I live with a large orange tabby. I have no idea how old he is. He was a rescued adult. He was extremely friendly. He would crawl all over anyone who came to visit. He is large, but not fat. For years his weight fluctuated between 17 and 19 pounds. In recent years he has become less playful and started sleeping more. In the last few months the naps have become more frequent. A few years ago he had a bout of pancreatitis. He did not like the pills, but after a few days he got better.

On Monday I gave him some canned food and then left for work. When I got home it was obvious he had been lying sick on the bathroom floor. He still drinks water but has ignored food since then. He was never much of a bed cat but last night he curled up with me.

A week ago I received a notification that he needs to have a health check, which is now scheduled for August 22nd.^and! That's how busy the local vets are right now. He has an emergency appointment today. I called yesterday but no one was there to see him in the afternoon. I'm just hoping he can make it through this morning.

I suspect the crisis in animal care is related to several things. First, there are many more people living in our valley with demands for pet care. Second, we are not training enough animal care specialists. When I was a young man growing up in rural America, being a veterinarian was a ticket to a very good life. Today, I wonder if the appeal has worn off. It is not easy to look into innocent eyes and know that you have to have the animal euthanized. It is also horrible to watch a furry friend fade away. It gives you a feeling of helplessness.