Not long ago, Kali Hawlk, Financial Writer and Marketing Manager for Common Sense Millenial, blogged about how important it is to have an Emergency Fund. That’s the money you put away for a rainy day, hoping that rainy day never comes.
But rainy days always do show up when they’re least expected. Usually we think of leaking roofs, flooding basements, backing-up sewer pipes that must be replaced. We just don’t think of our pets. When you’ve never had to take a pet to the vet in an emergency, you’d never think it could happen to you. Yet it happened to Kali Hawlk and her husband.
Even though she’s a financial advisor, Kali admits she doesn’t much like Emergency Funds. It’s hard when you have a tight budget and the temptations all around us, online especially, to set that money aside with no apparent goal. Grudgingly she did it.
And thank goodness, she said, when one of her furry four-legged kids faced a life-threatening situation with a short timeline. He had struvite crystals in his bladder, which meant he couldn’t urinate. “A cat who can’t urinate is a cat who is in pain and can die as quickly as 48 hours,” she blogged. Fortunately, they were able to get him to the vet around 12 hours after he got blocked.
He had to go to the emergency vet. He had an exam, procedures needing anaesthetic, and a three-night hospital stay. Plus a total of four medications for when he got home afterwards.
The estimate for these treatments was $2,000.00. Kali freaked out for a few minutes after the vet left the room to let them decide. All she could think of was the money. The shock of it. Vet bills seem outrageous because our own health care is looked after by the provinces. But soon it was her kitty she was thinking of. She gulped, and agreed. Why? Because they had an Emergency Fund that would cover it without interfering with their budget for everything else. That’s why.
The bill came in at $1,800.00. Eventually . . . eventually, they were able to make light of it. Sort of. Kali’s husband joked feebly about all the air miles they’d accumulated on the credit card they used to pay.
Mostly, though, they were relieved they didn’t have to compromise on looking after their little cat. He’s doing fine now, blissfully unaware of the shock he gave Kali and her husband.
As for them, they’ve started filling up that Emergency Fund again, convinced that it’s a good idea after all.
Did You Know? The LCHS has the Lady & Tramp fund, used to care for animals needing treatments or surgery not included in the shelter’s budget. Public donations are encouraged to keep this fund going – and to help those animals in need.
Comments or Questions? Email: lchsmatters@lchs.ca
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