dog tested positive for the Parvo Virus and my son was told it would cost $1,500 to 2,000 to treat her. We didn't have that money up front, so we asked about payment plans so we could save her life. While Casey lay on the table, deteriorating by the minute, my son's credit was being checked. Casey, obviously in pain waited. My son was told his credit was not that good and he didn't qualify for a payment plan. He was told that because he could not pay up front and was denied a payment plan his other alternative was euthanasia.
Our anger goes beyond words. We were not looking for free care for this puppy, that's unheard of in today's society. What puzzles us so much is that a puppy needed to die, a puppy that had been rescued and taken into a loving home. Not because we didn't get her to a vet in time or not because of some accident, but merely because of our inability to pay the entire amount up front. My son's credit was checked and he was denied. He wasn't denied a car or a credit card, which we could comprehend. But what is so incomprehensible is that a puppy's life was lost because his credit wasn't good enough. How truly sad and pathetic we find this. We took this puppy into our home, the humane thing to do, because it had no home, no place to be loved or cared for. We brought her to the vet immediately, and back again after she started her symptoms, paid for the visit and testing. Money at that point wasn't a factor in deciding whether or not to take her. I guess perhaps we should have left her on the highway, maybe someone who had better credit would have found her and been able to pay for saving her life.
Its sad but my granddaughter who is only 6 has wanted to be a vet since age 3. Her love for all animals goes beyond the normal love most children have. I hope her dream is one day fulfilled and that an animal doesn't have to suffer and die like Casey did. I could go on but I guess it is pointless. Our new puppy is gone and we struggle with what to tell the kids who think she is in the hospital and coming home soon. Society today teaches us compassion and to treat all animals humanely. Think again my friend, for this is truly as inhumane as those who torture, maim and kill God's creatures. It is a lesson that is so very sad. To add insult to injury, upon refusal to treat Casey, because of lack of $2000 up front, he then asked us if we wanted to take her body home or there would be a $50.00 cremation fee. I realize our anger should be directed at whomever abandoned her on a highway, but it is not. It is to the vet, who took a vow to save all animals. Casey could have been saved, for Parvo is treatable. How very very sad for us and for all of you, who love animals.