Rowdy's Big Day and The Kindness of a Vet.

[rwj146]

I drop my kitten, Rowdy, off at her veterinarian at 0700 in the morning for her spay.

I had asked last week about having a spay done at a shelter for a lot less money and had decided to go with the shelter and save about $300.00. Sadly money had a lot to do with it, it's been a tough month.

I took her to her vet for the third (and last) booster and while there asked the Vet if she would mind doing the aftercare on Rowdy. She told me of course and that she understood the cost difference.

While I was paying for the visit and picking up some high priced food she won't touch, the Veterinarian came up beside me and asked "You really love that kitten don't you?", of course I replied "Yes". She told me to bring her in on her (The Vets) surgery day, tomorrow, and she would charge me what the shelter would charge me. She said that would allow for continuum of care for Rowdy.

This was offered out of the blue, I would never presume to ask a professional to lower their price.

I consider myself pretty unemotional and stoic. Until then. Maybe it was the lousy month I was having or the kindness of the vet but I started crying like a little kid. I had to sit in my truck and gather myself before driving home.

A long post about not too much. Hope everyone has a great week. Bob

[CA_POPPY]

When Poquita died, I offered her vet a bunch of brand-new unopened packages of syringes and meds and he refused them, saying it was against the law for him to use them. He suggested we donate them to a rescue, which we did. Then when Edna died last year, she had been on the expensive, compounded thyroid meds and diet cat food. This time, a different vet gladly took them and said she would pass them along to patients whose owners could not afford them.I guess it just depends.
We gave Edna's vet all the cat blankets and beds in Edna's vast 19 year collection.

The crematorium also sent a notice saying they donate all the blankets, toys and such that owners want to drop off. Very thoughtful, I thought.

[rwj146]

WandaLust, I have no comparisons as far as what a Veterinarians office would charge other than the one I take her to.

With the anesthetic profile the cost was listed at $312.09
Without the test, $218.09

Perhaps Dr. Doug knows the average cost, I don't. I do know she charges about what others do for vaccinations.

I was given a list of all the services and the charge for each, I could scan them but I really see no need.

When I asked her if she would continue the aftercare on the kitten if I let the shelter do it, she never asked why (an unlicensed, uninsured, undocumented individual rendered my pickup undrivable), she just said she understood and it was 15 minutes later as I was paying my bill when she made her offer.

I was surprised by her offer and touched at the same time.

Rowdy, the kitten, is back to her normal non-stop mischief self, so all is well.

[WandaLust2]

CA POPPY wrote:
....The regular prices vets charge often help cover the pro bono work they do for rescues and special needs cases. Your story tells me that this vet was able to see how much Rowdy has brought to your life and what she means to you. What a wonderful person she is!....

There are also those of us who also do kind things for our Vets. 🙂 When mine needed towels and help with the overwhelming number of kittens he somehow ended up with that spring, the local rescues (including my husband and myself) donated cash, unused meds, toys for the kittens, old towels, receiving blankets etc. We expected NOTHING in return. If a Vet is a keeper the clients will be there for him or her.

[WandaLust2]

rwj146 wrote:
I drop my kitten, Rowdy, off at her veterinarian at 0700 in the morning for her spay.

I had asked last week about having a spay done at a shelter for a lot less money and had decided to go with the shelter and save about $300.00. Sadly money had a lot to do with it, it's been a tough month.

$300 to spay a cat? Please tell me that was a typo. Our vet in TN with a brand new expensive Hosp only charges $75: and a low-cost clinic in another town charges $35 to $45.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE BASIC SPAY/NEUTER FEE at my TN Vet's Hosp.

This includes: Pre-anesthetic check-up
Anesthesia
Spay / neuter procedure itself & surgical supplies required
Long-Acting Antibiotic Injection
Pain medications to ensure pet is comfortable during, and after surgery
Surgical recovery & suture removal (If Required) in 10 days
Re-check exam fees are at no additional cost in the event of any complication from surgery. Fees do apply to any treatments that may be required, the purchase of e-collar or medications to properly mange any complications that may occur.

And a low-cost clinic in another town charges $35 to $45. Most of the same things are included.

I took her to her vet for the third (and last) booster and while there asked the Vet if she would mind doing the aftercare on Rowdy. She told me of course and that she understood the cost difference.

While I was paying for the visit and picking up some high priced food she won't touch, the Veterinarian came up beside me and asked "You really love that kitten don't you?", of course I replied "Yes". She told me to bring her in on her (The Vets) surgery day, tomorrow, and she would charge me what the shelter would charge me. She said that would allow for continuum of care for Rowdy.

She is a generous kind person and a real veterinarian. 🙂 She's a keeper.

This was offered out of the blue, I would never presume to ask a professional to lower their price. I consider myself pretty unemotional and stoic. Until then. Maybe it was the lousy month I was having or the kindness of the vet but I started crying like a little kid. I had to sit in my truck and gather myself before driving home.

A long post about not too much. Hope everyone has a great week. Bob

I enjoyed reading your post. However $300 is more than I ever heard of paying for a kitty to be spayed. I did have a bill about that much one time but it included the snap test for FeLV and FEV, her first kitty vaccine (not the one that causes cancer), rabies shot, fecal was run and she was wormed, she was deflead, ears cleaned, chipped and a total thorough checkup before surgery. This was a 4 month old kitten I rescued in a parking lot in TN.

[CA_POPPY]

Oh, now you've got me teary! What a wonderful vet, and I'm glad you told her "the rest of the story." The regular prices vets charge often help cover the pro bono work they do for rescues and special needs cases. Your story tells me that this vet was able to see how much Rowdy has brought to your life and what she means to you. What a wonderful person she is! Rowdy will soon be terrorizing your house again. Best of luck to you and your kitten.

[nabi]

Glad Rowdy is home and doing OK..your vet sounds like a keeper for sure !

[rwj146]

Yes, the Vet is awesome. Rowdy is home, still a bit ' Loopy' from the meds but came thru fine.

Thanks to all who responded. Travel Safe. Bob J.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

What a happy story - your Vet is awesome!!!

[LadyRVer]

Great news for Rowdy and you, too. What a caring doctor. Sometimes gestures of kindness really touch us. Know you will feel better about the baby, too.

[magnusfide]

God bless that vet and God bless you for adopting Rowdy. You're both keepers in our book.

[dspencer]

Very nice vet indeed. Hat's off to that Vet for sure.

[xteacher]

Your vet's a keeper!

[Uppercrust]

Wows, very nice offer. 🙂

[brewjaz]

🙂