As you know I spend a fair bit of time sending the hints and tips to owners who have lost furbabes and get lots of emails back with good news that they are back home etc.
I received this email today from a lady and I have to admit I was a bit shocked at the prices quoted:
Hi Sam,
Thanks for your message. Blade arrived home thinner, starving, nervous and in a state of emotional and physical neglect. It was the weekend and although I'd previously notified local vets of his absence - I decided to call the out of hours emergency team as a precaution too. They were helpful, friendly and put his absence on record.
Called them back on Sunday to say that he was home safe and sound - but would it be OK if we dropped Blade to them for a 'quick health check' - was told we would be welcomed to travel over 12 miles to get him checked - so long as we realised that this was an 'out of hours service' and initial consultation charge would be £108 plus and any treatment required would be expensive due to the day and time.
FORTUNATELY - after a few hours of TLC, good food, plently of water and lots of cuddles, Blade calmed down and some 48 hours later is now almost back to his old self.
We've kept him in with a litter box in the kitchen and once he regains confidence (as he's doing on an hourly basis) - he'll gradually be introduced back into his old way of life.
Our local 'Out of Hours' vet service is apparently run via the PDSA. Following my conversation with them on Sunday, it horrifies me that if you call them for an inital 'out of hours' appointment, you are immediately quoted a charge of £108 consulatation fee. No wonder so many lost/poorly cats are not referred and remain neglected and lost. The only other way around their high costs is to be personally means tested and 'PROVE' low income and submitt proof of low income. How demeaning and lowly is that?
I didn't tell the PDSA on Sunday that I'd recovered a lost cat - simply that I'd like them to check a lost cat for me. I simply didn't think - just wanted somebody to have a look at Blade and to ensure that he'd not suffered physical damange. PDSA - not for us and probably not for other well meaning caring animal lovers either. What a mega fee!
Best regards,
'Tina