The feline herpesvirus, which is commonplace, can blind cats. The same can happen to humans. I refer to that infectious agent, briefly below, but first we have to recognise that even the best qualified veterinarian will not be a good vet without that precious characteristic: compassion. You can add to that an empathy for animals. All the veterinary qualifications in the world cannot compensate for a lack of compassion and empathy.
Blinded Ray and His Siblings
It is clear that the vet involved in the story about Ray, Stevie and their siblings was neither compassionate nor empathetic towards animals.
Not only did her cruel neglect result in the acute suffering and eventual blindness of five cats, she also kept Pit Bull Terrier dogs caged up for the sole purpose to provide blood transfusions.
We have to recognise the fact that this vet, who practiced her profession in Mentor, Ohio (or near by) got cancer. This caused her to close her veterinary clinic. Fair enough, and I’d feel really sorry for her if it wasn’t for the fact that she kept Ray and his siblings in a cage for seven years at the back of her clinic, living in their own feces and urine, with little or no contact with people and under such a level of neglect that the treatable herpesvirus ate away at their eyes, with accompanying pain and discomfort, to eventually blindness. How could that happen?
Herpesvirus and Blindness
The vet who eventually treated Ray, in the picture above, believes that the herpesvirus made him blind. In humans the herpes simplex virus is a major cause of blindness worldwide. The blindness is caused by corneal scarring and opacity.
In cats an infectious form of ulcerative keratitis is caused by the feline herpesvirus. Keratitis results in the loss of transparency of the the cornea, which leads to partial or complete blindness.
In Ray’s case, it appears that the disease has gone beyond causing the cornea to become opaque. It has damaged the eye to the point where it has diminished in size. There may be some other diseases at play.
Abandoned Animal Welfare (AAW) rescued Ray and his siblings from their misery. Well done to you all. Ray was in the worst condition. Poor Ray has other medical problems. He survived. Without the closure of the vet’s clinic due to the cancer that the vet suffered from, these cats wouldn’t have made it. There is a sense of natural justice in that.
Nice video, but the music is overplayed. But that is unimportant. Saving Ray and his siblings is. Well done, again.
I wonder if vets are screened for their compassion before embarking on a degree course? I don’t think so. The problem with uncaring vets is the same as uncaring nurses in England. In respect of nurses, there has been an overemphasis on qualifications while ignoring the most important qualification of all: compassion.
You just controlled yourself 😉
The longer I live the more I realise we have to forget some of the cr*p otherwise we’ll go mad. I guess it is about accepting the things we can’t change, hard though it is.
It makes me want to cry – I’m at work – I shouldn’t have watched it here now. What poor sweet cats to be made to suffer for so so long. It makes me so sad. No I don’t think you are being harsh. They are like poison and deserve the poison they cause to innocent animals.
I cant believe they were stuck with deteriorating eye problems for SEVEN whole years. It’s impossible to come to terms with this idea and what it would be like. They weren’t even in a big cage together but alone and without probably any love year after year. I hope they can somehow stay together. I wish I could adopt them.
If she does have cancer she got what she deserved by the way of Karma and I don’t care if anyone thinks that’s harsh,I hate animal abusers like poison.
How could any vet be so cruel and yes someone else working there should have done something about it,it’s unspeakably wrong that they didn’t.
It’s so hard to feel helpless to do anything about it sometimes. You are right – we can only do our small bit to help but it makes me feel powerless.
Ok I just watched the video without sound cuz I’m at work. Usually I can’t watch these things. It is the saddest thing I can imagine. If something like that happened to one of my cats I would die. I just can’t accept or have any understanding towards whoever made this happen. I lose all control and respect and want to freak out when I think of people who do things like this to animals. It brings out the worst in me.