Over the last few months, I’ve been working at a veterinary hospital and loving every minute of it. Being around cute puppies and kittens all day keeps me more than happy and sane. One particular day this week something happened that almost changed my entire opinion about working there. Everything was normal until about one hour before we were to close. Then the phone rang.

The new girl answered the phone, but wasn’t quite experienced enough to know how to handle things properly. She placed the call on hold and explained to me the situation. She informed me that the lady who had called found a kitten that needed emergency care, but the clinic that this lady normally brings her own pets to was already closed for the day. I told her to ask the doctor and the doctor said she would take in the kitten if it was brought before 5:30.

So, the said time rolls around and still no kitten. At about 5:35, this lady’s daughter comes running through the door with a box. One of the techs came out and spoke with the lady and that’s when I peeked inside the box. This is about when I start to dry heave. The first thing I saw was the kitten’s ear. It was pretty much filled with maggots. Then the kitten turned its head towards me because it heard me gasping. It opened its eye, but there was no eye to be seen. It was swarming with maggots scurrying around trying to suck up any dead skin or mucus they could find. More dry heaving ensued.

Two of the techs rushed the kitten back into the operating room with the doctor close behind. After about three hours of treatment and tests (x-rays, blood tests, maggot removal), they bring Pumpkin, the kitten, back to the front lobby. The lady who brought Pumpkin to us was waiting patiently and was excited to see the kitten maggot-free and purring softly. She was instructed to bring this kitten to a 24-hour emergency clinic for overnight observation. She asked if she could bring Pumpkin back in the morning and we were quick to say yes. The once hideous beast turned out to be quite an adorable orange and white kitten with pretty blue eyes.

The next morning we received a phone call from the lady and we were told how Pumpkin was doing. Well, Pumpkin was dead. He made it through half the night, and then his cute little kitten heart stopped beating. It was devastating to hear, but it’s just one of many tragedies that take place in any given week. Sometimes I wonder why I still work there, but when one of these potential tragedies are avoided and I see the look on the animal’s, and the owner’s face, it makes it all worthwhile.