This is in response to Angela Sharp's letter in the Oct. 10 mailbox. All veterinarians love pets. They wouldn't be in the profession if they didn't. Believe me, having various body excrements deposited on you daily isn't exactly a glamour job.
What they don't love is being last on most peoples' "to pay" list. If I had a dime for the amount of times I have heard, "Can we make payments?" in the 15 years I have worked in this field, I would be a rich woman. Do we ask the grocery store if we can make payments on our food? Restaurants? Motel proprietors? Hairdressers?
While I feel for Ms. Sharp losing her kitten, and she may indeed have been one of the few who actually paid, I says this. The kitten should not have been in a situation where a car could hit it in the first place. If someone chooses to take on the responsibility of a pet, they should be able to afford it. Look into the costs of vet care before you get a pet. Be responsible for that pet, and if you can't afford it, be prepared to deal with the consequences.
Veterinarians are not bankers, and they deserve to make a living. I have seen vets go above and beyond the call of "creative financing" to help people out and they get the shaft most of the time. My general response to someone who asks if they can make payments is to ask if they have anyone who could loan them the money. Most of the time they don't. If they don't have friends or family who will loan them the money, why should a perfect stranger?
JULIE HYDRO
Dayton
