RE: I need ideas on best brand of carrier for feral

[MacKenzie, Kerry N.]

Title: Message

What a sad situation, Patti. People and vets and clinic owners--greedy businessmen first and foremost--who just don't care about the animals in their supposed care. The female vet must have had a very difficult time too, working for such a horrible man. And to be reprimanded for refusing to euthanize a healthy animal...it's heartbreaking. I'm thinking that many vets--especially those who own clinics--probably became vets not just because of the money, but also because they're never going to have to pay huge sums out if an animal in their care dies through negligence, and they don't have to worry about their patients ever complaining. I'm not surprised you feel burnt out after 20 years of seeing suffering animals. One petsitter I know who used to be a technician said she was burnt out after 3 years. I don't think I would be able to handle it for 1 year. My admiration for you and everyone else -- I know there are many on the list -- who see so much animal suffering because of their compassionate nature knows no bounds. It's really opened my eyes hearing about the experiences of people like yourself. Thanks for sharing and for doing so much for animals. Kerry     -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 12:17 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: I need ideas on best brand of carrier for feral Kerry, This was one of the two 24 hour emergency clinics in the outskirts of Baltimore.  A very high volume place since they draw in a lot of patients from Pa.  The 24 hour clinic in Pa. is in Northern part of county, so going to Md. is quicker. I truthfully don't know the answer about how/why they can do this. I just know in the emergency clinic, the "rules" were written in black and white. The founder of the clinic is a very stern man, and I never saw any of the other vets go up against his policies.(They actually had a dog in their freezer for 6 months because owner did not have money for cremation! Sent it to collections, and meanwhile this poor animal just lays in the bottom of the freezer!) I have to say, at the other vets I worked for there was one vet who was very compassionate, and she did refuse to euthanize healthy animals. It was with her help I was able to smuggle the 2 Maine Coone boys out... But since the owner vet wanted to due the necropsy on the little Felv+ girl, we knew we couldn't smuggle her out. I know this vet struggled with things that went on there, and had been "called" up on situations where if she was "on call" vet and there was a animal presented for euthanasia for no other reason than convenience, she would defer the client to one of the other vets. And she was the only vet there that would pursue cruelty charges when animals were presented in severe cases of neglect. She sat on the floor one night, holding and comforting an old dog who was loaded with maggots coming out of every orifice in his body....... All because he had wounds that were left unattended & the owner brought him in when she noticed the "smell". And the owners had "dropped" him off & said they'd check back in morning. This poor dog was obviously suffering and in a lot of pain. We bathed him, fed him and tried to contact the owners, to no avail. So she held him for the longest time and then eased his suffering. Which is a BIG NO! w/out owners consent. But she was so angry at what this dog had endured she did not want him to suffer anymore. And she did leave a scathing message on their answering machine. And did report them for abuse/neglect. I hope for her sake she is practicing at a different facility. She was so kind. And she always appreciated when I would sit and hold the cats and dogs that were just lingering. I was also the only one who would handle the FIV or Felv cats..... And the giant African tortoise, he weighed almost as much as me. I have seen alot. Probably too much. And it has taken its' toll, I am burnt out. I'm not as active as I had been over the last 20 years or so, but I still do whatever I can, when I can. Sometimes with me I feel compassion is a curse. But I know I am blessed to be a compassionate being. It just takes its toll...... Patti This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.