pet care debt any advice would be appreciated

rachelhen

couldn't we do a thing on here os that many small contributions would pay off the bill? I would be willing, what about setting up a justgiving page to pay the bill? maybe....
put a pic of the cat and a little bit about what's happened?
O yes and also what about if it exceeds the amount then contirbute it to an animal charity?

traybro

Yes, when i spoke with the practice manager, I did say that i felt it was unfair that I had been given such a high bill and that nothing was mentioned to me about the cost beforehand.
The exact words of the vet was that it was out of hours which would incur a charge and that the xray would be £75, thats all that was mentioned cost wise.After the x-ray he said that there was 2 choices, 1) to out her to sleep 2) to give her hysterectomy , remove the litter which had caused the poisoning and to give her injections for the flu , which had caused the kittens to die. I asked the chances of survival and he said it was 50/50 so I agreed to the procedure. He asked if I would take responsibilty for her afterwards and would I be able to house her or find her an home and I said that I would do. Nothing was mentioned about how much it was going to cost, only when I went to collect her did the vet ask the receptionist to print the bill.

I am naive because i know nothing about vets. In that situation I saw a cat who was in need of help that I couldn't give, tbh I didn't even think about the cost or where I should take her, she was bleeding alot and all i thought about was to get her to the vet as quickly as possible.

If he had have told me I would have been looking at £1100+ and I had told him that I didn't have that type of money then what would have happened? I am guessing he would have put her to sleep?

Had she have been my cat then I would have taken out pet insurance and maybe the polish neighbours did have it, I don't know. I can't have pets because of my husband's allergy so it's never been an issue as pet insurance.

I didn't even know she was pregnant, I thought that she was overweight. She never allowed me to get close to her until she was poorly. my neighbours must have moved back to Poland and left her outdoors, knowing that she was pregnant It really sickens me.

traybro

Oh rachelhen that's really really kind of you but I couldn't accept donations from people on here. You're all money savers like myself That was alovely thought from you thankyou anyway
It's my own naivety. It's me that's stupid.
I wrote this thread in a hope that someone may know of a way I could debate this bill with the vets. I am not very good with arguing.
The room was full with sick animals and their owners, the receptionist was looking down her nose at me when she gave me the 5 tins of cat food, and the practice manager basically said that I had no choice but to pay the bill. I was distraught and embarrased do I gave them my credit card and made a quick exit.

traybro

If anyone can tell me if it is normal of the practice to have billed me seperately for the rubber gloves and suturing (surplus to the operation) , that would be a great help!

Fridaycat

traybro wrote: »

If anyone can tell me if it is normal of the practice to have billed me seperately for the rubber gloves and suturing (surplus to the operation) , that would be a great help!

I've been through three or four operations with various of my cats (more if you include neutering) and I've never known these items to be charged for separately, though I am sure each vet works differently, so dont take that as an indication of you being over-charged.

I hope you find a way to resolve this, you have done a wonderful thing for a little life and your concern for another creature is commendable

Pollycat

I'm really sorry to hear you've been saddled with a huge vet bill for an act of kindness to a sick animal.

I think you've had a few good suggestions, including approaching your local newspaper.

Also, try the local RSPCA and local Cat Protection group.

If the answer from them is no, maybe mention that you're going to the local paper and without saying so in as many words, hint that if they were to help you fund this bill there may be be positive publicity in it for them.

I've just looked at the PDSA & Blue Cross websites and to start with you need to be on means-tested benefits or in receipt of Council Tax Benefit/housing benefit so may not even be worth calling them.

If it were me and I'd saved the life of this cat (at no small expense), I'd be working on my OH to revise his opinion.
I'd give the cat a name ('Lucky' sounds pretty appropriate to me ) and keep referring to her by name so she's not just a sick animal laid in a corner for the short term.

I really do hope this works out OK for you.

And, please, please do come back and let us know what happens.

RachyD_3

spookylukey wrote: »

How about asking your local paper to run an article on how you, as a good samartitan, have been left with a huge bill and appealing for donations (direct to the vet) to help pay for her care.

Now this is a super idea that could potentially help you out a lot! Radio stations too. It gives the paper the chance to run an article on people abandoning pets to move/go on holiday and include you plus an appeal for help. I'd try every local paper you can including the free ones and call up the local radio stations. I'd write a letter then follow it up with a phone call a week later.

I don't think questioning the itemised bill is going to get you anywhere but I'll be suprised if they don't reduce the bill for you. The animal wasn't yours so the vet shouldn't have assumed that you knew how much these things were likely to cost. This is very bad practice and cause for complaint in my opinion. I have spent PLENTY of time working at numerous vets and each practice I've worked at will not carry out an expensive procedure without first giving the client an estimate. I'm horrifiied this was allowed to happen. IME it's not uncommon for a vet to ask a nurse to phone an owner half way through a procedure if the cost is mounting up, in order to check that they're happy for them to continue. Speak to the practice manager/senior partner and see what they have to say. Be firm, tell them you don't have pets, you had no idea of the costs involved and (I'm presuming) that you weren't offered an estimate. In a difficult situation like this we don't think straight (i.e. ask for an estimate ourselves), vets are generally very skilled at dealing with people in these situations, they occur frequently and an estimate should have been given. You could have a look at this article on the British Veterinary Association website http://www.bva.co.uk/1139.aspx Hth and good luck, you're a very, very nice person.

thegirlintheattic

Pollycat wrote: »

I'm really sorry to hear you've been saddled with a huge vet bill for an act of kindness to a sick animal.

I think you've had a few good suggestions, including approaching your local newspaper.

Also, try the local RSPCA and local Cat Protection group.

If the answer from them is no, maybe mention that you're going to the local paper and without saying so in as many words, hint that if they were to help you fund this bill there may be be positive publicity in it for them.

I've just looked at the PDSA & Blue Cross websites and to start with you need to be on means-tested benefits or in receipt of Council Tax Benefit/housing benefit so may not even be worth calling them.

If it were me and I'd saved the life of this cat (at no small expense), I'd be working on my OH to revise his opinion.
I'd give the cat a name ('Lucky' sounds pretty appropriate to me ) and keep referring to her by name so she's not just a sick animal laid in a corner for the short term.

I really do hope this works out OK for you.

And, please, please do come back and let us know what happens.

It is very unlikely charities like Cats Protection or the RSPCA are going to help pay the vet bill, they are concerned about animal welfare not the OP's credit card. They will probably let you put up a poster about a fund though.

Animal charities will often pay or help with vets bills IF you use them as a vet and are in need. Consider this next time you pick up an animal OP.

hethmar

Im so sorry to hear that your kindness has got you into this debt. I dont know what to suggest really as if you have paid the cost then I dont think an animal charity would take it on.

If you are ok with local newspapers printing the story, then, yes go ahead and contact them - may be you will find a cat rescue who will take the cat too and pay for the costs.


Bless you for having a heart xxx

antw23uk

You wont find an animal charity willing to take this one to be honest so unless you can negotiate with the vets your going to have to pay it off. Sorry if that sounds harsh.

I would be inclined to speak to the vets again, explain your situation and if you dont get any reduction in the bill go to your local news paper and local radio station for help.

Personally i would print posters and make a big board and sit outside the vets telling anyone and everyone walking past/ visiting just what rip off merchants they are. I would aslo make a Face Book page on them and get going with a name and shame campaign :T