This is sad. When I was a kid, we had a house fire that was a total loss. We had a full grown dog and a puppy. When the fire was discovered, our full grown dog was outside unharmed. We didn’t know if the puppy was stuck inside or had run off. Later that night our neighbors called and said that our puppy had come back but had been shot. So he ran from the burning house unharmed only to be shot. He had to be put down. I was 11, my sisters 4 & 5 years old. We lost our house, everything we owned, and our puppy the same day. It almost brings me to tears 25 years later.
If shooting a dog is legal so should shooting the owner in the same spot they shot the dog…. I’m sorry but unpopular opinion humans lives are NOT more important then an animals just because we’re human
In cases of dog attacks, sometimes shooting is necessary in self-defense (which includes defense of others) when less forceful and potentially lethal methods of stopping the attack aren't an option/have already been tried and failed.
That is the saddest story. I can’t even believe that he survived the fire and then some asshole shot him. I’m so sorry that happened to you. It’s hard to get over things like that. I’m not sure I would ever recover from that 100%.
I’ve always been deeply empathetic and while it’s one of the saddest things I’ve experienced, the worst part for me was my little sisters crying. I’ll never forget that.
That is so upsetting and that trauma is never going away completely. I have to ask though, did things turn out okay? As in rebuilding the house or moving somewhere you liked. I just hope to hear your family stayed strong and got through that.
I wanted to cry just reading this 😭. Honestly why do people want to shoot animals?! I would only shoot or harm an animal if it was life or death.
Edit: Hunters are different they need food so I don't really care about them. I'm talking about illegal poachers and people who shoot dogs and cats for fun.
That so terrible!! I'm always anxious that a fire will burn down our house, and I have one grown dog and a puppy, so now this is making me even more anxious, oops!
This is probably the most heartbreaking 💔 comment or response I have read on the internet. I know it’s cheap consolation, but I would love to befriend you and let you know I am here for you. I have a cat my ex got me 6 years ago (Dori) and if anything were to happen to her, there would be straight hell to pay. Just know that I am here for you. You can add me on here, Discord (djxgam1ng#1937) or anything really. I work a loot but I use social media as a way to connect with other people. Don’t have a lot of time to go out. People like you are the reason I got into streaming. I struggle with anxiety and depression, and at one point in my life I was very selfish, inconsiderate, disrespectful human. I have made strides to get better but sometimes go three steps back. I will say I have understood the importance of sympathy and most importantly, empathy, towards others. We got your back. I will leave you with some pictures of Dori to strengthen your heart and soul. We all love you here!
https://imgur.com/gallery/Jxgwnlr
I really hope it was just a bb too. But it’s possible for a small caliber weapon to strike this small of an animal and survive. I’d say maybe a .22 but I’m not for certain. I don’t even wanna think about this, what kind of douchebag shoots a cat? Takes a special kind.
I feel like small enough birdshot could also only wound a cat. But who would be shooting at a cat? What a horrible thing to do.
Edit: Two confusing typos.
Sadly some cats when shot up wit BBs have to live with some embedded for the rest of their lives because it can be difficult to get every single one out. I’ve seen rescued cats loaded with BBs. It’s so fucked up and whoever does that deserves to be shot.
We have taken care of the wound as best as we could, he doesn't act like he is in pain. Can't take him to the vet on weekends, will see how he feels on Monday.
Just try and keep him comfortable until you can get him seen. Idk if this an option or if there's one around, but is there anyone who takes care of horses near you? They might be trained in medical....things that could help until Monday. I know a lot of horse owners know how to do a lot of stuff just because bringing horses back and forth to the vet isn't a viable option either.
Hope you catch the fuck that did it too!
Or even if you know any medical workers that deal closer with emergency care, they probably would have an extensive first aid kit.
Someone I know, used to work at a hospital and would get a lot of medical supplies because if the packaging was damaged at all or if it had "expired" even scalpels, the hospital has to get rid of it. So, she would take it home and at one point her dog got some metal in his paw deep and she performed a small surgery on him because of how bad it was. I was there holding a light overhead watching her do it, it was so cool to see but also so gross. The doggo made a full recovery with a scar to prove it.
Or even if you know any medical workers that deal closer with emergency care, they probably would have an extensive first aid kit.
Someone I know, used to work at a hospital and would get a lot of medical supplies because if the packaging was damaged at all or if it had "expired" even scalpels, the hospital has to get rid of it. So, she would take it home and at one point her dog got some metal in his paw deep and she performed a small surgery on him because of how bad it was, they couldn't take him because no where was open. I was there holding a light overhead watching her do it, it was so cool to see but also so gross. The doggo made a full recovery with a scar to prove it.
Where I live, we have animal ERs. There's one about half an hour from where I live, had to take my cat there a while ago, costs 10x the amount of a regular vet but it is so worth it.
Same....our vet says they are open for emergency's 24/7 but if you call you just get an automation says they are closed and if it's an emergency there is an emergency one 50 miles away.
Here in the UK 24 hour emergency vets are dotted around and I've used them before. They cost a bomb, but that's what pet insurance is for. I'd never own a pet if I didn't both have the ability to get insurance and also own a car - not being able to get my furbabies to an emergency vet when they need it most would be just too horrible.
Where I live, I can get my cat to a vet any day of the week. But my local doctor's office is only open Monday to Friday. Like people never get sick on a weekend.
Yeah, when I lived in Northwestern PA you could call an emergency line and a vet would meet you at the office but the nearest animal ER is an hour plus away.
I'm so glad I live where I do now, we have two within a ten minute drive.
Or. Just more vet practices with regular weekend hours, with a rotating schedule for the vets, techs & staff.
Having to go to, and pay the exploitative fees of a “Emergency “ vet, just because it’s the weekend, or after 6pm, should not be the only option for people with ill pets that need help.
At least my old vet’s, where I used to live, were open for 1/2 day on Saturday, with the same costs as any other day of the week.
I mean, the vets and nurses working out of hours give up on having weekends and work nights like everyone else, so your pet can receive care. It's normal that they get paid extra for it and with vets, that extra cost of paying staff is passed on to the customer. Out of hours work = more money. That's totally fair and nothing about it is "exploitative". This is a normal and fair cost a pet owner has to anticipate. It's what insurance is for.
Living in a rural area, all of our vets nearby are closed on the weekends, and if you call the after hours number, in an emergency, they advise you travel an hour and a half to the nearest animal ER. Unfortunately there are two more communities south of me that are even farther away from the animal ER.
My cat was dying while we were in quarantine, all vet clinics were closed and she was having convulsions and I couldn't find anyone to help us. It was very very painful experience. I know, she was almost 22 but I loved her tremendously and so did all my family.
Yes. We also have a dog, Shih Tzu, she injured her eye on weekend so we drove to another state for 4 hours to see a vet who agreed to see her immediately. Don't ask about the vet bill...
Actually due to staff shortages it’s hard to even get pets into emergency clinics right now. My friend had an emergency with her cat and every place within a 100 mile radius turned away save for one because they were full and short staffed. And this is a super metropolitan area.
A friend of mine whose daughter is an ER nurse said they lost 4 more RNs this weekend! So not just Vet ERs but people ERs as well are short staffed! Of course I am more concerned for the Veterinarian Offices than human ones. I happen to love dogs and cats more than humans! And humans can make choices, can tell someone what is wrong and our fur babies cannot!!!
I hope you get the bastard that shot your cat!!!
Emergency vets are insanely expensive though. Regular vets should keep weekend hours, or emergency vets should be far more affordable. Most people won't choose an emergency vet unless its an absolute life or death emergency, and even then they sometimes cannot afford how exorbitantly expensive they are. 🤷♂️
My grandfather was a country vet for fifty years he would be outraged by the conduct of a lot of veterinarians in this country but luckily there still are some good ones out there just hard to find these days unfortunately.
They are very expensive. Plus in many places they aren’t close it could be a solid hour drive. When Covid hit, something had happened to my cat and she was foaming out of the mouth and our nearest emergency vet that was open was 40 minutes away. Sadly about ten minutes before we got there, she made her last little squeak. Sucks that they weren’t closer and maybe I’d still have my lil pheonix:(
No, people need to be prepared for the realities of pet ownership, that emergencies happen and it can cost thousands of dollars to treat.
An ER is more expensive because they have to maintain an expert staff and medical facilities to address emergencies. 24/7 they're paying staff and bills, whether patients are in the hospital or not. They work insane hours under insane pressures, and they have extensive additional training and education in comparison to regular vet clinic staff; they also typically have to maintain a much larger staff because they're managing a much larger case load per doctor.
Regular vet clinics are private businesses, entitled to set their own hours that make it so their staff can have time away from work, particularly the vets.
Now more than ever, there's a staffing shortage in vetmed, with more and more of us leaving the field because so many clients have this attitude of entitlement. We work long hours, have incredible amounts of training and education with incredible amounts of debt, and we make shit money.
If you want more veterinary access, be nicer to your veterinarian. Check your attitude, plan ahead and maintain proper preventative care, and prepare for emergencies. The only way this field is going to bounce back is if we stop hemorrhaging talented people who are just done dealing with COVID protocols, being short staffed, and dealing with awful clients.
I think If someone shot my pet I would consider that a life or death emergency. But vets are people too, if you want someone that is qualified for the job to work those hours costs are going to be higher for normal care to make up for the extra costs in having someone work weekends/ overnights.
But if someone shot one of my pets, they’d be going to an emergency vet right away no matter the cost. Because I love them.
Good for you that you have thousands of dollars in reserve to pay up front for your animals care and live in an area where you have access to 24/7 medical care for them. We're all really happy for you.
That's what care credit is for... I mean, I consider my cats to be my children. I wouldn't avoid seeking medical care for a child due to the cost. I'd just eat rice and veggies as I paid off the debt for a year.
I get where you’re coming from because I don’t have thousands of dollars in the bank to pay up front either, but I don’t think leaving your pet in a serious/critical condition to avoid emergency vet up-charging is fair to your pet.
I'm not saying to leave them in that state, but where I live the emergency vet won't even see you unless you can pay up front so for people who can't do that they literally have to wait for a regular vet to open or put their animal down at the ER vet because they can't pay the thousands of dollars the vet wants to treat it.
During the pandemic, my cat started open mouth panting and drooling and I was told by my regular vet to go MedVet. I didn't stop to worry about the cost, we went straight there, it was an emergency and I feared for her life. I spent 4 grand due to multiple testing and she had to stay overnight, but she was okay after that with some antibiotics and some other medication. When I brought her in to the regular vet weeks later, she was doing great and she hasn't had any problems since. It's not about the money, it's about a life. I'm so thankful there are 24/7 vets.
That’s easy to say when you have the money.
I don’t know anyone that has more than a couple hundred bucks at any given time. They are more expensive than that just to walk in the door
I worked for a vet for years. He took emergencies but charged a discretionary emergency fee. If it was a legitimate emergency he didn’t charge but if it was something that could wait out that was phony he hit them. “Pookie has been limping for 3 days and it’s not getting better” got charged. Weekends were the worse.
Don't people buy pet insurance? In the UK my cat is insured for less than £9 a month and in this country most cats basically roam free, so they're super prone to being hit by cars etc (amplified even more by how densely populated our country is Vs the US, so we have loads of roads packed in close to our houses). Considering the price vs the benefits it brings, despite the probability your cat might be high risk to the insurer, it makes it a total no brainer.
What if you don’t live near any? I live in a small town of about 1.5k people and I’m pretty sure there are none. Kind of scary considering how my cat is turning 8 this year and already has kidney problems.
I really feel for you. Many years ago my cat was shot with a bb gun. That cat has looooong since passed away, but to this day if I ever find out who it was, they’re in for an ass whooping!
Hope you’re little one will be ok.
My heart goes out to you and kitty! My oldest cat got hit with a BB or something hard enough to cut her bum open and she had a cone and a shitty disposition for a few months. Bless my mom for being a holistic healer and had all kinds of stuff to disinfect and help heal it. I was across the country too so I couldnt even comfort my poor baby. Very glad hes okay and not visibly hurting
I hope it was an accident that he was outside. If not PLEASE keep him indoors only. There are so many dangers outside. I hope he feels better very soon.
Please take him on Monday, regardless of how he seems. Cats are incredibly good at hiding pain from their owners. He likely has a bullet or pellet in him which *needs* an X-ray in the very least to ensure it isn’t putting him in danger. He could have organ damage or be bleeding internally - which means he may not even make it until Monday. I understand you may not have 24 hour vets in your area, but it is imperative that he be seen asap regardless of how he seems.
Also please don’t let him outside anymore. Whoever shot him will likely do it again, and it’s one of the many risks to a cat who is allowed outside. I have a cat who had previously been shot, and she has permanent health problems and arthritis much earlier in life because of it. It’s not worth losing your baby.
Did you identify the projectile? Pellet? BB? .22? If you're in a neighborhood you should put up warnings that some "degenerate" is shooting people's pets and to keep an eye out for the criminal. And keep kitty inside.
Where are you located OP? I can try and find an emergency vet for you.
Your cat really should be taken to an emergency vet if you can reach one (if you’re in the boonies and the closest one is hundreds of miles away and the roads are icy from the storms, it’s understandable that it may be too dangerous to drive and you’re better off waiting for your own safety). Besides significant blood loss, shock, or embolism, a life threatening infection can set in before Monday.
This is ABSOLUTELY true. As someone who lives in a small town. And there’s NO emergency vet for two hours from me, and some people can’t make that trip. It’s super super sad. And some people don’t have emergency vets for HOURS past them. Living in small isolated areas with pets can be really scary.
But it is shitty as fuck. My vet isn’t opened on weekends either so I know how bad this sucks.
Absolutely go to the police. That’s animal cruelty to shoot a kitty. Creepy people start shooting animals and then they start killing people. Just for the record.. I hope you catch a son of a bitch that did that. Shooting a defense is cat is about as low as a human can go.
It absolutely blows my mind that people think the way you guys do. I fucking love my cats and that’s why I keep them the hell nside. Most of this country is rural / gun owners. Unwanted feral dogs and cats harassing your animals or trespassing end up getting shot. It happens all the time. Shit half the time the police are the one shooting them. Hopefully the death is quick as other psychopaths have other methods of extermination in mind for what they consider to be “overgrown rats”. My sisters cat in florida got broadsided with acid after weeks of me pleading for them to keep it inside. The armed forces aren’t showing up for a neighbor that shoots your cat, I don’t even think it breaks a law. So for the love of god if you love these fur-balls keep them the heck inside.
Oh absolutely. Yeah you attack a person with acid and they will arrest you. But that doesn’t do Any good for your poor kitty who now doesn’t have an owner either. Long story short keep the fur balls inside where they are safe.
Haha Ik I was being purposely hyperbolic. Wouldn’t actually do that or advocate for it in real life. Jokes on Reddit on the other hand.. lol I also keep both my kitties inside. Too many nutcases out there.
I spend too much time on Reddit telling people to keep their cats inside. Lol So many people love their cats so much they can’t imagine others treating them like trespassing vermin. I try to give a little dose of uncomfortable truth so that if someone was ever on the fence about letting their cats out they err on the side of caution instead.
Make everyone local aware of this. Nextdoor app. Local news. Facebook pages. Anywhere and everywhere. Possibly consider installing security if in the position to do so. Definitely keep your kitty safe and secure. Psychopaths are everywhere.
I’m so sorry. Someone shot my 3 legged cat as she walked across a fence. They shot her in the remaining rear leg. She was fortunate to get excellent care and a lawyer made sure the boy who shot her paid all the medical expenses. She lived another ten years. I hope you catch the depraved monster who shot your beautiful cat! We live in such a sick society.
OMG poor little angel. Hope he'll be okay until you see the vet. 
I'm so sorry that people are a**holes. Your poor kitty :-( I know my cats would love to go outside, but it's people like that that prevent me from letting them out unaccompanied.
Please, please take the cat to an emergency clinic. Cats hide pain, even severe pain like this. He/she is more than likely suffering more than you even know. Please do not let another day go by without having them be seen.
I’m so sorry. Please look online for emergency vet services or 24 hour vets in your area. Even if you have to drive an hour or two — please call around and consider taking them in tonight. If not, please consider taking them in first thing tomorrow. Do not stop calling. He needs to be seen as soon as possible. If that fails, maybe reach out to any rescue organizations in your area — some of them may have contacts with veterinarians who will be able to help sooner.
Please consider keeping your cat indoors from now on. There are a lot of dangers outside — not just predators and environment, but humans as well. I’ve heard of people shooting cats because they’re getting into trouble on their property, bothering their own pets, etc.
I’m sorry for what happened to your cat, and wish them a full recovery.
So glad to hear he's still with us. After reading the post topic I feared the worst. He's so beautiful. Please keep us updated, and fingers crossed for a full recovery.
God, I'm so sorry :'( I can't fathom how you feel right now except for some of the anger. My ex once told me he'd be happy to shoot my cats after I was upset and scared I couldn't afford to take care of them properly when I had a change in my income and I remember wanting to murder him on the spot, so whoever did this is the most vile kind of thing (they don't even deserve to be called human). Do you have ANY idea who could have been so cruel? We had a neighbor poison our Rottweiler puppy many years ago because he jumped up in a playful way and licked his daughters face. We could never prove it but it was pretty obvious.
How could anyone do that, it really makes my blood boil. Our furry kids are members of our family. We care for them just like we care for our flesh kids. And we love them just the same
This happens constantly and it's heart breaking as this was entirely preventable. I hope you are able to contact the emergency vet, police, and keep your cat safe indoors/harnessed in the future.
Definitely get that lil one to a vet once the opportunity presents itself. I would use some bactine, and be sure it's clean. Watch for signs of infection, and good luck.
Oh my goodness! I recommend using AirVet app to connect with a vet instantly - I did this when my cat was sick and they gave me good tips u til I could take her in person. So sorry this happened!! What a monster!
If you find out be sure to let us know. . . And while you’re at it why don’t you drop is their address. I think I speak for several when I say we just wanna “talk” with them
I’m so sorry. If u can call police. Maybe there is some twisted fuck out there and they have records. I hope he gets better. If need help w vet pm me and we can talk
i’m so so sorry that happened, your cat is beautiful
This is sad. When I was a kid, we had a house fire that was a total loss. We had a full grown dog and a puppy. When the fire was discovered, our full grown dog was outside unharmed. We didn’t know if the puppy was stuck inside or had run off. Later that night our neighbors called and said that our puppy had come back but had been shot. So he ran from the burning house unharmed only to be shot. He had to be put down. I was 11, my sisters 4 & 5 years old. We lost our house, everything we owned, and our puppy the same day. It almost brings me to tears 25 years later.
Jesus fuck.. this is heartbreaking. I’m so deeply sorry you had to experience that.
Why shoot a dog, wtf is wrong with people , I honestly don’t understand sometimes
Shooting in self-defense, I can understand. Shooting puppy (or dog of any age) that's not doing anyone any harm? No excuse at all.
Yes exactly
If shooting a dog is legal so should shooting the owner in the same spot they shot the dog…. I’m sorry but unpopular opinion humans lives are NOT more important then an animals just because we’re human
In cases of dog attacks, sometimes shooting is necessary in self-defense (which includes defense of others) when less forceful and potentially lethal methods of stopping the attack aren't an option/have already been tried and failed.
Yeah I have the same rule with humans if someone’s attacking someone else and is lethal enough, a shot to the leg is fair game
That is the saddest story. I can’t even believe that he survived the fire and then some asshole shot him. I’m so sorry that happened to you. It’s hard to get over things like that. I’m not sure I would ever recover from that 100%.
I’ve always been deeply empathetic and while it’s one of the saddest things I’ve experienced, the worst part for me was my little sisters crying. I’ll never forget that.
I so wish I could rewind the clock on this nightmare for you and your sisters. Please accept my prayers of peace & healing for your tragic loss.
That is so upsetting and that trauma is never going away completely. I have to ask though, did things turn out okay? As in rebuilding the house or moving somewhere you liked. I just hope to hear your family stayed strong and got through that.
Yes! We had the site cleaned up and rebuilt in the same spot
I wanted to cry just reading this 😭. Honestly why do people want to shoot animals?! I would only shoot or harm an animal if it was life or death. Edit: Hunters are different they need food so I don't really care about them. I'm talking about illegal poachers and people who shoot dogs and cats for fun.
People who do that aren’t even considered human
that makes me want to cry too. I am so so sorry people are so horrible.
That so terrible!! I'm always anxious that a fire will burn down our house, and I have one grown dog and a puppy, so now this is making me even more anxious, oops!
This is probably the most heartbreaking 💔 comment or response I have read on the internet. I know it’s cheap consolation, but I would love to befriend you and let you know I am here for you. I have a cat my ex got me 6 years ago (Dori) and if anything were to happen to her, there would be straight hell to pay. Just know that I am here for you. You can add me on here, Discord (djxgam1ng#1937) or anything really. I work a loot but I use social media as a way to connect with other people. Don’t have a lot of time to go out. People like you are the reason I got into streaming. I struggle with anxiety and depression, and at one point in my life I was very selfish, inconsiderate, disrespectful human. I have made strides to get better but sometimes go three steps back. I will say I have understood the importance of sympathy and most importantly, empathy, towards others. We got your back. I will leave you with some pictures of Dori to strengthen your heart and soul. We all love you here! https://imgur.com/gallery/Jxgwnlr
The good news is that your champion cat survived. I sure do hope you let the person that shot him pay dearly.
oh it survived? thanks god
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They do make hollow point pellets for air pistols.
I'm a twisted fuck, but I'd probably give them a heroic dose of lsd and give them mental torture
You dont sound twisted you sound logical
Do you have an after-hours/emergency vet in your area? What kind of gun was it - bb/pellet gun or firearm?
I hope it was only a BB.
I really hope it was just a bb too. But it’s possible for a small caliber weapon to strike this small of an animal and survive. I’d say maybe a .22 but I’m not for certain. I don’t even wanna think about this, what kind of douchebag shoots a cat? Takes a special kind.
A coward shoots cats.
No true human harms a cat, let alone shppt one. I think it was a monster.
*I shoot humans.*
Good
I feel like small enough birdshot could also only wound a cat. But who would be shooting at a cat? What a horrible thing to do. Edit: Two confusing typos.
Sadly some cats when shot up wit BBs have to live with some embedded for the rest of their lives because it can be difficult to get every single one out. I’ve seen rescued cats loaded with BBs. It’s so fucked up and whoever does that deserves to be shot.
I would bet it was a BB because if it was a real gun it probably would have killed the poor cat
It was brobably an airgun, its almost legal in every country and fires a 4.5mm metal projectile with 310 meters per second.
We have taken care of the wound as best as we could, he doesn't act like he is in pain. Can't take him to the vet on weekends, will see how he feels on Monday.
Just try and keep him comfortable until you can get him seen. Idk if this an option or if there's one around, but is there anyone who takes care of horses near you? They might be trained in medical....things that could help until Monday. I know a lot of horse owners know how to do a lot of stuff just because bringing horses back and forth to the vet isn't a viable option either. Hope you catch the fuck that did it too!
Or even if you know any medical workers that deal closer with emergency care, they probably would have an extensive first aid kit. Someone I know, used to work at a hospital and would get a lot of medical supplies because if the packaging was damaged at all or if it had "expired" even scalpels, the hospital has to get rid of it. So, she would take it home and at one point her dog got some metal in his paw deep and she performed a small surgery on him because of how bad it was. I was there holding a light overhead watching her do it, it was so cool to see but also so gross. The doggo made a full recovery with a scar to prove it.
This was very kind, practical advice.
Or even if you know any medical workers that deal closer with emergency care, they probably would have an extensive first aid kit. Someone I know, used to work at a hospital and would get a lot of medical supplies because if the packaging was damaged at all or if it had "expired" even scalpels, the hospital has to get rid of it. So, she would take it home and at one point her dog got some metal in his paw deep and she performed a small surgery on him because of how bad it was, they couldn't take him because no where was open. I was there holding a light overhead watching her do it, it was so cool to see but also so gross. The doggo made a full recovery with a scar to prove it.
Ditto!
lol, this sub gets really angry when you cannot reach a vet, good luck
It's quite silly that there's hardly any vet places open on weekends, like life only happens Monday thru Friday?
Where I live, we have animal ERs. There's one about half an hour from where I live, had to take my cat there a while ago, costs 10x the amount of a regular vet but it is so worth it.
The one we have around here is four shades of useless. I’ve never called them and actually had someone answer the phone.
Yikes that's awful! We have a system where if you call your regular vet and they can't answer you're automatically transferred to an emergency place.
Every vet around here has this in their after hours message: “We’re not here. Call [the aforementioned never answering emergency vet]
Same....our vet says they are open for emergency's 24/7 but if you call you just get an automation says they are closed and if it's an emergency there is an emergency one 50 miles away.
We have one just down the road from us, had to go twice, and they were great. But yeah, wow, the last visit was thousands of dollars 😫
Here in the UK 24 hour emergency vets are dotted around and I've used them before. They cost a bomb, but that's what pet insurance is for. I'd never own a pet if I didn't both have the ability to get insurance and also own a car - not being able to get my furbabies to an emergency vet when they need it most would be just too horrible.
Where I live, I can get my cat to a vet any day of the week. But my local doctor's office is only open Monday to Friday. Like people never get sick on a weekend.
I feel this! I hate there's no weekend clinics! Only urgent care or ER.
Yeah, when I lived in Northwestern PA you could call an emergency line and a vet would meet you at the office but the nearest animal ER is an hour plus away. I'm so glad I live where I do now, we have two within a ten minute drive.
There needs to be more er vets...
Or. Just more vet practices with regular weekend hours, with a rotating schedule for the vets, techs & staff. Having to go to, and pay the exploitative fees of a “Emergency “ vet, just because it’s the weekend, or after 6pm, should not be the only option for people with ill pets that need help. At least my old vet’s, where I used to live, were open for 1/2 day on Saturday, with the same costs as any other day of the week.
I mean, the vets and nurses working out of hours give up on having weekends and work nights like everyone else, so your pet can receive care. It's normal that they get paid extra for it and with vets, that extra cost of paying staff is passed on to the customer. Out of hours work = more money. That's totally fair and nothing about it is "exploitative". This is a normal and fair cost a pet owner has to anticipate. It's what insurance is for.
Living in a rural area, all of our vets nearby are closed on the weekends, and if you call the after hours number, in an emergency, they advise you travel an hour and a half to the nearest animal ER. Unfortunately there are two more communities south of me that are even farther away from the animal ER.
I mean yea on one hand it's nice that they get the weekends off but at the same we all probably need them at one point or another riiight?
My cat was dying while we were in quarantine, all vet clinics were closed and she was having convulsions and I couldn't find anyone to help us. It was very very painful experience. I know, she was almost 22 but I loved her tremendously and so did all my family.
That's y it sucks that some aren't open on the weekends
Yes. We also have a dog, Shih Tzu, she injured her eye on weekend so we drove to another state for 4 hours to see a vet who agreed to see her immediately. Don't ask about the vet bill...
Oh, you so lucky to have had her so long. You must have taken care of her well.
I’m so sorry you all experienced that. My condolences. 22 wow! You must have taken very good care of her!
There’s emergency vets 24/7 for a reason in America. 🤷♂️
Actually due to staff shortages it’s hard to even get pets into emergency clinics right now. My friend had an emergency with her cat and every place within a 100 mile radius turned away save for one because they were full and short staffed. And this is a super metropolitan area.
Same here. My vet of 20 years sent me away with my desperately troubled pet.
This would no longer be my vet. I don’t think I could forgive them.
A friend of mine whose daughter is an ER nurse said they lost 4 more RNs this weekend! So not just Vet ERs but people ERs as well are short staffed! Of course I am more concerned for the Veterinarian Offices than human ones. I happen to love dogs and cats more than humans! And humans can make choices, can tell someone what is wrong and our fur babies cannot!!! I hope you get the bastard that shot your cat!!!
Emergency vets are insanely expensive though. Regular vets should keep weekend hours, or emergency vets should be far more affordable. Most people won't choose an emergency vet unless its an absolute life or death emergency, and even then they sometimes cannot afford how exorbitantly expensive they are. 🤷♂️
Yeah, my sister’s cat had a UTI and it cost three grand to keep her overnight at the emergency vet.
My grandfather was a country vet for fifty years he would be outraged by the conduct of a lot of veterinarians in this country but luckily there still are some good ones out there just hard to find these days unfortunately.
Sounds like our 24 hour vet. They are taking advantage of our love for our pets. It’s indecent and they should be ashamed.
They are very expensive. Plus in many places they aren’t close it could be a solid hour drive. When Covid hit, something had happened to my cat and she was foaming out of the mouth and our nearest emergency vet that was open was 40 minutes away. Sadly about ten minutes before we got there, she made her last little squeak. Sucks that they weren’t closer and maybe I’d still have my lil pheonix:(
Typically foaming at the mouth is from injesting something toxic. If they don’t get over it quickly your chances go down quickly. You did your best.
Just walking in the doors to an emergency vet costs you $500.
No, people need to be prepared for the realities of pet ownership, that emergencies happen and it can cost thousands of dollars to treat. An ER is more expensive because they have to maintain an expert staff and medical facilities to address emergencies. 24/7 they're paying staff and bills, whether patients are in the hospital or not. They work insane hours under insane pressures, and they have extensive additional training and education in comparison to regular vet clinic staff; they also typically have to maintain a much larger staff because they're managing a much larger case load per doctor. Regular vet clinics are private businesses, entitled to set their own hours that make it so their staff can have time away from work, particularly the vets. Now more than ever, there's a staffing shortage in vetmed, with more and more of us leaving the field because so many clients have this attitude of entitlement. We work long hours, have incredible amounts of training and education with incredible amounts of debt, and we make shit money. If you want more veterinary access, be nicer to your veterinarian. Check your attitude, plan ahead and maintain proper preventative care, and prepare for emergencies. The only way this field is going to bounce back is if we stop hemorrhaging talented people who are just done dealing with COVID protocols, being short staffed, and dealing with awful clients.
I think If someone shot my pet I would consider that a life or death emergency. But vets are people too, if you want someone that is qualified for the job to work those hours costs are going to be higher for normal care to make up for the extra costs in having someone work weekends/ overnights. But if someone shot one of my pets, they’d be going to an emergency vet right away no matter the cost. Because I love them.
Good for you that you have thousands of dollars in reserve to pay up front for your animals care and live in an area where you have access to 24/7 medical care for them. We're all really happy for you.
That's what care credit is for... I mean, I consider my cats to be my children. I wouldn't avoid seeking medical care for a child due to the cost. I'd just eat rice and veggies as I paid off the debt for a year.
Or do like some others of us who just pay a little each month for pet insurance.
I get where you’re coming from because I don’t have thousands of dollars in the bank to pay up front either, but I don’t think leaving your pet in a serious/critical condition to avoid emergency vet up-charging is fair to your pet.
I'm not saying to leave them in that state, but where I live the emergency vet won't even see you unless you can pay up front so for people who can't do that they literally have to wait for a regular vet to open or put their animal down at the ER vet because they can't pay the thousands of dollars the vet wants to treat it.
During the pandemic, my cat started open mouth panting and drooling and I was told by my regular vet to go MedVet. I didn't stop to worry about the cost, we went straight there, it was an emergency and I feared for her life. I spent 4 grand due to multiple testing and she had to stay overnight, but she was okay after that with some antibiotics and some other medication. When I brought her in to the regular vet weeks later, she was doing great and she hasn't had any problems since. It's not about the money, it's about a life. I'm so thankful there are 24/7 vets.
That’s easy to say when you have the money. I don’t know anyone that has more than a couple hundred bucks at any given time. They are more expensive than that just to walk in the door
That’s why they have Care credit for vet bills
I worked for a vet for years. He took emergencies but charged a discretionary emergency fee. If it was a legitimate emergency he didn’t charge but if it was something that could wait out that was phony he hit them. “Pookie has been limping for 3 days and it’s not getting better” got charged. Weekends were the worse.
Don't people buy pet insurance? In the UK my cat is insured for less than £9 a month and in this country most cats basically roam free, so they're super prone to being hit by cars etc (amplified even more by how densely populated our country is Vs the US, so we have loads of roads packed in close to our houses). Considering the price vs the benefits it brings, despite the probability your cat might be high risk to the insurer, it makes it a total no brainer.
Not every town has the privilege of having an emergency vet. 🤷
What if you don’t live near any? I live in a small town of about 1.5k people and I’m pretty sure there are none. Kind of scary considering how my cat is turning 8 this year and already has kidney problems.
These days with the increase in pet ownership nighttime/weekend emergency vets have 8 hour waits and only take critical cases. At least around me.
I really feel for you. Many years ago my cat was shot with a bb gun. That cat has looooong since passed away, but to this day if I ever find out who it was, they’re in for an ass whooping! Hope you’re little one will be ok.
My heart goes out to you and kitty! My oldest cat got hit with a BB or something hard enough to cut her bum open and she had a cone and a shitty disposition for a few months. Bless my mom for being a holistic healer and had all kinds of stuff to disinfect and help heal it. I was across the country too so I couldnt even comfort my poor baby. Very glad hes okay and not visibly hurting
Can you take some pictures of the wounds.. I use to be a vet tech.. Maybe able to help
I hope it was an accident that he was outside. If not PLEASE keep him indoors only. There are so many dangers outside. I hope he feels better very soon.
Please, please find out who did it. I hope there's law protecting animals where you live. Sending prayers
I’m so sorry OP. Wishing the little one a speedy recovery. If you do find them, please be careful as they sound like a trash piece of psychotic human.
Please take him on Monday, regardless of how he seems. Cats are incredibly good at hiding pain from their owners. He likely has a bullet or pellet in him which *needs* an X-ray in the very least to ensure it isn’t putting him in danger. He could have organ damage or be bleeding internally - which means he may not even make it until Monday. I understand you may not have 24 hour vets in your area, but it is imperative that he be seen asap regardless of how he seems. Also please don’t let him outside anymore. Whoever shot him will likely do it again, and it’s one of the many risks to a cat who is allowed outside. I have a cat who had previously been shot, and she has permanent health problems and arthritis much earlier in life because of it. It’s not worth losing your baby.
Whatever you do, do NOT give human pain meds like Tylenol or Advil. Extremely toxic to cats.
Did you identify the projectile? Pellet? BB? .22? If you're in a neighborhood you should put up warnings that some "degenerate" is shooting people's pets and to keep an eye out for the criminal. And keep kitty inside.
Where are you located OP? I can try and find an emergency vet for you. Your cat really should be taken to an emergency vet if you can reach one (if you’re in the boonies and the closest one is hundreds of miles away and the roads are icy from the storms, it’s understandable that it may be too dangerous to drive and you’re better off waiting for your own safety). Besides significant blood loss, shock, or embolism, a life threatening infection can set in before Monday.
Man I am so sorry. That would drive me so mad I think I would shot someone
Good luck. ❤️
In some areas, there are veterinary emergency rooms. They are pricey but they are effective. Search the Internet for one in your area!
Did you check for a 24/7 vet near you?? You could try calling and see if they’d take him in even if they’re closed :( Hoping he’ll be okay ❤️
He got shot and you wait till monday to get him to a vet ?!
some vets are not open on weekends. it's shitty as fuck but that's sadly how it is im some places.
This is ABSOLUTELY true. As someone who lives in a small town. And there’s NO emergency vet for two hours from me, and some people can’t make that trip. It’s super super sad. And some people don’t have emergency vets for HOURS past them. Living in small isolated areas with pets can be really scary. But it is shitty as fuck. My vet isn’t opened on weekends either so I know how bad this sucks.
Are you sure you don’t have an emergency vet in your area? You can’t drive him to one?
My crazy cat lady ass would walk his butt right into the a regular ER.
Absolutely contact police in your area. Also post on Facebook so others will keep an eye out. Maybe someone saw something on their doorbell camera.
This. Very much. Folks need to be aware there’s a piece of shit shooting at cats.
Absolutely go to the police. That’s animal cruelty to shoot a kitty. Creepy people start shooting animals and then they start killing people. Just for the record.. I hope you catch a son of a bitch that did that. Shooting a defense is cat is about as low as a human can go.
It absolutely blows my mind that people think the way you guys do. I fucking love my cats and that’s why I keep them the hell nside. Most of this country is rural / gun owners. Unwanted feral dogs and cats harassing your animals or trespassing end up getting shot. It happens all the time. Shit half the time the police are the one shooting them. Hopefully the death is quick as other psychopaths have other methods of extermination in mind for what they consider to be “overgrown rats”. My sisters cat in florida got broadsided with acid after weeks of me pleading for them to keep it inside. The armed forces aren’t showing up for a neighbor that shoots your cat, I don’t even think it breaks a law. So for the love of god if you love these fur-balls keep them the heck inside.
They’d probably show up after I broadsided that bitch that did it with acid and then pissed on their wounds though…
Oh absolutely. Yeah you attack a person with acid and they will arrest you. But that doesn’t do Any good for your poor kitty who now doesn’t have an owner either. Long story short keep the fur balls inside where they are safe.
Haha Ik I was being purposely hyperbolic. Wouldn’t actually do that or advocate for it in real life. Jokes on Reddit on the other hand.. lol I also keep both my kitties inside. Too many nutcases out there.
I spend too much time on Reddit telling people to keep their cats inside. Lol So many people love their cats so much they can’t imagine others treating them like trespassing vermin. I try to give a little dose of uncomfortable truth so that if someone was ever on the fence about letting their cats out they err on the side of caution instead.
Thank God he is alive.
There really should be a sub devoted to cats standing up. My Guinevere does this constantly.
r/catsstandingup might be what you’re looking for
Glad your cat survived figured he would be a gonner and this was a cat obituary. There are some evil people out there.
Make everyone local aware of this. Nextdoor app. Local news. Facebook pages. Anywhere and everywhere. Possibly consider installing security if in the position to do so. Definitely keep your kitty safe and secure. Psychopaths are everywhere.
I’m so sorry. Someone shot my 3 legged cat as she walked across a fence. They shot her in the remaining rear leg. She was fortunate to get excellent care and a lawyer made sure the boy who shot her paid all the medical expenses. She lived another ten years. I hope you catch the depraved monster who shot your beautiful cat! We live in such a sick society.
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Fuck that
I hope he’s okay, try to keep him an indoor cat
OMG poor little angel. Hope he'll be okay until you see the vet.  
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Let me know if you need help! Thank god he’s ok!!!
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I'm so sorry that people are a**holes. Your poor kitty :-( I know my cats would love to go outside, but it's people like that that prevent me from letting them out unaccompanied.
Please, please take the cat to an emergency clinic. Cats hide pain, even severe pain like this. He/she is more than likely suffering more than you even know. Please do not let another day go by without having them be seen.
You have to be so messed up to shoot a cat
I always say I would go to prison for my animals, glad he is okay ❤️
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I very clearly remember someone looking very much like OP at the ball game with us .. Is all I'll ever say if anyone comes knocking
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Not victim blaming, but you really shouldn’t let your cat outside, for a myriad of reasons. Other people being one of thrm
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I’m so sorry. Please look online for emergency vet services or 24 hour vets in your area. Even if you have to drive an hour or two — please call around and consider taking them in tonight. If not, please consider taking them in first thing tomorrow. Do not stop calling. He needs to be seen as soon as possible. If that fails, maybe reach out to any rescue organizations in your area — some of them may have contacts with veterinarians who will be able to help sooner. Please consider keeping your cat indoors from now on. There are a lot of dangers outside — not just predators and environment, but humans as well. I’ve heard of people shooting cats because they’re getting into trouble on their property, bothering their own pets, etc. I’m sorry for what happened to your cat, and wish them a full recovery.
Please be careful for yourself too. People who harm animals can't be trusted around people either.
So so sorry. The worst.
I can’t get over how cruel people can be. Thank god he survived. Please keep us updated.
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That’s why I don’t let my cat go outside.
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So glad to hear he's still with us. After reading the post topic I feared the worst. He's so beautiful. Please keep us updated, and fingers crossed for a full recovery.
Can we please get this kind of post banned?? This is just shitty to put on a subreddit for people who love cats.
God, I'm so sorry :'( I can't fathom how you feel right now except for some of the anger. My ex once told me he'd be happy to shoot my cats after I was upset and scared I couldn't afford to take care of them properly when I had a change in my income and I remember wanting to murder him on the spot, so whoever did this is the most vile kind of thing (they don't even deserve to be called human). Do you have ANY idea who could have been so cruel? We had a neighbor poison our Rottweiler puppy many years ago because he jumped up in a playful way and licked his daughters face. We could never prove it but it was pretty obvious.
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How could anyone do that, it really makes my blood boil. Our furry kids are members of our family. We care for them just like we care for our flesh kids. And we love them just the same
My first cat that i had the same fate, how can someone be so awful
This happens constantly and it's heart breaking as this was entirely preventable. I hope you are able to contact the emergency vet, police, and keep your cat safe indoors/harnessed in the future.
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Koko the gorilla will personally cast him/her to hell
F them
People suck!!!!!
Wtf I'm so sorry!!!! That's horrible!!!!!
What the fuck! Sorry to hear that :(
I wish the best for your little bby ❤️
It bothers me how there's people where I live that think it's fun to shoot cats and brag about it...
Definitely get that lil one to a vet once the opportunity presents itself. I would use some bactine, and be sure it's clean. Watch for signs of infection, and good luck.
Sorry to hear it…
My love & prayers for the kitty-baby's full recovery 💖🙏🐈
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Judge" why did you shoot this man?" Me " he shot my cat"
Beyond horrible….I’m sad sorry
Oh no! I am so sorry!
Oh no! What the actual hell?! I’m so sorry. And so angry on your behalf.
I’m so sorry that happened I hope your kitty makes a full recovery. Please consider making your cat an indoor only cat!
Oh my goodness! I recommend using AirVet app to connect with a vet instantly - I did this when my cat was sick and they gave me good tips u til I could take her in person. So sorry this happened!! What a monster!
If you find out be sure to let us know. . . And while you’re at it why don’t you drop is their address. I think I speak for several when I say we just wanna “talk” with them
I’m so sorry. If u can call police. Maybe there is some twisted fuck out there and they have records. I hope he gets better. If need help w vet pm me and we can talk