That awkward moment I had to pick between my dog's surgery or a vacation I already paid for

My golden retriever Max tore his ACL chasing a squirrel three weeks ago, just days before I had a non-refundable trip to Portland booked. The vet quoted me $3,800 for the surgery, and I had about $4,200 saved up for the vacation and spending money. I stood there in the exam room, looking at Max's sad eyes, and I knew I couldn't go gallivanting off while he limped around for two months. So I canceled everything, took a $600 hit on the flight and hotel fees, and put the rest toward the surgery. He's recovering now, which is good, but he still gives me this guilty look every time I walk past the leash. Has anyone else had to bail on a big plan for a pet emergency and just accepted the loss?

2 comments

2 Comments

thea_chen1d agoMost Upvoted

My cat Lucy ate half a bag of those dumb catnip toys right before I had a $2,000 music festival weekend in Nashville all planned out. Vet bill was $1,400 for emergency surgery to get that green sludge out of her stomach (she was fine, just dramatic). I lost $800 on the festival tickets and hotel, but honestly watching her wobble around high on pain meds was funnier than any band I was gonna see. So yeah, I feel your pain - both financially and the part where your pet judges you for not taking them on the trip instead.

charles5081d ago

That recovery video must've been prime content though, watching a cat stagger around like a tiny furry drunk uncle is basically free entertainment. Pet ownership is just a constant gamble between "aww, cute" and "welp, there goes my savings account.