How to tell the owners the tragic news?
 

Hi, I need some urgent advice please.

About 10 days ago I saw a beautiful cat get run over and took it to
emergency vet. The cat unfortunately died probably immediately. She had no
ID tags/microchip so we were unable to contact the owner, but I told the
local vets in case anyone enquires.

However, I went out tonight and found the posters about a lost cat and it is
the beautiful one I saw run over. I couldn;t bring myself to call the owners
with such news at 2am, so will call them tomorrow.

So, the question is, how do I tell the owners? They obviously loved this
cat, and will be gobsmecked when they hear the news. Do I tell them over the
phone or ask them to meet me locally(we seem to be in same neighborhood)
then tell them? Would that sound strange to them? I would also hate them to
think that I was the one to run her over, when I just tried to help. I know
I know I am being paranoid, but I hate to bring this people such pain. I
lost my QT the same way 5 years ago, and I know how I felt for years after.
I know I can;t make it any easier for the owners, I just don't want them to
get a heart attack or something.

What would you do? Please write ASAP, as I must call them tomorrow(later
today - it's now 5am here).

Thanks for any advice

Gee

Gee,

Personally, I would call them and tell them what happened. At least if they
know, they won't be going around searching for their cat. I think not
knowing would be much harder than being sure of what happened.

[ med ]

"Gee" wrote in message news:x3ljc.4$yA.0@newsfe1-win...
Hi, I need some urgent advice please.

About 10 days ago I saw a beautiful cat get run over and took it to
emergency vet. The cat unfortunately died probably immediately. She had no
ID tags/microchip so we were unable to contact the owner, but I told the
local vets in case anyone enquires.

However, I went out tonight and found the posters about a lost cat and it
is
the beautiful one I saw run over. I couldn;t bring myself to call the
owners
with such news at 2am, so will call them tomorrow.

So, the question is, how do I tell the owners? They obviously loved this
cat, and will be gobsmecked when they hear the news. Do I tell them over
the
phone or ask them to meet me locally(we seem to be in same neighborhood)
then tell them? Would that sound strange to them? I would also hate them
to
think that I was the one to run her over, when I just tried to help. I
know
I know I am being paranoid, but I hate to bring this people such pain. I
lost my QT the same way 5 years ago, and I know how I felt for years
after.
I know I can;t make it any easier for the owners, I just don't want them
to
get a heart attack or something.

What would you do? Please write ASAP, as I must call them tomorrow(later
today - it's now 5am here).

Thanks for any advice

Gee

Gee,

Personally, I would call them and tell them what happened. At least if they
know, they won't be going around searching for their cat. I think not
knowing would be much harder than being sure of what happened.

[ med ]

"Gee" wrote in message news:x3ljc.4$yA.0@newsfe1-win...
Hi, I need some urgent advice please.

About 10 days ago I saw a beautiful cat get run over and took it to
emergency vet. The cat unfortunately died probably immediately. She had no
ID tags/microchip so we were unable to contact the owner, but I told the
local vets in case anyone enquires.

However, I went out tonight and found the posters about a lost cat and it
is
the beautiful one I saw run over. I couldn;t bring myself to call the
owners
with such news at 2am, so will call them tomorrow.

So, the question is, how do I tell the owners? They obviously loved this
cat, and will be gobsmecked when they hear the news. Do I tell them over
the
phone or ask them to meet me locally(we seem to be in same neighborhood)
then tell them? Would that sound strange to them? I would also hate them
to
think that I was the one to run her over, when I just tried to help. I
know
I know I am being paranoid, but I hate to bring this people such pain. I
lost my QT the same way 5 years ago, and I know how I felt for years
after.
I know I can;t make it any easier for the owners, I just don't want them
to
get a heart attack or something.

What would you do? Please write ASAP, as I must call them tomorrow(later
today - it's now 5am here).

Thanks for any advice

Gee

"Gee" wrote in message news:x3ljc.4$yA.0@newsfe1-win...

However, I went out tonight and found the posters about a lost cat and it
is
the beautiful one I saw run over. I couldn;t bring myself to call the
owners
with such news at 2am, so will call them tomorrow.

So, the question is, how do I tell the owners?

When I found a dead cat who had been run over, I moved the body out of the
street and put it between the sidewalk and the curb. A few days later, the
newspaper had a lost ad for the cat.

I simply called the number listed, identified myself, said I was calling in
regard to the ad and told the woman that I had found a cat that had
apparently been killed by a car and that the cat matched the description in
the lost ad.

The woman said she had seen the cat I had found and that it wasn't hers. But
I am still convinced it was hers because the description of the cat was
dead-on and the body was right outside the woman's apartment.

Just give the facts.

"Gee" wrote in message news:x3ljc.4$yA.0@newsfe1-win...

However, I went out tonight and found the posters about a lost cat and it
is
the beautiful one I saw run over. I couldn;t bring myself to call the
owners
with such news at 2am, so will call them tomorrow.

So, the question is, how do I tell the owners?

When I found a dead cat who had been run over, I moved the body out of the
street and put it between the sidewalk and the curb. A few days later, the
newspaper had a lost ad for the cat.

I simply called the number listed, identified myself, said I was calling in
regard to the ad and told the woman that I had found a cat that had
apparently been killed by a car and that the cat matched the description in
the lost ad.

The woman said she had seen the cat I had found and that it wasn't hers. But
I am still convinced it was hers because the description of the cat was
dead-on and the body was right outside the woman's apartment.

Just give the facts.

in article . net, [ medic ]
at wrote on 4/26/04 11:12 PM:

Gee,

Personally, I would call them and tell them what happened. At least if they
know, they won't be going around searching for their cat. I think not
knowing would be much harder than being sure of what happened.

[ med ]

I totally agree. If it were me, I would at least be relieved to know that
someone took him to a vet. It would hold worse nightmares at bay.

Karen

in article . net, [ medic ]
at wrote on 4/26/04 11:12 PM:

Gee,

Personally, I would call them and tell them what happened. At least if they
know, they won't be going around searching for their cat. I think not
knowing would be much harder than being sure of what happened.

[ med ]

I totally agree. If it were me, I would at least be relieved to know that
someone took him to a vet. It would hold worse nightmares at bay.

Karen

Thanks so much for the great replies guys. I have tried calling owners early
this morning and got the answering machine which stated it was a so and so
company. I found company site on the internet and somewhere on their site
they mentioned the office dog - and a cat... It was the girl I found. Their
address was also next to the road where she was killed so I knew it has to
be her.

So I went there just now. I told a sweet lady about what happened. Kitty was
only 1-2 years old, a local stray they found and took in. She belonged to
all in office and they were very sad but in a way happy to know what has
happened and that she didn;t suffer. I left them my number and ask them to
call me if they wanna talk, as I explained about my QT. She will be missed.

So thanks again.I didn't sleep very well worrying about how to tell them
this horrible news.

Gee

Thanks so much for the great replies guys. I have tried calling owners early
this morning and got the answering machine which stated it was a so and so
company. I found company site on the internet and somewhere on their site
they mentioned the office dog - and a cat... It was the girl I found. Their
address was also next to the road where she was killed so I knew it has to
be her.

So I went there just now. I told a sweet lady about what happened. Kitty was
only 1-2 years old, a local stray they found and took in. She belonged to
all in office and they were very sad but in a way happy to know what has
happened and that she didn;t suffer. I left them my number and ask them to
call me if they wanna talk, as I explained about my QT. She will be missed.

So thanks again.I didn't sleep very well worrying about how to tell them
this horrible news.

Gee

In article x3ljc.4$yA.0@newsfe1-win, enlightened us
with...
Hi, I need some urgent advice please.

About 10 days ago I saw a beautiful cat get run over and took it to
emergency vet.

snip
What would you do?

Call the vet and ask them to call the family and tell them the bad news.

/I'm a wimp

--
--
~kaeli~
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless
interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an
otherwise dull day.
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