posted on December 7, 2003 11:58:38 AM new
In the Christmas thread last night I told about having to take my Grehound, Merlin, to the vet due to a gash on his back. They charged me $600. I had to pay half last night, and the rest was due when I picked him up today.
Something wonderful AND terrible all in the same morning
This morning I went pick up Merlin & bring him home. As I got out of my car at the vet's, an aquaintance, a patron at the library, was coming out. She asked why I was there & I told her. I said I was hoping to persuade the vet to take payments for the rest of the money owed for Merlin. And that's where the wonderful part comes in: out of the blue, this woman said "I will pay it for you." !!! I couldn't dissuade her. She said she'd just come into an inheritance, and that I'd helped her so much at the library, that she wanted to do this, and she wouldn't take "no" for an answer. When I asked for her address, she said I wasn't to even think of paying her back. I was in tears, I can tell you! What a wonderful person.
I collected Merlin, put him in the car & started for home. And that is where the terrible part comes in. We were almost home and I was turning a corner, when Merlin fell over in the back of the car & began screaming. I went the last block or so to home, swooped up my godson to help me, and then I rushed back to the vet. There I discovered that Merlin had dislocated his hip!!!!!! I had to leave him there--they are going to have to give him a relaxing shot in order to maneuver the bone back into the socket. Keep your fingers crossed that he has nice deep sockets, because the vet says if they are shallow the hip may not stay in place & more will be required. I am afraid to even think what this is going to cost...
I am in shock right now. I can't believe this is happening!
posted on December 7, 2003 01:19:02 PM new
Bunni - I'm speechless but I do hope that all turns out for the best for both you and Merlin. You are right about you aquaintance, what a sweatheart!
If you put Merlin in the car much there is a special harness you can purchase thatconnects to the seatbeelt in the car and allows minimal movement without risk of injury for your dog. It doesn't help the situation you are in now but sounds like Merlin is becoming a little more fragile with age.
I hope he's OK, I had an emergency last year with one of my cats - it's heartbreaking to see them in pain and not be able to help.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on December 7, 2003 01:33:33 PM new
bunnicula, wow! that is wonderful that someone offered to pay! That to me would be the best Christmas gift!
And dang! I am so sorry to hear what happened on the way home!
I too, hope he'll be ok, but I'm sure he will.
We just went through the Vet ER 2 nights for our cat. It was attacked by a ferral cat, and got his ass whooped, but I think he got some licks in also. Put the trap out that the county animal control will give you to catch the ferrals, and we caught something alright, we caught our own cat!
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posted on December 7, 2003 01:57:07 PM new
I just got off the phone with the vet. They got Merlin's hip back in the socket & they said it went in well enough that they won't need to sling it. He's very groggy right now, & I'm supposed to call back at 6pm to see if he's good to go home.
What a relief! Poor dog, he's really been through it in the past 24 hours! Didn't have the nerve to ask how much this is going to cost--that can wait until I pick him up again. Just hope they don't have to carry me out on a stretcher... Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on December 7, 2003 06:09:21 PM new
Just brought Merlin home from the vet. I couldn't wait until 6pm, , I called them at 5 & they said I could come get him.
He's got 17 stitches in his backside, and he's walking a mite slow, but otherwise, he's OK.
Happy days!
The cost? $369. With the $300 I paid last night, and minus the $300 my good samaritan paid this morning, that adds up to $69 more than they charged me last night. So I guess that I was meant, somehow, to be shelling out $600. I paid a third now & have to talk to the vet office manager about paying off the rest over my next two paychecks. I hope she goes for it. I have been going there for about 15 years, but on the other hand the hospital was taken over a couple of years ago by VCA, some kind of big business--and big business often has little heart & no understanding of this sort of thing.
But Merlin's home safe & sound now, and that's the big thing.
Edited to add a necessary "t"
Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
[ edited by bunnicula on Dec 7, 2003 06:11 PM ]
posted on December 7, 2003 06:42:47 PM new
Glad to hear Merlin is home! Since they accepted partial payment from you (and since they are not holding Merlin hostage), I would go ahead and make your payments instead of a lump sum. As long as you are making a concentrated effort to pay the bill and as long as they cash your checks, there's not much they can do about it. I once had an emergency dental visit where I paid a partial before I left. They sent me a bill and I sent another partial payment. They cashed the check. Well, they called me demanding payment in full. I kept making partials and they kept cashing. My lawyer said that they accepted a payment plan once they cashed the checks for the partial amounts. Of course, he used lawyer language on me, which explained it a bit better than I just did. INO, I wouldn't worry too much. Sounds like partials will be okay with them. They've already accepted a partial.
Better than anything else, Merlin is home where I'm sure he's as happy as can be!!! Blessings to you.
posted on December 8, 2003 06:32:04 AM new
It would cost them more to press it than to take the payments so they may ask for payment in full but no way they can press it. You'd have them paid off anyway before any action could be brought.
posted on December 8, 2003 07:02:08 PM new
bunni - How wonderful and heartwarming to hear about Merlin's second ordeal having a positive outcome. Poor guy, he's been through quite an ordeal, as have you.
About your good samaritan...just goes to show there are some really 'special' people in this world. Her generosity will come back to her many times, I believe. How wonderful she came into your life that day, when you most needed a helping hand and she was able to offer hers to you.
, I called them at 5 & they said I could come get him.