Wednesday, December 27, 2006

I Was About To Be Angry In Public

Took LarryElvis back to the vet -- my neighbor, James, dropped us off this morning, and we caught an MTA bus and a short walk back to the condo, this morning.

Drama ensued. Last week, I'd written a counter check (on the new bank account to which my Vanderbilt paychecks will be direct deposited), which they do not accept. However, since I only had $55 cash on my person, they took that (of course!), and asked if I could come "buy" the check back from them this week. Well, I did that today, but could not pay for that, today's exam and the two medications. I had enough to cover the previous check, and the follow-up exam. So, the snotty little counter guy was going to let me walk out of there without Larry's meds!

I got seriously pissed off. I walked outside, counted to ten, and walked back in and asked to have Curly's exam next month canceled. When asked why, I said, "I don't like they way we've been treated this morning. Y'all were going to let me take this sick cat home without his medicine? I think there are other vets nearer to me that I should rely on to work with me to keep my cats healthy."

Well, that sure got things changed in a hurry. I walked out of there with the meds, and I promised to return with another counter check, which they'll hold until the 5th (payday). When I take them the check, I'll also give them a Curly DVD, because they were pretty sweet to me when they saw I was about to boil over. They understood the situation -- they're all pet owners, too, y'know. You have to understand that people stiff doctors all the time, but that's not the case, here... even if we are looking at over $200 outlay on one li'l kitten in less than two weeks...! Dang, indeed!

13 comments :

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Good for you for calling the snotty counter guy on his attitude. Sheesh.

But what's more important -- how's LarryElvis?

Oh -- and I saw your notes of concern about Curly wanting to play rough with LE. I'd suggest keeping them supervised, and when not supervisable, separate, until LE feels better and can punch his weight. Our two kitties (one 12 pounds, the other 20) have been beating each other up for darn near ten years. I was worried about the big one taking advantage of the little one until one day when I saw the little one lose his temper with the big one. Then I knew he could take care of himself.

ThePoliticalCat said...

JP, I'm so sorry! Poor little LE. Don't forget to check snailmail for LE's and Curly's belated Xmas prezzies. Oh, yeah, and keeping them separate till LE's better is a good idea. They're predators, and healthy predators will attack sick or injured ones. It's just a way of making sure that the "fambly" isn't exposed to attack by having the sick one draw other "non-fambly" predators to attack. I think you handled the whole thing very well. Kudos.

Pen Ultimate said...

Oh! LarryElvis just had his 2nd squirt of ointment in each eye. He's already leaving his eyes alone, and he's not fighting too hard over this eye stuff, so it MUST feel soothing. He's not pawing at them afterward, so I think he knows it's supposed to make him feel better. He's sleeping a lot... still eating, and being a love beggar. :) I'll be glad when this is over, though!
.

Anonymous said...

Oh good. Glad to hear he's taking his medicine like a good kitty. Keep us posted!!

Sandy-LA 90034 said...

I'm so glad little LE's going to get better. Poor little guy. But how about Curly-Q? Is he feeling left out of the drama?

grandefille said...

The Big Cat Daddy strikes again! Woot! Calmly, of course.

It's amazing what making a little well-placed noise can do. Today, the day after Harry's wonderfully uneventful recovery from teeth-cleaning/anesthesia (thank Dog), vets' office has called TWICE to ensure that he and we are doing okay. New little vet even offered wildly successful tip on getting preventive antibiotic into Mister Oh-I-Don't-THINK-So-With-That-Sh*t (tuna juice! I feel so dumb). Just a great experience, which is what we've always had with them (with that one exception).

You're right. They are pet-lovers just like us (they wouldn't be in the business unless they were), and they do have to deal with some sorry people in the process. I just hope they don't get so cynical that they presume all of us are sorry. (I think you ought to refer them to your blog if they have any more questions, as in, "Big Cat Daddy goes without so his boys can live and be healthy. It's just the way Big Cat Daddy rolls. Any questions? No? Didn't think so. See ya on payday.")

So glad LarryE is feeling better ("oooh, eye no hurt, eye all cool, eye gross but thank you daddy, thank you!") and am sure Curly (aka The Boss of Us) is getting plenty of smooches too.

Hugs to you and the boyz. Harry sends some stil-slightly-stoned smooches to the boyz, too. (He gets a little indiscriminately affectionate when he's on the sauce, Not That There's Anything Wrong with That. Heh.)

Pen Ultimate said...

grandefille -- If they watch the DVD, they'll have an address. ;)

I'm somewhat proud of the way I handled the situation. I wanted to go nuclear when that little prick was letting me walk out without that medicine. Oh, it took a lot of self-control to just walk out. Didn't take long to calm down, though, and then I just went cold on 'em. I do cold very well, when I must!
.

Anonymous said...

Wow JP. what self control! I would have stormed out of there never to return myself. Need help paying the vet bills? We could help until you get your first paycheck. We love your kittens so!

Plum P

Pen Ultimate said...

Plum P -- Thank you, but no -- payday is but eight days hence, and I want to say that you, dear, are about the 20th person who's contacted me wanting to help defray these unexpected expenses. My friends are SO VERY kind!

No; this is a paltry few hundred bux. I will make that back in a couple of days. Instead, dear friends, consider helping Mia (or, more accurately, Mia's benefactor, who has paid to get her back to health).
.

Anonymous said...

Be sure to wash your hands well after applying the medicine--you don't want to risk an eye infection of your very own. (I once had pink eye at the same time my cat did--we even had the same medicine, except his was cheaper--)

Interrobang said...

I'm glad you managed to cool down, and I'm glad LE is feeling somewhat better.

A trick I use is to count to ten in all the languages I can muster. I think I can count to ten in six languages now, so that gives me a decently long time to chill out. (I need it. I should probably learn another eight or nine.)

Love and skritches to the boys! :)

Lynnster said...

Just catching up, glad things worked out at the vet's. Hope LE gets to feeling his best very soon! Looks like he and Curly are getting to be good playmates, good deal!!

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