A woman from Baltimore spent $19,000 on a kidney transplant for her 17-year-old cat, showing just how far people will go to save the life of pets that they already consider as family.
Cats and dogs are very different from one another, but a study last year showed that cats love humans more than food. This has made them great companion to humans as far back as the late eighth century, when they sailed with Vikings during sea voyages. For the mother-of-two from Baltimore, saving her cat meant more than anything else in the world.
Woman Pays $19,000 To Save Her Cat
Betsy Boyd, a part-time writing professor from Baltimore, spared no expense in saving the life of her 17-year-old cat named Stanley.
Stanley was suffering from end-stage kidney failure, and according to the veterinarian, a kidney transplant was the only way to save him. Boyd agreed to push through with the procedure, leading to costs of $19,000.
The amount was a significant amount for Boyd, who earns only $46,000 per year. Her friends insisted that she instead spend the money on something else, such as starting up college savings for her twins Texas and Miner, who are 3 years old.
Boyd, however, did not flinch. She used up a significant portion of her savings and decided to no longer buy a new car to replace her 2009 Toyota. Boyd also made drastic changes to her spending habits to save enough money for Stanley's operation.
"Stanley loves me as much as any human being has ever loved me and I love him the same way," Boyd told PEOPLE. "I want him around."
Stanley underwent the kidney transplant in November last year and is now back in Baltimore with Boyd.
Betsy Boyd Saves Another Cat
Boyd was able to save the life of Stanley, but in the process, also saved the life of another cat.
One of the conditions of the kidney transplant procedure was that Boyd would have to adopt the cat that donated the kidney to Stanley. The cat was named Jay, a 2-year-old cat who was rescued from the streets and was in a shelter.
"We are just as concerned with the life of the donor as the recipient," said Dr. Lillian Aronson from the Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania. "They are saving another animal's life and we owe it to them to save their life and give them a good home."
Boyd not only gave Stanley more years at life, but she also gave Jay a new home.
