Well, they say the mind is the first thing to go.... I sure showed it when I forgot half of what I was going to say and then just remembered it this morning. Sigh. Must remember to........what was it I need remember..... Please tell me my brain is failing again and that I didn't read or process what I read correctly. Was there actually someone out there arrogant and presumptive enough to try their own "at-home" version of veterinary medicine? That brings chills to my very soul. All I could recall was the stories of the Civil War and the Doctors having to remove limbs with, well, archaic tools (the hand saw, for example) and five people or so holding the poor bugger down until he mercifully passed out. I don't care if he was given a liberal dose of whiskey first. The Doctors then did what they could with what was available during an horrendous time in our history. But this is 2005...... I guess I am just naive enough to think that other people care about these little ones pain. Yes, Veterinary costs are high. The vets earn every penny, in my opinion. I won't regurgitate what we all already know about the high cost of their education and their debt load upon completion of that education. Pet medical insurance is just starting to become a little more popular and affordable. How many of us actually have it though? I would love to, but I don't. My bad. I'll tell you what though. I don't mind buying my clothes on eBay and clearance sales to make sure that my "revolving vet bill" to Dr. Joe is paid every month. I chose to take on the responsibility for these animals. I damn well have no intention of letting them down. I am an addict to "Emergency Vets." That doesn't mean I say "Hey, I've watched that done. I can do it...." I'm also addicted to "Law & Order." I recently was wrongly accused of a fairly minor traffic infraction. I decided to fight it because I DIDN'T DO IT! (Bad enough when you are guilty...but when your not, it's the principle of the thing.....) So I HIRED AN ATTORNEY! I watched my Grandfather all my early life repair cars. I've driven so many POS vehicles in my life that I can pretty much tell a good bit of the time by the sound it makes what the heck is wrong with it. I don't try to fix it. I take it to a MECHANIC (until I got the Benz, it was to "he-who-looks-he-will-be-my-son-in-law-whether-or-not-I-like-it" if he was speaking to me at the time.......) Point I guess I'm trying to make, folks, in this long winded foray up on my soapbox again is this. Find a vet who will take payments. If not, sells something on eBay. Eat macaroni and cheese or ramen noodles (and no, I'm not saying put your two legged children through that if you have them.....but I think you get my drift......). Try to get help somewhere. You could even ask HERE. I've noticed genuine requests are usually met with sympathy and kindness by the lasted FML Population. This has reminded me to get my act in gear and get a very good idea Margie came up with up and available in more than prototype form for us. We plan to donate part of the proceeds to the shelter fund and to Dr. Joe here for "ferret owners who are in need." I don't have a lot. But I was brought but to share what I do have. God Bless the person that took poor baby in and got him proper care. You are an angel. [Posted in FML issue 4823]