All veterinary care costs moneyMy entire life I have saved baby birds from untimely deaths beneath maple trees as they plea to be put back in their nests. A whole plethora of wildlife and domestic animals have called my home their own. Helping animals has always been my passion. That is why I was surprised to see the title of Matt McEntire’s opinion article in the Daily Reveille that read “The University’s Vet School Does Not Appear to Teach.” I had never heard any comments about the clinic being substandard, so I proceeded to read the article. I want to thank Matt for being one of the many people who have exemplified the problem with veterinary medicine. No one sees veterinary care as a priority among their financial obligations. I understand the cat Matt took in was, in fact, not his pet. But if he saw it as his duty to take this cat into his care, and he felt so badly for the poor injured feline, he should understand the need to pay for the treatment the cat would have needed. I’m glad he found a good deal at another veterinary hospital that did surgery and doled out medication for free. However, this doesn’t excuse his criticisms of one of the best veterinary hospitals in the state. The first thing that people should realize is the quote he received on the phone was most likely an overestimate, as people get angry when you charge them more than they expect. In addition, the professionals that are employed at the LSU veterinary clinic (yes, there are more than just students at the clinic) expect and deserve the paychecks they receive. They work diligently to save the lives of the animals we love, or at least want to help. Asking them to care for an animal without any compensation is like asking someone to build you a house for free. Or going to a teaching hospital for people and demanding medical care without payment because the students need to learn. It just doesn’t make sense. So the next time you adopt an animal keep in mind the financial commitment you are incurring. The veterinarians who use their abilities and talent to care for your pet have to put food on the table for their families too, and they cannot do so without receiving due payment for their expertise.Brianna Reidanimal science sophomore—-Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at [email protected]
Letter to the Editor, 10/29
October 27, 2008