2009
so, i have been radio-silent for quite some time now.. only really posting comments or the rare once (maybe twice) yearly entry.
few reasons for this including lack of energy. things have been quite hectic over these last couple of years (as they have ben with most people). i've been conserving energy (emotional and physical), and posting to lj just fell to the side.
i have been keeping up with my lj crew by reading entries. glad to see that 2008 wrapped up with at last some amount of resolve and upswing.
work has been taxing, to say the least. i've been on daytime emergency for the last 5 weeks. the holidays are generally a rough time, but especially during economic struggles. emergency care has increased significantly. people are letting things go with their animals way longer than normal, due to not having the funds to take care of things as soon as they occur. they get to me days to weeks beyond any resonable amount of care and require extensive diagnostics and treatment (and money) to care for. so that, coupled with animals who have been sick for most of the year- i have been doing a lot of euthanasias as well (at least 2-3 or more per day for the last 3 weeks).
needless to say, it takes a toll on you. as you have read through jasmine's lj entries, our father has not had the best year concerning his health. i have take 2 weeks off (starting yesterday) as personal leave to go home and spend some time with my family.
on friday (this last friday) the nurses in the surgical service came to me and asked for my help in stopping the euthanasia of a little 5 month old pomeranian who was hit by a car. the owner was 70 years old and had been given the dog by his son because his son was having another baby with his family and basically didn't want to have to take care of the two. mind you, the old man was on a fixed income and could barely even keep up with the puppy. the puppy had gotten out of the house and was hit. a neighbor found the dog in shock in the street. the old man didn't even know the dog got out. anyway, he was going to euthanize because he could't afford the surgery. luxated hip on one side and broken pelvis in 3 places on the other. being sick of "killing" things, i knew i could at least do something for this pup- young, otherwise health. made a few calls and got a rescue organization to pay for the surgery and foster him until he could be adopted out. the owner had already signed the euthanasia form and left the hospital (he didn't want to be present for it), but we called when i received confirmation and explained what we could offer as an alternative. the owner authorized the surrender of the dog to us and everyone was happy.... the son of the old man got wind of what was going on late that night and started to call the hospital saying he wanted the dog and at least wanted to bring his son by and say goodbye. i must say (even though i was not involved with things at this point- i had only gotten the dog a stay of life) i was pissed at the son. now he wants to step up. makes you wonder what goes on in that family that the father couldn't tell his son through all of this what was going on with the dog. the pupy had presented to us the night before and he signed the euth form in the late afternoon the next day. for all intent, the dog was euthanized to them. who the fuck was he to pull some sympathy for them card?!? just pissed.
anyway, the puppy got the surgery and all went well. the surgery was done on a saturday with donated serviced by the nurses. it was a good feeling to have been able to positively impact a young dogs life by giving him a chance, especially after being surrounded by soo much illness.
late that night, while i was finishing up my charts, a 3 month old pit bull puppy came in. it was hit by a car and the owners had absolutely no money. in fact they came with like 6-7 people and no one had a dime or a credit card or a check or even credit to apply for assistance. the owner was pissed at the puppy- a little puppy without a collar or a leash or a name or a fucking vaccine to his name. mad at the puppy for getting out into the street- like he wanted to get hit. the owner (and the entourage) couldn't even pay for the exam fee. the puppy had obviously broken his arm and had bunch of road rash over his head and arms as well. they're yelling at the front staff, they're demanding free care.. it was a mess. the owners ended up calling animal care and control saying they'd rather have the animal be euthanized. after they signed the surrender form that the acc officer handed them, i called another rescue organization. the puppy received care from a hospital contracted with the acc. he received the surgery to correct his shattered elbow yesterday at our hospital. he will be fostered by a loving family until he has finished healing, then adopted out.
i'm hoping that 2009 is a year of hope and good things.
UPDATE- the little puppy (seen above) was adopted by one of our technicians today... which is great because his elbow was broken in a few places, he will need ongoing joint supportive care to keep any development of arthritis to a minimum. ya!
few reasons for this including lack of energy. things have been quite hectic over these last couple of years (as they have ben with most people). i've been conserving energy (emotional and physical), and posting to lj just fell to the side.
i have been keeping up with my lj crew by reading entries. glad to see that 2008 wrapped up with at last some amount of resolve and upswing.
work has been taxing, to say the least. i've been on daytime emergency for the last 5 weeks. the holidays are generally a rough time, but especially during economic struggles. emergency care has increased significantly. people are letting things go with their animals way longer than normal, due to not having the funds to take care of things as soon as they occur. they get to me days to weeks beyond any resonable amount of care and require extensive diagnostics and treatment (and money) to care for. so that, coupled with animals who have been sick for most of the year- i have been doing a lot of euthanasias as well (at least 2-3 or more per day for the last 3 weeks).
needless to say, it takes a toll on you. as you have read through jasmine's lj entries, our father has not had the best year concerning his health. i have take 2 weeks off (starting yesterday) as personal leave to go home and spend some time with my family.
on friday (this last friday) the nurses in the surgical service came to me and asked for my help in stopping the euthanasia of a little 5 month old pomeranian who was hit by a car. the owner was 70 years old and had been given the dog by his son because his son was having another baby with his family and basically didn't want to have to take care of the two. mind you, the old man was on a fixed income and could barely even keep up with the puppy. the puppy had gotten out of the house and was hit. a neighbor found the dog in shock in the street. the old man didn't even know the dog got out. anyway, he was going to euthanize because he could't afford the surgery. luxated hip on one side and broken pelvis in 3 places on the other. being sick of "killing" things, i knew i could at least do something for this pup- young, otherwise health. made a few calls and got a rescue organization to pay for the surgery and foster him until he could be adopted out. the owner had already signed the euthanasia form and left the hospital (he didn't want to be present for it), but we called when i received confirmation and explained what we could offer as an alternative. the owner authorized the surrender of the dog to us and everyone was happy.... the son of the old man got wind of what was going on late that night and started to call the hospital saying he wanted the dog and at least wanted to bring his son by and say goodbye. i must say (even though i was not involved with things at this point- i had only gotten the dog a stay of life) i was pissed at the son. now he wants to step up. makes you wonder what goes on in that family that the father couldn't tell his son through all of this what was going on with the dog. the pupy had presented to us the night before and he signed the euth form in the late afternoon the next day. for all intent, the dog was euthanized to them. who the fuck was he to pull some sympathy for them card?!? just pissed.
anyway, the puppy got the surgery and all went well. the surgery was done on a saturday with donated serviced by the nurses. it was a good feeling to have been able to positively impact a young dogs life by giving him a chance, especially after being surrounded by soo much illness.
late that night, while i was finishing up my charts, a 3 month old pit bull puppy came in. it was hit by a car and the owners had absolutely no money. in fact they came with like 6-7 people and no one had a dime or a credit card or a check or even credit to apply for assistance. the owner was pissed at the puppy- a little puppy without a collar or a leash or a name or a fucking vaccine to his name. mad at the puppy for getting out into the street- like he wanted to get hit. the owner (and the entourage) couldn't even pay for the exam fee. the puppy had obviously broken his arm and had bunch of road rash over his head and arms as well. they're yelling at the front staff, they're demanding free care.. it was a mess. the owners ended up calling animal care and control saying they'd rather have the animal be euthanized. after they signed the surrender form that the acc officer handed them, i called another rescue organization. the puppy received care from a hospital contracted with the acc. he received the surgery to correct his shattered elbow yesterday at our hospital. he will be fostered by a loving family until he has finished healing, then adopted out.
i'm hoping that 2009 is a year of hope and good things.
UPDATE- the little puppy (seen above) was adopted by one of our technicians today... which is great because his elbow was broken in a few places, he will need ongoing joint supportive care to keep any development of arthritis to a minimum. ya!