A little while ago I was on hold with with TLC (Tender Loving Care), a nearby WeHo pet clinic. I’ve dealt with these people before, and I think it’s fair to describe them, no offense, as bloodsucking opportunists looking to emotionally exploit pet owners who don’t have kids but have cash to spare. That’s a roundabout way of saying that their prices are ridiculous.
I asked for an estimate to spay Anya, our female Siamese, and they said it could cost between $600 and $2000 [hint: the final fee will be closer to the latter estimate than the former], plus $300 for a pre-operative blood work examination. ($300 just to draw blood and determine her general health?)
TLC is now offering dental and gum treatment for dogs and cats who have bad breath. “Is your pet’s bad breath sending a bad message?” the recorded message says. “They could be suffering from gum disease, which tends to occur after a pet reaches age 3. TLC offers professional dental and gum cleaning,” etc. Any guesses what they’re charging to cure halitosis? $300 or $400 minimum, is my presumption.
It is estimated that our main pet clinic, Laurel Pet Hospital, will charge $700 and change, all in.
Finding a low-cost spaying operation is hell. Hours and hours online and on the phone, etc. Maybe we can save money by taking Anya to a reputable Mexican pet clinic in Tijuana or Rosarito. Update: I’ve made a neutering appointment with a reputable animal clinic Rosarito Beach for Thursday, 8.12. The cost will be $80 to $100.
“Death and Money,” posted on 6.26.11: “I wrote last year about the death of my Siamese cat Zak from pancreatic cancer at age 15. He stopped eating toward the end, prompting me to put Gerber’s baby food on his nose so he would at least lick it off. He was obviously finished.
Any country vet would have taken one look and said, “Take him home and make him comfortable, and if you want to put him to sleep towards the end, we’ll do that for you. I’m sorry, but he hasn’t long to live.”
When I took Zak to TLC Animal Hospital in West Hollywood they managed to extract $600 or $700 for observation and stabilization fees before putting him to sleep. Caring shysters like TLC know full well that pet owners want to do something (i.e., spend something) when their pet is dying, and so they step right up and show love and concern for your pet and offer consolation to the owner[s] and get that money. They’re trustworthy professionals, but they know how to vacuum your wallet.
I’m mentioning this because a couple I’m friendly with just lost their dog. He was diagnosed with cancer about two and a half months ago. They were told by a vet that the cancer couldn’t be cured but that the tumor could be removed and that this would probably buy their dog some time, perhaps as much as a year. So they dropped $10 grand on the operation and subsequent medical attention, and the poor dog stopped breathing a few hours ago, just like that.