Peek-a-boo
Rescued the day before she would have been gone forever, my Olivia is laid back and kittily evil at the same time. My previous cat, Elvira, was with me for 27 years. I’m determined Olivia will live even longer.
Quality food, regular vet visits, keeping her indoors, a healthy weight and most importantly – having her spayed as soon as possible will prevent unwanted litters and greatly reduce her risk of developing breast, ovarian cancer and other medical problems – we are all parts of the formula that kept Elvira going for close to three healthy, happy decades. Olivia gets no less.
Having my pets spayed/neutered is important to me for another reason. I once had a roommate with a beautiful lilac point Siamese. Romantic dreams of kittens and the reality of surgical cost had kept her unspayed at three years. Siamese are very chatty. Many have a distinct wail, like a very unhappy human baby. I enjoyed the chatty and lived with the wail until she came into heat (esteris).
Her constant cries and unnatural body movements were alarming. Worse, they didn’t stop. Thirty days passed, then forty five. My roommate avoided me and the issue. Desperate, I took the cat to the vet and told him, to my shock and dismay, “Spay her or put her out of her misery. Here’s the owner’s phone number.”
When the vet called, my roommate realized it had to be done. During surgery, he discovered ovarian tumors which not only kept the cat in esteris (heat), but would have killed her if gone unchecked. The spay cost was difficult for the owner. There were no non-profit low cost options then. I hated to force my roommate but I couldn’t deal with the kitty unhappiness and distress.
Had a low cost alternative been available, I know that cat would have been spayed much sooner. She would never have developed the tumors, never been through what was a very difficult, painful and continuous heat cycle. She would have died young with even higher vet bills. I would never have had to say to a vet, “…or put her out of her misery.”
When Oliva’s turn came, I found an excellent and caring Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic. At the time, a growing non-profit, there was only one location – in NoDa (North Davidson area north of downtown Charlotte) – a good distance from the house. They had an excellent reputation. They also spayed/neutered/vaccinated ferals so they could be released without order propecia cheap adding to the over population/high kill problem.
Backed by donations, they offered a “kitten” package of spay, shots, chip and follow-up visits for less than a third what most vets charge. Their clinic is busy and spotless but yet homey. The people are friendly, professional and obviously cared about their charges.
I was told to bring Olivia in at 9 a.m., pick her up at 5 p.m. I brought home a groggy kitty and a collar to keep her from getting to her stitches. Olivia recovered without a hitch.
When we added another dog, Darla, she went to the same Spay and Neuter clinic with a Puppy spay/shots/chip package, as have pets belonging to many neighbors and friends. All have been happy with their pet’s treatment and how well their pets do after the surgery. I keep all my animals heartworm tested and current on their shots at their new Pineville location, a bit closer to me.
A friend who lived in the country outside Atlanta had a female dog, Kirby. At seven, she was yet to be spayed (something I see a lot in the country). Unspayed, she developed breast cancer in her prime. Kirby’s owner called me the day Kirby was diagnosed. The first thing she said, “Have you had Stella spayed yet?” Stella had already been spayed at a low cost clinic in Atlanta. She’s sixteen now, the picture of a much younger dog. I know having her spayed early contributed to her health and longevity.
I still use my regular vet for check-ups, annual exams and now, help w/Stella, who has a bit of arthritis and doggie dementia. Stella, Olivia and Darla have a great treatment balance between using my regular vet and also using the Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinics for spays, shots and heartworm testing/meds. My vet knows, none of my animals spayed and vaccinated at the clinics, get less than the best possible care and it helps to keep my pet costs down. They coordinate on shot records, etc. Stella, Darla and Olivia are happier, healthier, more manageable pets because of this.
The non-profit Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinics in North Davidson and Pineville often get endowments for specific services. This August Pit Bull spay/neuter for $20! Go to spayneutercharlotte.org Even if it’s a drive, what you spend in gas will not only save you money in services, help prevent disease and lower the overpopulation/high kill problem, they’ll get great care and the clinics are happy to send vaccination notices to your regular vet, doggie day care and more.
You can also check out some of the Spay/Neuter clinics we have used and recommend here: