We had an amazing "Japanese" experience. One night Shailey’s hamster, Stewart Little, was sick. He was not eating, his eyes were closed, and his sides were caved in. It was nighttime and we agreed that there probably was not a "24 hour emergency hamster vet". We said our goodbyes, held Stewart, and offered a little prayer thinking he probably would not live through the night. In the morning however, Stewart was still alive.
So after a lot of work, we found a "small animal veterinarian" nearby. I was very worried it would cost a million dollars like everything else does in "takai" Tokyo. The doctor spoke a little English and explained that Stewart had an impacted cheek infection and he was dehydrated. So he injected him with an antibiotic and gave him a prescription. He asked us to come back in 4 hours and he would give Stewart another injection (I think of just water) and we did.
2 doctor visit , 2 sets of shots, plus a prescription = only $25.... WOW. I was shocked.
He also asked us to bring Stewart in the following day so he could give him one more injection.
Unfortunately, the next day we awoke to find that Stewart had died during the night. We buried him in our front bushes and called the doctor to tell him we could not make our appointment because Stewart had died. The nurse, in her broken English, gave me her apologies.
The next day.....................
I received a GORGEOUS basket of flowers. The card was written in Japanese, so I was not sure who it was from. I thought maybe Glenn surprised me with flowers. So I went to our apartment front desk and asked them to translate the card. It read:
"Mrs. Ostlund, we are sorry for your loss of Stewart. We send our condolences and care. Sincerely, the Small Animal Clinic".
WOW.
So, with no prior visit to this doctor, no regular relationship, he not only charged us a mere $25 but he SENT FLOWERS! My friend told me the flowers cost more than $25. I was so impressed. This is an experience I believe would not happen anywhere else in the world. The Japanese do their utmost best, not for money, but because it is the honorable thing to do.
No Dr. Doolittle in Tokyo.
3 comments:
That was an amazing experience. I don't recognize the picture though. Was that from stewart's funeral? Is there a little hamster headstone outside in the garden that I don't know about???
i CANNOT believe you took your pet HAMPSTER to the VET???? now that's an original idea. too neat of them to send flowers though. kind of nice to see that they take their business seriously and REALLY DO LOVE animals! you need to take a video of them running in their balls and running into walls! good tokyo memory :)
So sad... Poor Stewart... but HILARIOUS about the Vet. LOL But what a great Vet that they sent flowers and mourned for your loss. So sweet. Wonderful people!
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