Bucky

Today, I had to take my dog, Bucky to the vet. It was supposed to be routine, just a heartworm test and rabies vaccine. However, when I got there, I discovered that he needed 2 other vaccines (which I didn't have the money for--my dad had only given me money for the previous 2 items mentioned). I was very upset because then I ended up putting the extra on my credit card, which already has a $70 visit to Sam's on it, a $134 eye exam, and will have my contact lenses on it, too.

My appointment was at 10:00 am, which I was hoping was early enough for them not to get too far behind. However, they misplaced my chart and called everyone in but me. I wasn't too upset. Mistakes happen and they got me in as soon as I drew their attention to it. During his exam, though, the vet discovered that Bucky has a heart murmur. It's still in the early stages, she said, but he will require medication. I know this is one of those things that will progress and continue to get worse, but I'm hoping he has, at least, 3 years left, preferably more.

When I came back out into the waiting room, I chatted for a while with a woman a few years older than I who had a dog (Jack Russell terrier) with similar behavioral characteristics to Bucky. She had gotten a behavioral specialist (a "dog whisperer") to help her, but I said I couldn't afford that and explained why. She said she had medical expenses, too, and said she didn't have a lot of money either, but she was an animal lover and was worried about her dog because he'd somehow lost a toenail and was in pain. She just couldn't stand seeing him like that, so brought him to the vet anyway. I understood what she was saying, too, because I don't have children and Bucky is the only thing that keeps me going. If anything happened to him, I just couldn't stand it.

When I went to check out, I was dismayed to find out how high the bill was, then the woman I'd been chatting to said to put $20 of the bill onto her credit card. Of course, I couldn't allow her to do that, but she insisted. She said she had cancer and there was no cure, but she wanted to help me because she knew what it was like to have medical bills and not know how to pay for your pet's medications. I tried not to cry. It was so sweet of her to think of others when she had other things to be concerned with, like her own health. But she seemed to be fine and seemed like she was past being concerned about it and wanted to think of others instead. Really, I wish there was something I could do in return. She deserves to live a long and healthy life. Life can certainly be unkind to some of the nicest people. I wish I'd learned her name before she got called into the examining room. I just can't say enough how sweet that was of her. I know she'd have paid more if she could afford it.