I know it has been awhile, but I started a new job and graduated from college...alot of things of my plate. I am so lucky to be able to do it all with my Lucy.

So on Saturday, I received a settlement offer from the pet food company's insurance. The offer was WAY lower than my estimate. I was initially angry and frustrated. I suggested $15,000. I am not sure now where that amount came up from (I don't have the right papers in front of me now) but that is what I concluded for her ongoing care for the next 5 years plus the $3000 in vet bills. Well, her offer was $4000.

I couldn't believe it. All that we went through. I have already spent hundreds out of pocket on her new expensive kidney diet food required by the vet for her care. I have spent more on check-ups to make sure her levels keep going down. And who could of thought the emotional damage on me had she gone? The vet keeps telling me everytime I see him that he has never seen a dog recover from kidney failure like she did. I told many family and friends that she was dying, and must now tell them she didn't. He said she is a miracle.

Oh yea... one thing I forgot. So I called the lady today furious, asking her how they got such a low estimate. She told me the life expectancy of beagles is 13.3 years and that she has over past her age. So she says they concluded ONE YEAR left. And that is what they calculated based on her ongoing care for her special diet and check-ups. So she said I could get the vet to sign papers saying the amount/care is different. She said it may help if he signs that she may live more than a year.

So, I re-tabulated the amount of debt tonight. My new estimate is a little more than $4000, like theirs. It is about $1000 per year of care (they say only one year left!) and $3000 in previous vet bills. So unless I can get the vet to sign/say/prove she can live longer than a year, I would only get a thousand or so more. Is this worth it, I am asking myself now? Should I just sign the waiver, take the $4000 and be done with it? Of course, once i sign the release, I am required to stop talking about it and stop associating with them, etc. And what if she needs more care in the future?

I keep telling myself that all this that we have gone through and we are only getting back to zero? What about the emotional distress or the fact that this shouldn't have happened? I asked her what would have happened if she had not made it? She said they would have taken into account the VALUE of the dog! Who knows how that is determined? Well, so I am wondering, am I trying to get more money because of revenge and anger? Those are not the right reasons to be asking for more. I definitely will never trust any pet food companies again, but... is that it? What do you think? Should I settle?