Odd as it is, there are some people out there who are interested in what I do for a living and the hospital where I work.
Click here to learn more about my hospital.
Hope that works.
A reporter was at my job last night taking pictures and talking with the staff for an article on animal emergency clinics. Last night was unusually slow, and he said he would have to come back another night to get enough info for a story, BUT maybe, I’ll have my moment in the spotlight and get my pic in the paper, and a quote or two as well.
And you should be very impressed that you got a write-up in the SP Times. They are a nationally renowned newspaper in journalism circles.
Did you find it difficult initially, as an animal-lover, to get past the heartbreak of being around suffering animals all the time – particularly ones for which little can be done? (Hit by a car with very serious injuries, etc.)
I live in a rural area, and there’s little or no after-hours, emergency veterinary services available. Not much of anything outside the realm of very basic veterinary services.
A friend of mine had a horror story where, following howls and screams outside his house, he came upon a dog that had taken a direct hit to the face from a porcupine. He then spent an hour trying to find someone who could (or would) help, finally finding a vet willing to do something after-hours – if he brought the dog to him, about 30-40 miles away. The dog suffering all that time. How awful.
Michi, I am so glad you do what you do!
I know that I would have a very difficult time being around all those suffering animals all the time. I work in a people hospital and for the most part I can handle human pain and suffering (well, physical pain and suffering, anyway) but I know I wouldn’t feel the same way about animals.
Like Milo, we have very few options around here if something were to happen to a dog or cat that required emergency attention at night. We have vets who will treat cows and horses on an emergency basis but not standard pets.
I have tremendous respect for the amazing work you and your co-workers do. I hope we can get more centers like yours around the country.
The suffering of the animals always gets to you. When it stops getting to you, you need to quit.
The thing that makes me the most upset, though, is the fact that so much of the suffering is needless. Many of the animals are sick or injured because of their OWNERS. Abuse, neglect, outright stupidity, I have seen it all. We get some very good pet owners in too, but thy seem so few and far between.
It also breaks my heart when an animal is suffering because of something I have to do to it. An animal doesn’t understand why I am jabbing needles into its veins, making it move when it is painful, things like that. But sometimes I have to hurt an animal in order to help it.
e had the reporter back today, but an article will not be forthcoming for several weeks. I’ll post a link when i can. (Unless my pictures are really bad) 
Blessings on you and all your co-workers, Michi. I am an incredible animal-freak and I think all vet workers are great. I live in central Florida about 1 1/2 hour east of you and the only emergency clinic is in the next town, about 15 minutes away. However, my vet tries to make himself available for emergencies whenever possible. I don’t think he does large animals, just pet-types. I think he’s wonderful.
Hijacking my own thread:
Trouble, are you up for a Florida gathering? See the thread by Sani for details.
Michi,
As you know, I’m very interested in what you do and where you work, and it’s pretty clear that I’m not the only one.
In our private correspondence, I’ve related to you the utmost respect that I have for your willingness to take less money than you might otherwise make, and deal with stresses that you’d otherwise be able to avoid (ie, the stupid people you deal with in a customer service oriented position), both in the name of doing something you believe in. I very much hope you get your name and picture in the paper–a small an inadequate reward for people such as yourself who give so much, yet rarely get the respect and attention they deserve!
As you point out, sometimes you have to hurt an animal to help it get better. An obvious statement, but, you know what? As logical as it is in theory, it’s difficult indeed in practice. I don’t think I could deal with doing that on an everyday basis. Nor putting an animal to sleep even if it’s the right thing to do.
I don’t think I could do your job. Not in a million years.
Whatever psychological and emotional rewards you get out of your job, it isn’t enough, period.
I admire you very much.
Dan
Well I work in a people hospital and could say the same thing. Lung cancer patient who still smoke, kidney dialysis patients who eat watermellon, heart patients who eat fried pork skins or smoke crack, etc…
The Animal ER article came out today. The reporter was from the Tampa Trib, not the St. Pete Times. You can see the article by going to http://www.tampatrib.com, and then clicking on Baylife. The Tampa Tib site isn’t as nice as the St. Pete Times site, it doesn’t include any of the pictures that went along with the article (but that’s OK cause none of my pics made it into the paper anyway! )
All in all, I was highly disappointed. The first two nights the reporter showed up, we were unsually slow, but he hung out with us, talked to us, got a lot of great info about what it’s like to work animal ER. The last time the reporter showed, we were slammed, and he got to see us all in action. Unfortunately, that night we lost two critical patients, and the pictures of them were the two biggest ones in the article! Great, everyone is going to think we kill all our patients! Also, the article itself ended up being about 5 whole paragraphs. I can’t believe that out of all the info we gave him, the article was so darned short. I guess I should feel somewhat flattered, considering how many people he talked to, it was a quote from me that got in.
So anyway, if you want to see the thing, check out the link.
Sorry for the hijack, but I was just wondering why this is ill-advised.
Michi, congrats on the quote! Too bad all these stalkers know your real name now. :eek:
I thought about that Chef Troy, but anyone who has ever sent me an e-mail ends up getting my whole name anyway…
Michi,
I don’t want to hijack your thread, but I’ve searched literally everywhere for this info, but no luck. If you could just point me to an info source, I’d be eternally grateful.
My very close friend got Cat Scratch Fever from her new kitten. She is now all in a tizzy over what to do with her. Will the cat develop any symptoms or pass it along to her other cat? Will she or her husband possibly become infected again? Is the main cause a scratch, or can you get it from petting her (the cat, not my friend).
Her vet said that she won’t contract it again, since she’s already had it. We don’t know if her husband has or not. He said her best bet is to just have the kitten declawed, thus reducing the chance of transmission to anyone.
Any ideas? What do people do with kitties that have this disease?
Zette
People undergoing kidney dialysis should not eat watermelon because the kidneys are responsible (among other things) for removing excess fluids from your body. You are only put on dialysis if your kidneys have shut down and unable to remove fluid. Drinking too much can cause swelling in your hands and legs which can lead to all sorts of complications (infections, gangrene, etc.). It ain’t pretty.
My mother worked as a nurse in a dialysis center for over a year while looking for a better job. She says it was the most stressful and depressing year of her life.
Michi I now know where to go should one of my kitty boys ever (gods forbid) develop cancer. Keep up the good work!
Tally
Zette, I honestly don’t know much about cat scratch fever. However, you might want to do a search on the word bartonellosis, or bartonella henselae.
I’ve only had to take animals to the emergency animal clinic here twice over the last 20 years, but it’s been a godsend.
The first cat had fallen about 10 feet from a wall onto a brick floor and suffered a serious brain injury. They weren’t able to save him, but they eased his death and were very kind to us.
The second was our 10 year old kitty who somehow got a pyothorax (serious infection surrounding the lungs, usually caused by a deep puncture wound in the chest). The emergency clinic was the only place with the equipment and knowledge to insert a chest tube, and even though the odds were not good (25% of cats survive this), he pulled through because of their expertise and loving care (he’s 15 now and very healthy for his age). They treated both my cat and me with respect and concern. I still send them cookies and a picture of the cat every Christmas.
I’m glad there are people who are willing and able to do this kind of work. You make life a lot easier for animal lovers.
It’s amazing how the media so frequently focus on the negative, even when there is so much that can be said which is positive.
My ex, a professional high diver (big tall ladders, little tiny shallow swimming pools), was interviewed by our local paper once. They talked a great deal to me, during which time I spoke of his athletic ability, how cool I thought it was (I was much younger then, okay?), lots of flattering things. As the reporter was leaving, notebooks all put away, interview over, I joked that I had on occasion referred to him as a “professional lunatic.” That was the only part of my comments mentioned in the article.
Michi, thanks to you and to those like you who are there for our pets. My cats are family. On more than one occasion I have been very grateful to the services of our local 24 hour emergency animal clinic. You provide an invaluable service - no matter how the media chooses to portray it.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Chef Troy *
**
Hey! Why’s everyone looking at me?? I already KNEW her real name!
I remember the first time Michi responded to my e-mail–I’d forgotten that Michelle wasn’t her first name, and I thought to myself “who the hell is…” I thought I’d been spammed!
Michi, I’m sorry that your pictures didn’t make it into the paper (Don’t newspaper editors in Tampa have any taste?) but at least you got quoted, and, as you’ve said in the past, yours isn’t the kind of job you take for the money or the fame.
You still have my undying respect and friendship, being one of my very favorite posters.
And if anyone wants to see the direct link: