Reply to Terri Riba's Post: First, I was really stunned to see that you had even received my question b/c I didn't even think I'd sent it; I stopped when I went to find my wallet to enter the credit card info and realized it's with Jim @ work. That is so incredible of you to respond regardless, and if I can STILL make a donation, if there's a way besides asking a question, I'll give more than the $30, if there's a way to select that too.

Cows? No. And no, it wasn't flea shampoo. It was WORSE. The poor thing already is getting steroids for flea allergies; a vet tech told my dad for Bo's skin to use the detergent Dawn b/c apparently that's what's used to bathe birds caught in oil slicks. I have looked up the chemical make-up of DISH SOAP (which my dad had, thinking he was being helpful, replaced in BO's shampoo bottle. Different shades, but both blue...)and the alkalis and acids alone are making me sick to my stomach. This poor cat. I am so angry I can barely deal with it; my last cat, at fifteen, we took in for diabetes and the vet kept telling me the treatment was "so expensive" and "rarely worked" and in spite of 45 minutes of us arguing w/ her that we didn't CARE, she told us it would be "cruel" to "put her through what maintainng her diabetes would take" and told us we would be "keeping her alive for the wrong reasons (ourselves)" and all the testing and shots would be an ordeal for her. I have since learned many diabetic cats are, obviously, successfully treated. These people clearly don't feel like dealing with things. They wouldn't even give Moe a sedative before they euthanized her; the vet gave me the options of having them dispose of the body of us disposing of it. On the form we were to check, we saw she had neglected to mention the option "private cremation" which was where you actually (pay more, but animals can be like your kids...)get to keep their urn. We asked for this,the vet rolled her eyes and said, "Well, it'll take longer then." Now they've told us to wash an already allergic kitten with dish detergent, and won't call back when the poor animal suffers the result of their advice and/or action. Bo is STILL asleep; I'm still waking him every thirty minutes, and I can get him interested in swatting at something but he's clearly too tired to really mess with it. He's breathing the same, except when I wake him and stand him up he deliberately opens and closes his mouth and if I weren't SURE he's been breathing I'd really say he was gasping for air. Can I help him? This is CRAZY.

And again, I can't believe you answered. I apologize for the length of my reply. If you know, do let me know if and how I can contribute "post-question." THANK YOU.

Reply to Terri Riba's Post: I emailed customer service telling them what you did and that I would give way more than they've requested b/c of what you've done. I just need him to get home first; I really AM sorry about that...of COURSE I will "accept" the answer as soon as I'm able. I really can't believe the lengths you've gone to.

And yes, I'm sure he sallowed water, and probably dish detergent too...I do everything to keep him swallowing water as minimal as possible, but he is a screamer with very true physical determination to get away from me so I know there has to be some water getting in his howling mouth.
He's normally a normal kitten--he sleeps for awhile, but generally he's running around going bananas with 100% enthusiasm. Now, he's STILL sleeping.

Reply to Terri Riba's Post: No...I haven't been able to read it(your answer) I DID get a blank email from you, so I suspected you'd tried to respond. Nonetheless I am going to be making my "deposit" to "Accept" your answer today and am working on figuring out who to write about what you've done to help. Hopefully then (after I've paid) I CAN read it, b/c Bo is now at our vet's on IV's and all kinds of things. I'd really like to know what you had written before we got to that point. They're not charging us b/c the vet tech admitted she recommended the Dawn, and the owner (an older, super experienced vet came in to take care of him). We have pet insurance, but the doctor won't accept anything and he is doing a LOT of work. The MIA on-call vet didn't respond because he was "at the movies." I don't know how the owner's handling that, but after hearing about Moe's questionable euthanizing, the AWOL on-call, and the Dawn recommendation, he said he's going to "stick around awhile" until he's sure the office is running "professionally again." (He owns several throughout the state). So I will be paying $30 within the next few hours; still no one's told me if there's a way to pay more..?

Reply to Terri Riba's Post: Ms. Riba,

You are an incredible vet but a more incredible person. Jim said it's too bad we can't fly you here and make you our personal vet! I wish I'd been able to read your response before we got too afraid and took him to the hospital. It's just that, there is NO EXCUSE for someone who owns a pet, and is therefore completely responsible for that pet, to sit around and do nothing as the helpless creature--totally reliant on you--lays there and suffers. If you can't afford to aid your animal when it's hurt or sick, wait until you can before bringing in a pet. They are little LIVES; they have emotions, they feel loved, safe, scared, pain...

Because the on-call vet was not responding, you made it possible for me to give aid to Bo. I know animals know when you're trying to help them, and I think the care helps them "hang on" if they're critically sick. You also helped keep me calm, which I'm sure helped my kitten.

I am accepting your answer now. However, can we send you a personal check additionally? I ask because your services went above and beyond what anyone could expect, and that was not knowing if I would ever even end up paying. There are few people left in this world like that, and when you find them, it's important to do all you can to show your gratitude so they don't feel taken for granted and become one more exceptional person who burns out or gives up. So if we can pay you what we feel you ACTUALLY deserve, privately, please send me a private email at my address or call me at home (207)872-6230 or on my cell (207)902-0711 or HIS cell (207)902-0708. Thank you so, indescribably much.

Reply to Terri Riba's Post: I have again emailed customer service about what you did--actually, the words in your last reply were misdirected--the vet said YOU probably saved his life. I wanted customer service to know that.
I just need to make sure he's already sent in last month's credit card payment and then will accept (I just finally figured out you can contribute additionally and I'm ridiculously obsessive about things like financial responsibility so in about an hour I'll be "accepting" and sending a bit more. I do hope it really goes directly to you).

I have been telling all of my friends (just about all of them have pets) about you and this service. They were all amazed. I told them to ask for you if they ever have to write and to ONLY choose the $30 option.

Once again, I ask, besides customer service, is there a place I can write about what you've done (some sort of American Veterinary Association or something?)? Your work SHOULD be known; it SHOULD be acknowledged.

Julie
(Customer (name blocked for privacy))