Greetings to fuzzies and their reading humans:
 
I have just spoken to the vet and got the update on Louise so here it is:
 
Louise was diagnosed with an abscessed scent gland last week.  I opted for
surgery (today) to have it removed.  The vet informed me that yes, the scent
glad was infected, etc... however, she ws NOT descented!!!  So, from what I
gather, neither is Thelma!!  He removed both scent glands (seeing as he was
in there he said!!) and she is doing just fine!!  I have some duck soup at
home just waiting for her.
 
I would like to apologize for not writing to people personally or posting in
the last week, however the internet station here at work has not been
working properly (I checked my email this afternoon and it actually worked
for a change and I had over 75 messages since Monday!!)
 
Secondly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who
responsed to my questions and fears about the surgery.  They are tougher
than they look, I now know - but I still wouldn't want to have to go through
it again.
 
I have noticed quite the "discussion" going on about people giving up their
fuzzies, and I just have one comment about this.  In 1980 my parents and
sister and I got stationed to Europe (my father was in the military).  At
the time we had two cats, and were told that we were going to England and
the cats would have to be quarantined for 6 months.  My mother basically
told my father to find a posting somewhere else because there was no way she
was going to let her cats sit in a cage for 6 months, nor was she going to
give them up.  In the end, we ended up going to Belguim where there was
quarantine.  However, my parents made friends with a couple who lived in
England and had to quarantine their cat and dog for six months.  The animals
were absolutely miserable, and the cat had to be put down because of its
behaviour after it got out.  (They waited a year before trying everything,
but to no avail).  This is simply to say, that yes, sometimes there are
circumstances in life that it is best to give the animal to someone that
would love to have it, and is going to take good care of it.  However, I do
firmly believe that this should only happen in dire circumstances.  I have
spent over $1500.00 on my one cat for surgery 4 years ago, my vet bill for
Louise is close to $500.00 by the time everything is done.  I believe that
these are expenses that are normally incurred in owning a pet.  If you do
not have the resources to pay for certain "accidents, surgeries, etc" that
ARE going to happen no matter what you do or say, then maybe you shouldn't
be owning pets.  They can be just as expensive as children!!  (or other
spouses!!)
 
Well, that was my .034 cents worth (CDN funds!!)
 
To the person that was looking for someone in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, I
live and work in Ottawa (right downtown).  You can send me an email to the
address above, and address it to Marion Houle.  My one fuzzy is just dying
to play with someone now that she won't be able to rough house with Louise
for a while!
 
Take care everyone and once again, thanks immensely for all your support.
 
Marion, Thelma (I have this whole cage to myself - yippee!!!), Louise, - oh
man did I have a high today with all that medication!! - JD and OSCAR -
where is the other pest??)
[Posted in FML issue 2097]