What would you have done??

[sanford7]

This is kind of long and I do apologize in advance...

My sister's elderly Rott has been sick for a week... Vets gave him a bag of fluid and meds and send him home. Last Friday night he took a turn for the worse and I knew my sister was planning on taking him to the vet Saturday morning. The phone rings while I am laying in the bed with the cats Saturday morning..thinking the worst I jump up. She tells me she cant find Buckshot so I tell her I am on my way.. Then she tells me that while searching for him she found a cat that had obviously been hit by a car but wasnt dead yet..She thought he would go shortly on his own.. but he wont and all he can do is pull himself in a circle. So I told her to call the nearest vet and see if they would euth the kitty.. I would take the cat drop it off and come back to help her look for the dog. I get there, find the cat, scoop him into a basket with blankets and cover him up(he was cold) and stroke his head whispering sweet nothings to him. I sit in the back and hold him. On my way to the vet my sister calls and says the nearest vet WONT do it because they are too busy!! I am furious.. But drive to the only other vet in a 10 mile radius.. Rush him in..they do the preliminary check. He was a neutered male (obvious at one time someone cared) geratric cat.. He was rail thin. He had short orange hair that had a knot in it about 4 inches long and 2 wide that went to the skin. I was told that he had been hit in the face, probably a broken back with deep nerve pain...meaning he would probably never recoop the use of his back legs. The most humane thing was to Euth him. I called him Buddy..he was so sweet and nothing should ever have to leave this world that way without a name. When they told me I cried... Here is a cat in his golden years that had been tossed aside..didnt mean as much to someone any more.. That had waited hours for assistance.. Where were his owners?? They should have been there with him..not me.. Anyhow I explained to the vet what I had been told previously by the other vet.. She was appalled.. She did tell me that I should speak directly with the vet (btw..this vet supposedly works with a feral/domestic cat rescue in the area) to make sure she understood what her staff was telling people.. BTW..this vet euthed him and presented him nicely wrapped in a box for burial at no charge.. So I take the cat back to my sisters and my dh buried him in the oak trees behind the house. Yesterday I finally get a call back from the vet who explains that they were busy and she backs up her employees actions to refuse treatment from a non-client..but if it were to ever happen again to push to speak with her first (yea..right)... So while I know Buddy is flying with the kitty angels.. I am still angry. I have thought about posting a letter to the editor but I dont know what to say.. I have thought about posting a found ad so if someone if actually looking for him they will know his fate.. At this point though I am confused.. What would you do or have done?? Would you post it in the paper..if they will print it.. Most people around here still live in the yester-years of taking care of animals... I feel like I may waste my time..

BTW.. Buckshot is back home after spending the weekend at the vet(this is the vet I regularly use and they were told of this too) hopefully to a fast and full recovery!!

[lisasentous]

I think you did everything you could for this cat & that if he was in such poor condition then I don´t think his owners have been taking care of him properly or at all. If it makes you feel better go ahead and put something in the paper, you never know and later you won´t have the "what if" doubts.

Hope Buckshot makes a full recovery, where did you sister eventually find him ?

[Cami]

Bless you for helping Buddy to the bridge. There are special places reserved for people like you, right along side of them!
I don't think I would place an ad, but perhaps be on the look-out for "missing ads" in your local paper or even flyers on street signs of the owners trying to find him.
In *some* situations what the heart doesn't know can't be a cause for pain. Knowing an animal is missing is terrible enough, but knowing their fate....well sometimes (IMO) it is best to hope and assume that our loved ones have found refuge and are being loved and cared for by another. But that's just me. I am sure that whatever you decide will be the right decision.