Couch 195: The Galaxy couch

Hugs, Omers. I'm glad your son got a placement but I understand how you could have mixed feelings about him leaving. I'm sorry about your dog (possibly dogs) and about the stigma in your area. You do what you can. How would people know exactly what happened? Would the vet tell them? You could just tell people that your dogs were sick, don't have to give details about the condition and what you did and didn't do.

As for your T, could you talk to him about a reduced rate? Mine has reduced mine a bit because insurance is reimbursing less. When I'd asked him about it months ago because they were doing layoffs at H's company, he said that at one point, he saw a client for $5 a session for a few months because he was in a really bad financial situation. So maybe your T would be willing to accept less? Or have a payment plan? There's no harm in asking... He seems to really care about you, so I imagine he'd be willing to work with you on cost.

Thanks @LonesomeTonight the dogs have heartworm. Likely they had it when I originally rescued them but they tested negative because they had been recently infected. I knew something was off and given where they came from had strong suspicions... but because the first testing had been negative H was reluctant to peruse that as a health issue just on my “gut feeling” that something was wrong. I often have a hard time articulating what I see but my “gut feelings” about animals have over a 90% accuracy... I worked rescue too long and saw too many things too often. We will do the slow kill method for the heartworm and cross our fingers. All the vets around here talk and most of their staff gossip so word gets around fast. Also, when if it becomes time to help them cross the rainbow bridge the vets here will not do it without an untreatable medical condition no matter the cost... you are just a bad person for not having the money to save them... and again, at that point they run the testing, assume you did no treatment (as no vet around me does slow kill so I have to go it on my own) so... it is considered animal neglect which, I believe is now a felony in my area... even though they WILL be getting treated with what WAS considered the best treatment 5-10 years ago before the FDA approved the use in an arsenic based drug for treating heartworm... it is similar to putting a pet through Chemo.
Did cave and call T. Asked if he had any openings tomorrow (he doesn’t see clients Friday’s) and asked him to please call me and at least check in as this seems to be the straw that broke the camels back...
Now to try and pull myself together for work. Freight day so I will more than likely be up front alone even though I need to stay busy more than anything.

Hugs, omers.

How are you feeling, Art?

I think some better today, thanks. Cautiously optimistic but I have to remember to not push myself to do too much.

Not everyone has that kind of money to hand. At the end of the day those people who would judge you have never walked in your shoes, and they can shove their high and mighty attitude.

I would agree with LT about asking your T for a sliding scale if he has one. R charges me £23 less than his evening clients per session.Or perhaps you could consider every other week.

@Omers HUGS! That sounds like an awful lot to deal with. Sending you some love and sprinkles. HUGS Kit

Omers - sorry to hear about the dogs.

I saw a movie trailer and thought you might like it:

VITA AND VIRGINIA- it has Gemma Arterton ()

In the late '90s, I had two dogs treated for heartworm. Neither were technically mine, but they hung out at my house (it was a rural area, so this isn't as strange as it probably sounds), so I treated them. It was impossible to keep them constrained and quiet but they both came through the treatment just fine. I know it can be hard, but try to not jump 15 steps ahead to a possible outcome. I can tell you care about them even if you can't afford the newest treatment protocol.

I'm so sorry to hear about your dogs, Omers. Hundreds of thousands of dogs are euthanized every year in the US because they don't have a home. I am very sad for you and your dogs that you can't afford the latest treatment, but I certainly don't judge you for needing to go with a lower cost option, or think you don't deserve them. There are two fewer dogs who had to be put down because you adopted. And $5,000 - $10,000 is a lot of money - it's not like you're destitute and took the dogs on while not being able to provide for them. If only people who could afford an unexpected 5k expense adopted dogs, I hate to think of how many dogs would miss out on loving homes.

I'm sorry to hear that the vets in your area are so judgemental. C and I always thought we would like to have been vets if we were better at the life sciences. We did think it was probably for the best that we aren't gifted in that area, though, since we can be very judgemental of the way people care for their pets. However, if I were a vet, I would only feel sadness for you and your dogs and frustration that the treatment is so very expensive. It's not like you're just being miserly and choosing the lower cost option because you don't love your dogs. You can't afford it and I believe you also have other animals that you have to consider. I also find it pretty reprehensible that the vets in your area will only euthanize for untreatable medical conditions. What about when an animal is suffering horribly, and there is no guarantee that treatment will work? When we had to euthanize one of my previous dogs, it was because he was in heart failure and the treatments weren't working well. He was suffering immensely, kept having episodes where he couldn't breathe, and seizures. The vet said we could try adjusting the medications, and that was tempting because we loved him so much. But he was being tortured, and we opted to let him go rather than put him through more pain. Sometimes euthanization is the only act of love left you can give to a pet, and I am horrified that there are vets that don't understand that.

Levity for anyone who needs it—though new cat took offense at it:

Power to the little guy!

I've never see that before.

I keep being worried I'm going to be attacked. I don't know if that is GAD or paranoia. Sigh. Kit

I'm less worried about my job. I thought the company that wants to merge with us might want to outsource my position to their location in NY, but the guy from their company who has been around doing stuff said that no, they planned to keep everything as is as far as that was concerned. So, that's good. Whew. And he had me email one of the owners of the new company with some medical insurance information. So it will be good to start developing a relationship with them. HUGS Kit

Hey couchies! Hugs and head-nods all around. I'll be over here in the corner trying to decompress.

@ Jersey 4--'arry and MM are looking for an American nanny! Pays 70,000#, plus a car, and royal digs. It's fate!

That would be quite a feather in the couch's cap!!! We can give recommendations

Earlier there was a thud in the hall outside the door. New cat and I looked at each other questioningly. We crept over to the door and she covered me while I flung it open. Cautiously we peeked out. She took the low ground, I took the high ground. And there it was: the Zojirushi.

Right now it’s sitting in the foyer still in its box intimidating us.

Don’t call ‘Arry “ginger”?

Cake and jam! Cake and jam!

I meant like letters of recommendation, but thats a good one too. Or the little one, baby gingie.

I know I said i was going on a break but this morning I dropped of my letter full of questions and the book I was going to give to my ExT when we terminated to his office. On the way back I voted and our local Greens (environmental conservation party) candidates name was Blackadder I kid you not

I am surprised at the royal commentators always having objections to the modernisation of the royal family.

Bye hugs head nods and pocketriding in advance I will see how long I go. Dropping the letter off seems like the full stop as I have been carrying it i my car since the 5 th of last month.