draggonlaady

A full moon story! Oh fun...

So I'd just been out to Springdale to see to one of Sweet But Crazy's (you remember here from the probably-didn't-drink-antifreeze incident?) cows. In the midst of the chocolate cake she offered me (hey, she's nice!), I got called back into town to look at a colicky horse... so 40 minutes of fast-as-is-safe-on-dirt-road-in-the-dark-while-watching-for-deer driving later, I get to the clinic and am looking at the horse. That's all fine and not what the story's about, but it helps explain why I was in a weird mood when I answered the phone at 11:00 and had the following conversation (while still working on the horse):

First person is a young-sounding woman. a young, DRUNK-sounding woman. She sorta stutters out something about a dog that got hit by a car, but can't answer any questions, then passes the phone over to a young-sounding man.

I just ran over my puppy and he's kinda just laying around and not walking much, what should I do?

You should probably bring him to the clinic.

How much is that going to cost? (oh goody! one of those!)

Brief list of "certain" costs and some "probable" and "possible" costs.

Well, I don't think I can afford that--is there anything I can do here? what do you think's wrong with him?

(WHAT DO I THINK IS WRONG WITH HIM?! YOU RAN HIM OVER YOU DUMBASS!) Well, without looking at the dog, I really can't tell you what's wrong with him. Could be anything from bruised and scared to broken bones, ruptured spleen, internal bleeding. Won't be able to get more specific unless you bring the dog to me.

Well, I think he's pretty sore--can I give him anything to make him more comfortable? Cuz I don't even have enough for the emergency fee, let alone x-rays and stuff. Could I maybe make payments?

Do you have a credit card? we take credit cards. And I can hold a post-dated check. Anybody you could borrow money from? Parents? friends? Cousins? Pawn your TV?

No, I don't have a credit card or a checking account. I don't think my parents would loan me money for this... (oh, that's a good sign. your fucking parents won't loan you money and you think I'M gonna take payments from you?!)

Well, then, I guess you can watch the dog and see what happens. Give it an asprin. Only aspirin, no Tylenol or Advil or Aleve. But other than that, I really can't tell you much.

Ok. Well, I'll see if I can borrow some money. Thanks.

About 5 minutes later, the phone rings again.... same guy.

Puppy's kind of whining and won't stand up. What do you think's wrong with him?

(This again? are you so drunk you've forgotten that you already talked to me???) Repeat speil about don't know, can't see dog. Want help? Bring the dog in. I'm already at the clinic, so do it now if you're gonna.

Noooo....I don't think I can afford that...
Well, you said I could give him an aspirin, can I give him a non-aspirin?

(AGAIN WITH THE PAYING ATTENTION!) No, you can give it an aspirin. one, single, buffered, plain aspirin. No Tylenol, advil, aleve, acetaminophen, ibuprophen, exedrin, or any other human pain-killer. Just aspirin.

Oh. Ok. Bye then.


SOOO frustrating to deal with this--is it just me or do other people think that if you can't afford to take care of your pets you shouldn't be bringing them home? Are my priorities so skewed? I managed to get vet care for all my critters when I was a po' broke college student with a $400/month job. Sometimes it meant not eating real food for a while, but what's more important?