Posted on 11/21/2014 12:08:08 PM PST by EBH
WESTLAKE, Ohio -- Margie, a cat rescued from the engine belt of a Westlake school bus last week, is recovering, but her medical bills are piling up.
So far, the Westlake Animal Hospital has provided about $1,800 in care to Margie, who was found stuck in the bus' serpentine belt, according to a news release from the school district.
The 1-year-old cat was discovered after Westlake bus driver Marge Laskowski radioed fellow driver Denise Wering during their morning routes on Nov. 12 to check the back of Wering's bus. When the drivers pulled off of Dover Center Road, they spotted a tail and a paw sticking out of the rear engine.
Westlake Animal Control Officer Jim Wang freed the cat -- now named Margie in honor of Laskowski -- and brought it to veterinarian David Love's Westlake Animal Hospital on Center Ridge Road.
Drivers think the cat crawled into the engine while the bus was parked overnight and plugged in to make it easier to start in cold weather.
Veterinarian Colleen Madden had to amputate one of the cat's legs because of a severe break, and her tail also will have to be amputated.
The hospital staff, which included Megan Hoffman, a registered veterinary technician, discovered that the cat was pregnant. But Margie lost her four kittens this week.
Westlake drivers drivers Leah Vandersluis and Denise Higgins have been among those keeping tabs on Margie while she recovers.
"The staff at the Westlake Animal Hospital has been absolutely phenomenal," Higgins said in the news release "They invite us in to see Margie all the time and let us stay as long as we want. The vets come in and talk to us. Megan (Hoffman) is text messaging us at 9:30 at night to give us updates. They are very dedicated."
The transportation department of the Westlake schools has raised more than $300 for Margie's care, which is likely to total about $2,500 or more.
Anyone who wants to donate to the Westlake Animal Hospital's Good Samaritan Fund can mail or drop off a check at the hospital, 27370 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, 44145. You can also make a credit card donation by calling 440-835-3800.
You can follow Margie's progress on the hospital's Facebook page.
Try having pet snakes and see how dried up the “milk of human kindness” really is.
“I love animals” should mean ALL animals.
FWIW, I’ve never seen a thread here titled “Good small cat gun?” or “Good small dog gun?”.
Glad the cat will be okay.
PSA: Now that winter is here, be mindful that small animals often try to keep warm on car engines.
A quick check saves lives.
Donate?....LOL! Guess it's YOU that missed the following......
The transportation department of the Westlake schools has raised more than $300 for Margie's care, which is likely to total about $2,500 or more.
If the services were DONATED, then why the need to take up a collection to raise $2,500???
Sonic Cat Repeller!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XcnWE1ZyRI
I would disagree......In my family I have an Oncologist, an emergency room doctor, a thorasic surgeon and a veterinarian. My niece's vet training doesn't even come close to what the human doctors have had to go thru............
If your so called "extensively and competitively" trained veterinarians received the same compensation as the human medical professionals, it's unlikely folks would be relying on their services as often as they do since with no insurance, they wouldn't be able to pay the bills..........
Furthermore, on the limited and non life threatening medical problems my cat has suffered, the cost to me wasn't any less than if the same were to be incurred by me.........And no, we're not talking about a de-worming or ear mite problem.....LOL!
The Cat should go apply for Obamacare. The mindless trolls paid by the government to sign up people would probably gladly sign up the cat so they could claim another signee for the propaganda.
She is a precious kitteh girl and deserves only the best from now on. What an ordeal.
I can understand where you are coming from, vetvetdoug, but when you compare veterinary doctors to human doctors, you have to admit you are better off in one way: you don't have to deal with Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare, nor (for the most part) with insurance companies.
Truly.
I am sorry you are misunderstanding things.
This particular vet has helped 100’s of stray animals brought in by the Animal Control Officer throughout the year.
The very first post explains that there has been two serious care cases in the past two weeks that have drained the Good Samaritan’s Fund. Neither cat is owned by anyone, but resources are needed and being requested.
Amen.
I’m mailing five dollars for kitty.
When my kitty was sick, I spent close to 3k on medical care during her last three months of her life.
My family said I was crazy, but you don’t put a price on your friends in fur. She was like a member of the family, and I miss her every day.
I am very grateful to my veterinarian for her compassion and all she did to help my girl, and at the end, to make her comfortable,
If the vet has indeed helped stray animals without requiring payment, then I apologize. It's just that all the articles I've read on cases such as this one mention the cost that needs to met by volunteers.......
Or malpractice claims.
No matter what egregious thing is done to your pet, your odds of getting any kind of legal recompense are slim to none.
It’s not cheap but I have full coverage health insurance on my dogs.
$2800 for *one* trip to a vet neuro changed my mind about the practicality of having it.
Now, I get 90% of my money back.
Even if the vet donates his or her time, medical supplies are not free - or cheap.
My Halla’s short life lasted only 8 months.
All told, the cost was around 7 grand.
I would have spent thrice that, gladly, if only she could have been saved...or had even lived long enough to grow out of her ‘puppy knuckles’.
And it would be impossible for me to care any less whether people think I’m crazy, or not.
We lived in Westlake many years ago. Nice town.
They cost even more now that “Obamacare” affects vet prices, too.
Very true.
Is there nothing he does not touch and destroy?
He and his whole staff does:
Example just post an hour ago on their facebook page:
We believe that Margie has a future home, but we also have Sailor (the kitten with the broken pelvis) who will be available for adoption through the Westlake Police Department when he has healed. Jim Wang, Animal Control Officer for Westlake, has some great young cats available free for adoption, and next week he will have some kittens that one of our staff members has been socializing. Jim can be reached at 440.871.3311 x263 or stop into the Westlake Police Department to see which kitty (or kitties) wants to go home with you. They have been tested for feline leukemia, are current on vaccines, and spayed or neutered if old enough.
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