The laboured gasping is now echoing in another voice as I end the life of this elderly cancer patient’s last and only companion. She sobs and sobs, cradlng his lifeless body, crying with unending heartbroken sorrow, and she wails to no one, why, please why can’t she go with him too, please. All I can do is clutch her hand tight as her tears soak into my shirt.

1. Client brings cat in without a cage (or even a box, or a pillowcase) even though it says you must do so clearly on the front door. In large print. In all caps.
2. Client puts unrestrained cat on front counter where it starts to wander around and knock things over.
3. When told to take her cat, client gruffly dumps cat on floor in waiting room as if you've been rude.
4. Cat starts to wander arou nd the waiting room where clients are coming in and out of the door and the clinic is near a busy street.
5. Both receptionists are busy on the phone so cat wanders behind the desk and into pharmacy where vets are often taking (large, boisterous) dogs (that may appreciate a tasty snack) to and from the hospital
6. Client is a bitch when you tell her to please restrain her cat.
7. Cat is here because owner is pretty sure it has cat flu, a highly contagious disease spread by sneezing.

Sometimes a little part of you wishes something would go wrong just to teach rude idiots a lesson.

But you know they'll just end up somehow blaming you for it.

Sometimes you wish animals could communicate with you.

O: There’s something wrong with Miffy. She’s sick.
Me: Okay. What do you mean when you say she’s sick? Is she vomiting?
O: Oh, she’s just not right. Something’s wrong.
Me: Okay… is she eating? Drinking?
O: Yes, she’s eating and drinking well.
Me: Toileting? Are they normal motions and normal frequency?
O: Yes yes they’re fine.
Me: Vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing, sneezing?
O: No, none at all.
Me: She looks like she’s quite bright and responsive here. Is she lethargic at home?
O: No no, she’s quite alert.
Me: So… when you say that something’s wrong, you mean….
O: …
Me: You mean, what exactly?
O: She’s just off.
Me: So her behaviour is abnormal?
O: Yes!
Me: What is the behaviour she is displaying?
O: She’s just not right.
Me: I.. um. Can you describe an example?
O: Well, she's eating and drinking, but sometimes, she, she just doesn't seem right. Like something's wrong.
Me: Uh. Well........ clinically I can’t find anything abnormal.
O: No she’s definitely unwell.
Me: I… well, I think she’s okay, but I can run some blood tests to double check.
O: Oh, I can’t afford that.
Me: I... uhh… look I think she’s fine.
O: Can’t you just give her an injection to make her feel better?
Me: No.
O: Oh.
Me: Yep.

Sometimes you wish owners could communicate with you.