by Tami Armentrout
I'm writing to share my experiences with my puppy named Daisy.
I adopted a little black doberman mix puppy from the Humane Society on April 8, 2000. She was a very cute little puppy with a good disposition. My three children and husband helped pick her out. We all agreed she was the cutest one there.
We took her to the pet store and bought her food and treats and all the other new puppy things you need, then we brought her home.
Once we got her home, we discovered she was the sweetest puppy we'd ever had. She seemed to bond with me almost instantly. She followed me everywhere I went, and cried when I would leave the room. She always laid on my lap whenever I was sitting. She would follow me to the kitchen and stand at my feet, crying until I'd go back and sit with her. She wasn't happy laying beside my leg. She had to be right in the middle of my lap, which was fine with me because I had already bonded with her as well.
On her third day here, she began to get sick. She was vomiting, had diarrhea, and would not eat. I have never faced this problem before and I didn't know what to do except to call someone who loved animals so much, they made a career of it. Having just moved here, I didn't have a regular vet, so I chose one to call from the yellow pages close to my home.
It was Tuesday morning when I called, Daisy's fourth day here. I don't know who I spoke to on the phone, but she appeared to be very helpful and friendly. I explained Daisy's symptoms to her and she immediately said it sounded like Parvo. I then asked was Parvo something that could be fixed, and she said "yes, if you catch it early enough." She said I should just bring her in and let them check her out. I then asked about their fees and she quoted several different prices for different things to me. I explained to her that I didn't get paid until Friday and could she do some kind of payment plan. She immediately said "NO" and that I should just take her back to the Humane Society clinic.
I called them and they wanted to see her immediately, as they thought Parvo also, when I explained her symptoms. I took her in at 3:45 Tuesday afternoon where they were kind enough to run tests on her free of charge.
She tested positive for Parvo. I was heart-broken.
The vet there informed me that I could either turn her back over to them or I could try to get her better, but with little chance of living and I would have to take her to a vet immediately.
I had no money to take her to the vet immediatly, and she was suffering. She hadn't eaten anything for two days and she was skin and bones. I knew I couldn't keep her alive, or at least without pain, until Friday.
I decided to turn her back over to them, thinking they would try to make her better and adopt her out again. Just wishful thinking I suppose, because deep down I think I knew what they would do.
My husband, three children, Daisy, and myself walked down the road to the drop-off area. My husband took her in and was told it was going to be done right then.
Daisy was put to sleep sometime late that afternoon.
I felt so guilty, like I had abandoned her when she needed me. I cried the rest of the day and most of the night finally falling asleep around 2 am.
I have decided to write this for many reasons, but the most important, being me not able to understand how money can be more important than the life of a sweet little puppy named Daisy.
It is my opinion that Daisy could have possibly lived if vets cared more about animals than money.
I would have gladly paid all vet bills on Friday for just a little help on Tuesday.
I have to wait three months before I can get another puppy for my family, to make sure the Parvo is gone from my house and yard.
I think it is all very sad. Our pets totally depend on us for everything, and what does one do for their sick or injured pets when they don't have the money "up front"?
Things with Daisy could have totally gone the other way with just a little compassion.