I have been a wife and mother for over twenty years. Now I am becoming my husband's lover, too.
We owe it all to my fellow bloggers who gave me the courage to come out to my husband as a spanko.
I do feel like this is a New Beginning for us.

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Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Now Hear This ...

I want to tell you about a foolish mistake I made that could have cost one of my beloved pets his life. Consider this my Public Service Announcement! Monday morning Nick found that one of the cats had caught and killed a bat and of course brought it in. Now had it been a mouse or a mole, big deal. But this was a bat. It is unusual for a healthy bat to be some where that a cat can catch it. Of course rabies was the first thing on our minds!

My first call was to the vet to check to be sure all vaccinations were up to date. My heart sank when I heard that one of the cats, the one who hunts the most, was past due on the rabies vaccine. My fault I am supposed to keep up with such thing but not really being worried about rabies I had put it on the back burner.

Next I called animal control. They said our other pets should have boosters but that the unvaccinated one had to be turned over to animal control until the bat could be checked for rabies. If the bat came back positive for rabies our sweet, loving, little pet would have to be put down. I felt sick to my stomach at the thought.

The animal control folks were very nice. They told me I could come visit him any time I like and I did. They stayed with me as I held and tried to comfort my confused kitty. I thought they were just being kind and trying to comfort me but I also realized they were probably making sure I didn’t grab him and run!

Gratefully the good word came on Wednesday! The bat tested negative for rabies!!!! LJ and I went to pick up our baby. He was sooooo happy to be home. He sniffed everything and every one. He ate, just in two days Nick and I both could tell he had lost weight.

Guys we really dodged a bullet. If you have pets check now to make SURE all vaccines are up to date. You never know when your pet could come in contact with wildlife. I would have been devastated if we had been forced to put down this loving pet. Believe me from now on I will always keep all my pet vaccinations up to date!!

13 comments:

  1. I am so glad this story had a happy ending.
    Hugs,
    Kallisto

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  2. I think PK now stands for "Poor Kitty" as I felt so sorry for him and for all of you! Thank goodness the bat wasn't rabid and that kitty got to go home. You've definitely gotten my attention with this PSA. The appointment is scheduled. Do you have any earplugs? He's a yowler!

    This is a two-fer comment.... your birthday wish to Eva is wonderful. An entire year of good things and adventures to create fond memories, what a loving thing to do!

    ciao bella~
    CeeCi

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  3. PK, I'm so glad this story had a happy ending.
    All my lot have their shots regularly.
    Warm hugs,
    Paul.

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  4. Thank god everything turned out OK!

    I don't understand why they would have had to put the kitty down. Shouldn't they wait to see if the kitty actually GOT rabies? Maybe they could have put the kitty in quarantine. What if the kitty never got rabies??

    Just questioning the policies, no need to answer!

    Oh well, at least it worked out!

    HUGS!
    grace

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  5. Here's to happy endings... I knew it would all be OK!!!! It had to be!

    BTW, on the subject, our dear little Jerry girl is going on Tuesday for her first real exam and vaccines... heaven help the vet and technicians who get to hold her, LOL. (One time when I'm happy NOT to be the tech)...

    Mittie's next, immediately after she nurses the little ones...

    Love you, and your PK!
    Tiggs

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  6. Anonymous4:04 PM

    I'm so happy the story had a happy ending and that you've passed out this timely PSA.

    Debbie :)

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  7. Thanks Kallisto, It was very scary!

    CeeCi,
    Our kitty howled all the way there and back until we got back to our street then he hushed. I guess he just wanted to make sure we knew where we were going.

    I hope some of Eva's wished come true.

    Paul,
    You are a smart man! I won't be caught short again!

    Grace there would have been an option of a 6 month quarantine. But boarding him in a cage at a licensed facility for that length of time would just about have destroyed him and cost nearly $3,000!

    Tig,
    I would be glad to help, holding wild cats was one of my best things!

    Thanks Debbie. Good to hear from you. Email me sometime, I miss you!

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  8. This post made my heart skip a beat. I am so happy you did not have to go through this one. I still cry over Cheeseburger every morning when I open the door and he is not there!

    Good news! Huggs
    Theresa

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  9. Anonymous6:51 PM

    What a scare! I could just imagine your poor, lonely kitty wondering what had happened to his happy family! I'm glad it all worked out, but it's a lesson to all of us. Thanks PK

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  10. PK,
    I called today and all are up to date but one is due next month. Thank you for the reminder!!

    Love,
    Cassie

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  11. Theresa,
    I know it takes a while to adjust to a loss like that.

    Suzq,
    He did seem very confused especially when I went to visit. Glad all animals are fine now.

    Cassie,
    I am glad you checked! And I am glad all mine are now going to be due at the same time from now on and in the summer.

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  12. Thank you PK! It is so important! We had only indoor cats but they escaped every once in a while. Heart worm was a big concern when they did also. On the other side of the coin, our friends daughter this past week was bitten by my in-laws dog. Neither one's fault, but it happened. She had to go in for stitches, and the police had to investigate the dog. Guess what.. some of the shots including rabies were not up to date. Luckily they didn't have to take the dog but allowed them to keep it at home chained up for 10 days. The dog was not rabid, and he got his shots today. Never the less a big scare for both, all families involved.

    Carye

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  13. Anonymous5:12 PM

    Wow... scary stuff.

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