Paying for Pet

ASHLEY BURSEY
The Telegram

She’s the first one to the door at the sound of a knock, nose pressed up against the screen.

She’s eight years old, and Jim English calls her his “daughter,” despite her stubby tail that wags furiously, and the deep, chocolate eyes which seem to be begging for a treat.

Casey’s an American cocker spaniel, and it’s those big brown eyes that are at the root of English’s problem.

She has a growth on her right eye and another beginning to form on her lip.

English isn’t sure what could happen to her if it’s left untreated, although for the moment it doesn’t seem to be affecting Casey’s vision.

“She’s a beautiful little dog,” he says, scratching her behind the ears. Her tail hasn’t stopped wagging and she clambers across the couch towards him, chomping on a dog bone.

English needs to bring Casey to the vet but he lives on a fixed income in Kilbride, and the $50 examination fee — let alone the cost of surgery or treatment — is more than he can afford to pay in one fell swoop.

“It would cost a lot just to (have a vet) look at her, and I can’t afford it,” he says. “I’ve been to four vets already, (looking to pay) with a payment plan, but they’ve got to have the money up front.”

Most veterinarians have been very apologetic, he said, and he understands the situation — “They’ve got a business to run.”

Dr. Dan Quinlan, who owns the Baccalieu Trail Animal Hospital, says the number of people like Jim English, who can’t afford to pay for pet health care, is heartbreaking. But he’s also received his fair share of bounced cheques, and has had to deal with people dropping off severely injured animals at the hospital, abandoning them at the vet’s expense.

Monthly payment plans just aren’t feasible, he said, because it’s too difficult for a vet to try to act as a creditor as well as an animal doctor.

“It’s a common problem (that people can’t afford pet care),” he said.

“Those are things that are seen at every clinic, and it’s not necessarily just payment or helping one person out today. It’s an everyday type of thing.”

And the overhead costs of running a clinic, he said, are enormous.

“You wouldn’t believe the costs involved in running it and paying for your equipment and your staff and everything. You’ve got to balance everything,” he said. “You want to be able to sleep at night, so you’ve got to look after the animals, too, (but) you’ve got to keep your business viable because you’re only as good as until you can’t pay your bills anymore.”

Quinlan said people shouldn’t lose hope, though. Pet care may be becoming increasingly expensive, but there are options.

One is PetCard, a branch of Medicard that funds vet treatments, hospital stays and products. It works like a credit card, with the company financing users’ purchases and the pet owner paying the creditor directly. The card comes with an interest rate charge of 28 per cent.

Another option for dog owners is the Mount Pearl-based K9 Lifeline Animal Welfare Corp., a charitable group that provides education and funds to applicants who demonstrate a dire need for funding towards their dog’s medical expenses.

English, meanwhile, said being on a fixed income means it’s tough when sudden expenses arise, but he’s hopeful.

“I just heard about the Medicard program,” he said, referring to PetCard.

Chucking Casey under the chin, he adds, “That’s the next step.”

source: www.thetelegram.com