I was not sure where to put this...it is not a health question, nor really a prayer request...but a story of survival and determiniation...
My son's girlfriend has an aunt who is on disability, as is her husband, but he is able to work as an activity coordinator for a recreational facility for handicapped individuals...anyways...
They have our beagle Oliver, and he is spoiled rotten...they also have two cats...a black long haired cat named Goofy and a smaller than average all white, partially deaf short hair named Angel...
Well, this aunt has a son who is not so dear, and while she and her husband were on vacation, her son decided to move back home with his wife and 3 kids, until they an "get back on their feet"...He also, while his mom was on vacation, took it upon himself to toss the cats out the door because his son is allergic to cats (but has not been tested)
Well, Aunt has been beside herself because Goofy is declawed and neither had been outside since she got them!!
She had seen them on occassion, but they would run into the cornfield or around the barn and disappear...and she can hardly walk to go after them, and her husband is in a wheelchair...
Lastnight my son's girlfriend called us, and we could hear her aunt crying hysterically in the background...Goofy came home...missing most of his front right leg and bone was just hanging there...
She does not have alot of money, and they had called all the vets in the city, and they wanted cash or credit card only, and it would be a $95 charge to come to the office and another $300+ for surgery...
We called our vet...after hemming and hawwing because he said people who come in from the city never want to pay...we vouched for her that the bill would be paid that night...so he finally agreed...not knowing that we were fronting her the money, because we still are working on our bill there as well...
She got Goofy to the vet around 10:30 lastnight, he pulled him from the carrier and kind of drew back, and got him into the exam room and said he needed help...well, Aunt was crying too hard, my son's girlfriend was holding her, and my husband is squeemish at anything at all messy...so I went in...
He just wanted me to hold Goofy while he gave him an antibiotic shot right away and look at the leg...or what was left of it...it was badly infected and well...had other living organisms in there by this time...
He said it looks like he may have gotten in a trap and chewed his leg off, but we will never know for sure...
Goofy was covered in mud, and I told the vet that I had never seen him in this condition...that she loves her animals and takes very good care of them and has been beside herself since her son put them out the door without her permission...
We came back out, he put Goofy into a holding cage and told Aunt that he was going to get him cleaned up that night and onto antibiotics and a steriod and something for the pain, although Goofy was in good spirits and not showing any signs of distress at all for which the vet was totally surprised...and would do the surgery in the morning...because they did feed him because he was hungry...
He called this afternoon to let her know that Goofy came through great...he was not ill from the heavy dose of antibiotics as the vet expected him to be...he awoke from the anesthesia without any troubles and their main worry now was him trying to chew his stitches out!...he amputated at the shoulder...
Goofy will stay there through Tuesday, and Aunt said he will stay in her room and her son can take his family elsewhere if he does not like it...
Angel has not been seen for 4 days now...so I guess prayers can be said that Angel will return home soon....unharmed...
Goofy
Re: Goofy
I forgot to mention...the vet only charged $120
Tambrey, if the aunt is elderly, the son's actions may be seen as a form of abuse (taking advantage of his parents), so the aunt and her husband need to put their foot down and if I were them, demand the son pays for Goofy's veterinary bills, and demand that the son go out and find Angel. I can't imagine someone doing that to someone else's pets!
I also understand that this is a rather third-party situation where you may not want to put yourself into such a situation, but if you can talk to your own son's girlfriend, maybe make mention of it?
I think I would be concerned about Goofy's return as long as the son is in the home (not to mention the claim the young son is allergic). The son put the cats at risk and in direct harm by putting them outdoors, with a harmful result, I would be terribly concerned with what he may do next.
Those poor babies, I can tell you what I would do to that son, he'd never be allowed in my home again.
I'm praying for Goofy's safety and recovery, and for Angel's safe return, any chance you can help your son's girlfriend in the search for her?
(PS) You are an angel for helping with the costs!
I also understand that this is a rather third-party situation where you may not want to put yourself into such a situation, but if you can talk to your own son's girlfriend, maybe make mention of it?
I think I would be concerned about Goofy's return as long as the son is in the home (not to mention the claim the young son is allergic). The son put the cats at risk and in direct harm by putting them outdoors, with a harmful result, I would be terribly concerned with what he may do next.
Those poor babies, I can tell you what I would do to that son, he'd never be allowed in my home again.
I'm praying for Goofy's safety and recovery, and for Angel's safe return, any chance you can help your son's girlfriend in the search for her?
(PS) You are an angel for helping with the costs!
..........Traci
Re: Goofy
God, I'm so angry at the son 
Some people!! How could he do that to his mother and the cats? He should now at least offer to pay the vet bill.
So glad Goofy pulled through. The poor woman must have been in shock to see him coming home like that.
Can your son and his gf search the area more thouroughly for Angel? I pray for her safe and unharmed return!
Some people!! How could he do that to his mother and the cats? He should now at least offer to pay the vet bill.So glad Goofy pulled through. The poor woman must have been in shock to see him coming home like that.
Can your son and his gf search the area more thouroughly for Angel? I pray for her safe and unharmed return!
Re: Goofy
Traci and Ash....
She is only a few years older than me, her sons were born early in her life...
we had a big discussion about her son and his wife last week with another friend of ours...we talked about Tough Love and that sometimes it is best to kick them out...but she is worried about the grandkids...well, the grandkids are being abused/neglected as well...
DH and I also discussed it with her again lastnight, and she said she is going to insist that he reimburse for the vet bills...and if need be, WE will go after him because it is OUR money that is paying for the bill! We have no problems of confrontation when it comes to another human, child, pet being abused or neglected...
She said she is going to start documenting everything that goes on with the grandkids, and she is going to get a voice activated recorder and set it up in the living room...
I think she tried to turn a blind eye to it for a while, she does not do well with confrontations...but I think Goofy was her final straw for putting up with her son and his family...
my son and his GF are usually outside when over there, so hopefully they will catch a glimpse of Angel...Aunt is also holding out hope that the neighbor might have her in the house because they have the other two of the white triplets born to that litter, but they do let them out of the house...grrrrr...Aunt said she has heard and seen a white cat outside their house, but it is not Angel, because Angel was the runt of the three of them, and she has a light beige coloured "halo" on the top of her head...so she is just going to also keep watching the white cats and pray she sees Angel with her halo...and that one of her grnadkids or nephews or neices is there at the time to go and get her...
She said her son can ...well, a few choice words inserted there...because Goofy will be inside now, and as soon as Angel is found, she too will be back inside...he can go get medicine for his son if he is allergic...
ANd if need be...there is my husband and me, and our friends, who are good friends of theirs as well, and the wife is the one who lectured on Tough Love...we will all do an intervention if necessary to get him and his wife out of the house, and DHS invloved with the grandkids...
Thanks for the prayers for both cats...I know she will much appreciate them!...I will let her know that prayers are being said for Goofy and Angel...
She is only a few years older than me, her sons were born early in her life...
we had a big discussion about her son and his wife last week with another friend of ours...we talked about Tough Love and that sometimes it is best to kick them out...but she is worried about the grandkids...well, the grandkids are being abused/neglected as well...
DH and I also discussed it with her again lastnight, and she said she is going to insist that he reimburse for the vet bills...and if need be, WE will go after him because it is OUR money that is paying for the bill! We have no problems of confrontation when it comes to another human, child, pet being abused or neglected...
She said she is going to start documenting everything that goes on with the grandkids, and she is going to get a voice activated recorder and set it up in the living room...
I think she tried to turn a blind eye to it for a while, she does not do well with confrontations...but I think Goofy was her final straw for putting up with her son and his family...
my son and his GF are usually outside when over there, so hopefully they will catch a glimpse of Angel...Aunt is also holding out hope that the neighbor might have her in the house because they have the other two of the white triplets born to that litter, but they do let them out of the house...grrrrr...Aunt said she has heard and seen a white cat outside their house, but it is not Angel, because Angel was the runt of the three of them, and she has a light beige coloured "halo" on the top of her head...so she is just going to also keep watching the white cats and pray she sees Angel with her halo...and that one of her grnadkids or nephews or neices is there at the time to go and get her...
She said her son can ...well, a few choice words inserted there...because Goofy will be inside now, and as soon as Angel is found, she too will be back inside...he can go get medicine for his son if he is allergic...
ANd if need be...there is my husband and me, and our friends, who are good friends of theirs as well, and the wife is the one who lectured on Tough Love...we will all do an intervention if necessary to get him and his wife out of the house, and DHS invloved with the grandkids...
Thanks for the prayers for both cats...I know she will much appreciate them!...I will let her know that prayers are being said for Goofy and Angel...
Re: Goofy
I'm glad to hear the aunt is at least listening.
I think when Goofy is home, and she watches him during his recovery, the pain in his eyes will hopefully be enough to remind her how cruel her son is, and that she should not trust him around her cats, or even herself and her husband for that matter.
I'm with you with the tough love. Just because they are family, doesn't mean they can't be responsible for themselves (the son). If the son is abusive or neglecting in any form, don't wait for an intervention, report it immediately.
I'd also ask your vet to document Goofy's injuries, you need to have this on record in the event it is necessary for some reason later.
Prayers continuing, don't give up on finding Angel...
I think when Goofy is home, and she watches him during his recovery, the pain in his eyes will hopefully be enough to remind her how cruel her son is, and that she should not trust him around her cats, or even herself and her husband for that matter.
I'm with you with the tough love. Just because they are family, doesn't mean they can't be responsible for themselves (the son). If the son is abusive or neglecting in any form, don't wait for an intervention, report it immediately.
I'd also ask your vet to document Goofy's injuries, you need to have this on record in the event it is necessary for some reason later.
Prayers continuing, don't give up on finding Angel...
..........Traci
Re: Goofy
Thanks Traci..we will not give up until Angel is found...one way or another...
She is going to document and if need be, I will report some of what she has told me about how her son and DIL treat their kids and each other...problem is...with me reporting it, that is considered hearsay and does not hold as much in getting something done as it would be for her to report...
BUT...on an upside...I am also a mandatory reporter since we went through foster/adoption classes...but I need to see the abuse to report it...stuck between a rock and a hard place...
I may call or e-mail our class instructors and ask them advice on this one...I want to report it, but will I be listened to?
Anyways..off to bed...we need to be up at 6:30 to get ready to take DS and his DGF to the zoo...she has never been...and the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha is very impressive with natural habitats and extreme care for all of the animals...I have been below to see the other side of their treatment as well...when they are not out "on display"
Goodnight and thanks again for your prayers and good thoughts for Goofy and Angel especially...
She is going to document and if need be, I will report some of what she has told me about how her son and DIL treat their kids and each other...problem is...with me reporting it, that is considered hearsay and does not hold as much in getting something done as it would be for her to report...
BUT...on an upside...I am also a mandatory reporter since we went through foster/adoption classes...but I need to see the abuse to report it...stuck between a rock and a hard place...
I may call or e-mail our class instructors and ask them advice on this one...I want to report it, but will I be listened to?
Anyways..off to bed...we need to be up at 6:30 to get ready to take DS and his DGF to the zoo...she has never been...and the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha is very impressive with natural habitats and extreme care for all of the animals...I have been below to see the other side of their treatment as well...when they are not out "on display"
Goodnight and thanks again for your prayers and good thoughts for Goofy and Angel especially...
Re: Goofy
JUst for reading enjoyment...here is a recent article on our vet
http://www.lemarssentinel.com/story/1110017.html
http://www.lemarssentinel.com/story/1110017.html
Re: Goofy
Yes, heartfelt prayers, and for the grandkids as well!
Cats stick around, it is unlikely Angel is far (if nothing happened to her), but hiding well. Best would maybe be to look at night or late evening, as she will be on the hunt. Maybe your son and gf can stay over to see if they can find her at night? Has the aunt tried to put food out for her? A trap? Also it would be good to tell each and every neighbour in a one mile radius, distribute photos of her, maybe even put fliers up.
One word of caution: if they talk to the son and confront him etc, he might get angry and vent his anger again towards the cats. At least that's what I'm always scared of when having to deal with cruel people.
Cats stick around, it is unlikely Angel is far (if nothing happened to her), but hiding well. Best would maybe be to look at night or late evening, as she will be on the hunt. Maybe your son and gf can stay over to see if they can find her at night? Has the aunt tried to put food out for her? A trap? Also it would be good to tell each and every neighbour in a one mile radius, distribute photos of her, maybe even put fliers up.
One word of caution: if they talk to the son and confront him etc, he might get angry and vent his anger again towards the cats. At least that's what I'm always scared of when having to deal with cruel people.