Hello All,
 
Sorry to here that Greg's little one is still ill and to thank Gary for his
wonderful advice (call the exterminator) and beautiful words (violence is
not strength, compassion is not weekness).
 
Greg,
I know that right now is a hard time for you but I think you should go the
distance with any medical care and attention that your baby needs whether he
recovers or not.  Do all you can and if it is not meant to be then just be
there for him to make his journey a little easier.  I have found that all my
efforts may not make a difference but it at least allows me to come to terms
with my loss.  If I did not do all that I could I would not be able to live
with myself.
 
Regarding "Flaming Vets"...I hoped that this comment was not directed toward
me as that would mean that I had offended someone and that was not my
intention.  I agree that the Veteranarians that contribute much appreciated
and useful information and advice on the FML are a God send but even they
have to admit that every profession has its bad apples!  My bubble was burst
years ago!  My grandfather was a forester and over the years I have spent a
lot of time with vets and assisted in the rehab and rearing of foxes,
squirrels, skunks, dogs, cats, birds, deer, hamsters, rats, snakes,
porcupines, hedgehogs and the list goes on.  I'm not saying that I am an
expert by any means but I have spent a lot of time in the vets office!  My
love of animals and determination to save everyone that I could did not end
when my grandfather passed away.  I still found myself picking up every
stray and even resorting to stealing a few animals that were in dire need of
medical attention even though I did not have the financial means to get them
the help that they needed.  Sometimes I pawned personal belongings or
borrowed money and other times I just begged vets to see the animal now and
take a post dated check.  I never asked for a free ride!  I can not tell you
how many vets turned me away if I did not have "payment at the time services
where rendered"!  I can understand that they have to make a living, too, but
for Gods sake I only lived a block from one of them!  If my post dated
checks bounced they could have walked to my house!  I even had a vet tell me
to put a dog that had been hit by a car to put it back on the road where I
found it.  When I threaten to tell everyone what a _______ he was he replyed
"all I can do is put it to sleep!!  I told him that that alternative was
better than letting the animal die slowly in the street!!!  The memory of
that incident still enrages me!  Needless to say he does not get favorable
word-of-mouth advertisement from me!!!  I eventually found a vet FOUR TOWNS
AWAY who would help me!  I've been with him ever since and he has always
been paid for his services.  I'm sure there will always be a place in heaven
for him as there will be in my heart!
 
Sincerely,
Lucy's mom
[Posted in FML issue 1461]