The other day, a friend asked me if I could name the five things that made me happiest. He had a list, but for me, the only thing that came to mind was his…the morning I spent at Crissy Field with my dog, Agatha Pocket. These memories are so precious to me that for years my nickname here and on my social media and Zoom accounts has been pictures of Aggies running through the waves.
These trips to Chrissy were before Aggie had anterior cruciate ligament surgery. Several days a week, we set off first thing in the morning, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge in commuter traffic and heading to Crissy, San Francisco. The fog was just beginning to clear as a huge, colorful container ship passed under the bridge heading for the Pacific Ocean. There were very few people on the beach when we arrived. Most are dog walkers, packing their bags. Aggie was off leash for an hour, jumping in the waves, fetching a stick, and having fun chasing.
It was always a happy start to the day. I watched the sailboats go by, felt the wind on my cheeks, and walked near the shoreline to pick up a stick to throw into the water. Before heading back to Sausalito and the computer, I stop at the dog wash station and give Aggie a wash.
I didn't realize how much I missed it until the other day when I realized it was gone forever.
We stopped going after anterior cruciate ligament surgery. The main reason is that in the case of an anterior cruciate ligament tear, there is always a high chance that the dog will tear the other cruciate ligament. Not only did I not want to put her through another surgery, but I also had to factor in her costs, which were well over $10,000.
The Aggies haven't let go of the lead since then. Instead, we walk him on leash several times a day.
Yesterday morning, I went to the vet again for the second time in the past week. Aggie started skimming her butt along the floor on Tuesday. She was desperately trying to reach her hand to the itchy area and licking what was lying on her side. She was really distraught. After about $450 (tests, two shots, take-home spray, probiotics), she's calmer now. She's already healed.
This visit came right after a trip to the vet on Friday to see if she had a foxtail in her nose (she didn't). She required sedation, which ultimately cost $350.
Since the new year, Aggie has been to the vet 4 times. The first time he paid $600 and the second time she paid $400. That means she spent a total of about $1,800 in just under four months.
Veterinarian fees typically range from $50 to $250. I'm definitely paying higher rates because of where I live and the fact that our vet recently moved into a beautiful and luxurious new office space and has to recoup some of the costs. Masu.
USA Today reports:
Veterinarians have reported a significant increase in the cost of operating their clinics over the past few years, especially since the pandemic, and those costs will inevitably be passed on to customers.
byAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for veterinary services in urban areas rose 7.9% from February 2023 to February 2024, more than 2.5 times higher than the average for all consumer items. Compared to two years ago, veterinary care in urban areas has increased by 11%, and in the past 10 years it has skyrocketed by nearly 60%.
Aggie is now 12 years old and in good health so far, so I hope she lives a few more years, but I'm starting to wonder how realistic it would be to rescue another dog after she passes away. When you factor in vet costs, medications, supplements, dog food, and dog walking fees, this 4 month period alone for her is nearing the top of my bill. Synchrony research which estimates average yearly cost of owning a dog $1,270 – $2,803. (Annual estimates for a 15-year lifespan range from $20,000 to $55,000.)
But it's almost impossible to imagine what life would be like without a dog. I've had Roscoe and Willie, Gussie and Beau, and Stella and Macaroni.
Another friend came over for dinner the other day. Her dog Roxy is 14 years old and has only one kidney. We remembered the old days, when our dogs were young, we would gather at the Sausalito Dog Park in the evening, the sun setting quietly behind us, the shadows winking and spreading. While they were playing and talking. Imagine those days coming back.
At Crissy Field, with my feet in the sand and watching the Aggies run far down the beach in front of me, I can't help but think of just one more morning, a day full of promise and opportunity. spread out in front of.
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