aftermath and riley

Well, we did survive the festival.  Sent out the donation to Rutherford Humane Society, and Helen Jones sent me back a note saying that Facebook, who was donating $250,000 to area projects, had turned down their grant.  So they were very happy to get our $150 from the fundraising.  I have to have Jim check with Tiaa-cref to see if Rutherford Humane Society is on their list of approved donations to see if they might be able to match our donation, which again will go a long way for the animals.
And, once again, no good deed goes unpunished, as on Wednesday of last week, (Oct.26) Riley started to chew at a small cyst that was under his arm.  He never noticed it before, well he succeeded in making an unholy mess of it.  So I had to take him to the vet on Friday and they scheduled surgery for Halloween morning.  Was not happy at this vet office, another boutique so I will not mention their name.  It brings up all the rantings I have made before of what I believe has happened to pet care.  So here I go again.
Years ago veterinarians were a very respected bunch of people.  They seemed to really want to help animals and knew that they would not be millionaires.  They knew that their income would never hit the stratosphere of specialty doctors or stockbrokers but were happy with the way people thought of them as "relatives of Mother Teresa" in the animal kingdom.  But in recent years there has been a trend to have more services and more equipment to help get a bigger piece of the pie.  Especially when  there is a sizable demographic proportion of people who have perhaps opted out of the previous "norm" of  "family" and into a group of people who do not have human children, but have domestic animal children.  This group, and I support them fully, have more disposable income to bestow on their animal children.  So, as I see it, the veterinarian group smelled money and start making their practices into these animal care boutiques.  As an animal rescuer of many many years, this has become increasingly offensive to me.  I see that my own grown children are priced out of animal ownership.  Many people are.  And I see this as one of the reasons the domestic animal population is at a higher risk, especially non-specific breeds.  When the economy has stagnated to the degree that is now has, many have to choose whether to feed their families or get rid of their faithful companions.  And gone is the compassion to those families from the veterinarians who would work with you, help you find other solutions and empathize with your monetary restrictions.  There is almost a condescension that is palpable when you are in these "animal boutiques" formally known as the local veterinarian office. 
So let me get off my soap box and say, I commend any person or group who step in and help domestic animals stay alive.  And I do not judge those who are unable to fork over the $$$ for their pet's teeth to be cleaned......
Riley is fine, surgery went well.  They removed large margins, and as a woman who has had large margins removed and has been (C) free since 1999, I will try and be optimistic.  And I will look for a vet who does not look at Riley's situation as a way to make a lot of money. (By the way, this vet office had two kittens up for adoption, for a price of $150 each.  Only one was chosen, I said they should have made a better deal to keep the siblings together, it went over their heads)  Living the life of Riley....