I just spent 3 weeks in Tennessee. In some ways, you rebs
(although TN's secession from the Union was highly suspect)
*are* backwards.
I gave my mare choke on Thanksgiving evening. I knew instantly
what it was. I couldn't get hold of a single equine
vet who would
make a house call. Even the vet recommended to me most
frequently
had a message on his machine telling his clients to take their
animals
to some clinic somewhere, he was closed for Thanksgiving.
This
is unheard of in Massachusetts. Equine vets *always* have
somebody
on call 24 hours even during holidays. Sure, it'll be the junior
partner,
but you can get *somebody* to help your horse.
On the other hand, the UT Equine Vet clinic in Knoxville (where
we
ended up) was splendid. I got to see my mare's esophagus and
stomach
and the all the people, from undergrad to vet student to
newly
accredited covering vet to veterinary surgeon to front desk
clerk were wonderful. Turns out the covering vet was from Tufts
in Massachusetts and knew my regular vets. She agreed
wholeheartedly with my dismay. She plans on staying
in Tennessee near her Memphis home and to make her practise
based on the same level of care people take for granted in
Massachusetts.
Oh, the result on the mare? Veterinary surgeon, "What we
have
here is a therapeutic trailer ride."
"Two chickens went up Rocky Top
Looking for a place to hide.
Colonel Sanders must have found them,
Now they're Kentucky fried."
:-)
Linda B. Merims
Massachusetts, USA
P.S. YOU LOST!