I am making this appeal on behalf of my sister Jane who had a huge shock just before Christmas when she received two vet's bills totalling £7,800 and this has wiped out 50% of her savings.
One of her beautiful Bengal kittens (Peanut) was involved in a horrible accident outside her house. It had crawled up inside the engine housing of a HGV lorry parked outside her house. When the driver started up the engine the cat was mangled and trapped inside but was still alive.
My sister called the fire brigade straightaway, and luckily, they knew exactly what to do to release him. They then rushed Peanut to their local vet where he was given x-rays, various injections and pain killers. The next day he was transferred to a specialist vet in Fakenham for emergency surgery. He stayed there for five nights for his initial recovery.
Peanut had broken his front left paw and elbow joint which needed to be pinned; two small pelvic fractures; a wound to his abdomen which was weeping and he was covered in gashes and bruises.
Miraculously Peanut survived, and is now on the road to recovery, but will always have a limp.
My sister felt she had no choice but to go ahead with the surgery without getting an alternative quotation due to the emergency circumstances. Initially her local vet only quoted £4,000 but when the specialist bill arrived the total of two bills was £7,800. Jane does pay £37 pcm into a Pet Plan monthly, but that only covers annual injections, flea treatments and 20% off her local Vet's bill. There was no discount on the specialist vet bill, whose charges included £100 per night for the board and lodging!!! I think we would all agree that Vet's bills have become scandalous!
My sister has suffered ill health from Crohn’s disease for many years. She lost her husband a couple of years ago, and her health has deteriorated significantly since then. Apart from suffering from depression last year she had to have a lower leg amputated after an ulcer failed to heal and lead to septicaemia. She is now confined to a wheel chair and cannot get out of the house on her own. Her only income is her pension and attendance allowance.
Jane has always loved cats, and has owned many. She bought her two Bengal kittens (Peanut and Tigger) to keep her company last year, and she adores them. Her health has improved as a consequence. However, this horrible accident and vet bill has left her devastated and depressed once again.
I am setting up a GoFundMe request on her behalf in the hope I can raise enough funds to re-imburse her .... even if just to cover part of the cost.
I would really appreciate your help. I hate to see her so low and so out of pocket.