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Mid-week last week we arrived at an emergency clinic in a close-by big city (not too close - over a 2 hr drive!) because we had a serious canine emergency and our dog needed special equipment that few places have. Our estimate was the kind to make your mouth fall open but thanks be to God and all that...
On the notice board - reading them as you do when you're tired of pacing - was an appeal to their "relief fund". The fund was used to help people who couldn't afford to pay for life-saving medical treatment for their pet and each case was evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Anyway, on our way out the next morning (only it wasn't the next morning it was the same morning as we'd arrived at 01.00!) a man walks in holding a very small dog whose head was wrapped up in a t-shirt. From the looks of things, as the man was dressed all in white and was paint spattered, I'd guess he was a painter. Small dog had been bitten on the head by large dog and one of the dog's eyes had popped out. (At a guess without having seen the head, I'd say the small one was a chihuahua.) My heart broke for the guy because the immediate thought that ran through my head was, "How the hell is he going to be able to afford this?" I don't know the outcome, we had to go.
The following day at my local vet's the techs and I were discussing this. It's a problem. Everyone's heart breaks, but meds cost. Equipment costs. All the incidentals cost. Sure, in cases of a benefactor, great. Fantastic. But in the majority cases there isn't one, and then what?
Lord knows I don't have the answer. Personally, I don't think there is an answer. We all just muddle through and I guess all we can do is hope that Fate intervenes and the good and generous people who are out there meet the animals that need their help.
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