My Vet Bill

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9 yrs ago

I am on a disability pension. I qualify for public housing, but even classed as "high Need" I was told I will probably die of old age (i'm only 59!) before I get a place. So i pay $560 out of my $930 pension for private rent. I live alone so have to live somewhere safe, and have a dog (who keeps me semi-sane) so that limits my choices. I can pay ONE bill per fortnight. This week it was the vet bill, which leaves me with 10c to last till next Monday.

Anyway the point - the vet told me today that my dog Chubba HAS to have surgery on his totally torn cruciate ligament or i risk him not walking. The other back leg was merely torn slightly and a 6month diet of sardines has hardened it so he can walk on it.

The surgery is $1300 (the vet will give me a dicount because i am a pensioner) Does anyone have any ideas how i can get the $1100??

I have probably only 3 weeks to do this. I already have a loan from Centrelink to pay for just 6 months on my car rego. when that is paid off it will be time to start again.

I have been looking for work for 10 years with various agencies; but because of my brain injury i am only physically and mentally able to work for 4 hours twice a week. I was a Nuclear Medicine technologist before I injured both my knee and had a ruptured aneurysm which didn't kill me but required brain surgery to repair it. Because I had private health insurance I was out of pocket $12,000 of the total $36,000 bill in just the first year. Since then I have used all of my savings just to live on.

Please can anyone suggest where i can get help???

thank you - Deborah (and Chubba the Psych dog)

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52 comments

"Debs. are you actually looking for dog lovers and generous people, to start a fund to help you pay for your dog's surgery? I guess many Senior people have pets and struggling to care for them like you. Of course you can always try, and ask, as who knows."

Phyll was right from the very beg ginning ....

Abby

9 yrs ago

Pete

Debs has come into a difficult situation and needs help - end of story

And yes if there is dog lovers and generous people out there then why not ask for their assistance. Debs would not be asking for help if she was coping.

I actually put up the donation site and not Debs.

bookwyrm

9 yrs ago

Good for you, Abby, for helping Debs. It‘s nice to know there are kind and caring people out there. Glad it all worked for you, Debs. Good luck, Chubba!

Abby

9 yrs ago

Wonder how Chubba is getting along ?

https://www.mycause.com.au/search

Doesn't Deb keep in touch with you Abby after all you put up the donation site.

debs

9 yrs ago

Sorry Abby,

Did you put up a website as well Abby??What was it??

Gen's was on https://www.mycause.com.au/page/82246/chubbaslegsurgery

I thought i had posted on here as well as facebook which is where my friend Gen put the website link.

I couldn't figure out how to put an AFTER photo on here for you to see. Brain doesn't work too well anymore (you'd never know I used to be a Nuclear Medicine Tech!!)

Any way the last photo on the my cause website above is the day after. The Vet is very happy and Chubba now uses 3 or 4 legs when walking in the park - he is sooo happy to be back with his mates - doggy and human

xx Deb and Chubba

Abby

9 yrs ago

Pete

I only put up the link for the site for Debs on this Forum so that others could find it .

Debs :)

I am so glad to hear that the surgery was successful and that Chubba can once again walk on his legs.

My vet bill is ZERO

ny dog Zilch died a few teRs ago

Abby

9 yrs ago

Yes we all shed a few tears when our loyal companion departs

I like to keep something from my past departed pets. I have them skinned and formed into a mat ..

Great idea Pete

Gives the house a rustic look, and you have somewhere to wipe your shoes

Amazing the amount people pay on vet bills but object to contributing to their own GP and expect the taxpayer to pay the whole bill.

Sometimes people never "keep in touch" once their emergency is over sadly. Hope the little dog is doing well, and everyone's pets who are not so well feeling better soon.

We paid one bill of over $1,000 not long ago for our two cats teeth, but a lot more than that when we first got them, as they were very sick and the Vet. o.k. to put them both down :( :( 8 years along and they are still with us. Love em to bits.

Sandi (SA)

9 yrs ago

Yes Phyl,

It is very expensive. We recently spent the same amount on Jasper, but he's worth it.

I still have the ashes of my last dog in a small blue urn and the kids know that he is to come with me when I die. As much as I love Jasper, my last dog was the apple of my eye, much like your cats.

Sometimes think of getting insurance for Jasper, but then think that maybe if I put the same amount away each week it would work out to about the same. Not cheap to insure them.

You always have to look around at Vets too as some charge exhorbitant prices. It's always cheaper if you can go to a country Vet. Pity I almost had a Vet in the Family last year.

Foxy

9 yrs ago

.... my son took out Medibank Pet Insurance when he got his long-haired German Shep. puppy.....puppy was then diagnosed at 10 months old with a particular type of bone deficiency in one of his front legs - started limping - had to have an op. to correct it - Op. cost $2600 ........Medibank Pet paid $2100 ! .....leaving a balance of $500 for my son to pay - he was so glad he took it out!!.....all's well that ends well - puppy is like "new" and walks beautifully - :-)

If you can afford it - Pet Ins. is possibly the way to go ......

So true Sandi. our animals are part of the family so looking after their needs is expensive but necessary. You certainly did love your previous family dog my friend. I know you also love the adorable Jasper, and crawling under the bed to get "fraidy" out lol

I am sorry to say my nephew and his wife had a georgeous little white dog who went blind so they had him "put down" while my sister had one from the same litter and spent $800 for the operation to save his sight and he is doing fine. If it was the cost of a "sheep Station" maybe people have to think about it, but within the realms of "expensive but doeable" I believe it should be done, but I guess we are all different in the way we think.

I would collect cans to make it happen lol

Abby

9 yrs ago

Phyl

Sure is good news that Deb's Cubba is out walking again ....

see Debs' memo above.

Always good to see people caring about our pets and all animals. So many really do need help. Trouble is trying to decide how much and to which one.

I was looking at the ad .for the Tigers last night and it tore at my heartstrings.

Spam bump

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