Pat,
If, you're good, long-time customers with your vet, I certainly would ask if
a payment plan could be worked out.  My vet has the same signs up but they
were willing to work with me when I racked up a lot of bills.

In the meantime, Pat, call and ask your vet if we were to contribute to this
bill, would they be willing to cut you a refund check for whatever is
contributed.  If you want to post their number and address, I'd be willing
to call.
All of us who have multiple cats know how quickly vet bills can add up --
kindest regards,
Christine and Omar, Oreo, Midnight, Robin & Tucker

Well, mine found out from a phone call from Stone Mountain, Georgia.
Then there was a call from Oklahoma, a couple from Arizona, and then
some from England and Australia.  They were totally amazed and floored.
 Then the receptionist called me to tell me not to worry, the bills
were paid in full.  I suspect that's how it would work for you as well.

Pam S.

oh yeah, my vet has the same sign. I told him up front, as he was
first examing Rocky, that I wouldn't have the money, and would have to
make payments. At the time I still had a balance for Sammy's treatment
- this was right after we learned about her heart murmur. He said not
to worry about the money side, we'd work that out later, the important
thing was getting Rocky better.

I didn't mention getting money from around the world, as it hadn't
even occured to me to ask. That came about because someone offered to
help in a private email. I replied with the address privately. Then
others asked for it and I posted the address to the group. The next
day I received a call saying not to worry about the bill as it was
paid - both the balance for Sam and Rocky, and that I had a credit
balance. Like Pam said in her reply, the vet was very impressed that
money was coming from all over. He said he didn't realise he was
treating a world famous cat.  That is one of the few bright spots
during that week when Rocky journeyed to the Bridge.

For those who may not remember, at the time I was living off Army
reitrement during the winter months and doing yardwork the rest of the
year. This all happened, both Sammy's condition being discovered and
Rocky being hurt, in late Sept and early Oct, just as my income was
being cut in half for the winter. That's when I went out and found the
winter job of pizza delivery. I didn't ask about refunding the
balance, knowing that Sam's quarterly  ECGs, get prescription food,
etc. the money would be spent before spring.

I suppose they would be surprised, but a while ago my Michigan friend Bob
sent me a 20 dollar note.  It did not look at all like money to me!  So when
Carrie-Lou Salter said that her Casey needed bladder surgery and she would
have difficulty with the bill, I mailed the hospital that Casey was in
(Canada) to ask if they would accept $20 American towards his treatment.
They mailed back and asked me if I could get my bank to transfer it into
Canadian.  I said it would cost me as much as the donation was worth to do
that. Then they said they were worried if I sent 20 dollar bill cash it
might get stolen.
I explained how I would send it.  In an envelope taped up with sellotape
with the words  "to be opened only by"  a member of their staff that I had
the name of.
It got there okay, because they mailed me, and it's their business how they
get it exchanged.

I just wish that Carrie-Lou would let us know how Casey is getting on.  I
pinged her but she didn't respond.

I am not going to be cynical here and think she thought we might be a soft
touch for her vet's bill.  It would be nice to hear about how Casey is now,
though.

I shan't be able to contribute for the time being.  I was off so long from
work with my eye ops last year that I used all my sick pay up.  I only just
got back to work in January and now I am sick again with something else.
I'm not sure yet if my employers will pay me for a while, or whether I have
to shoot right back to Incapacity Benefit. £60ish per week, impossible to
live on.

Tweed

Truly, we are all of us blessed to be part of this group!  I don't think
there is anything like it in the entire world.

Hugs,

CatNipped