To the editor:

I wanted to give all pet owners some information I learned last week. My precious cat, Zoey, began to have respiratory trouble around 7:30 p.m. that seemed to be progressing rapidly. I immediately called my vet and was told no emergency services were offered after 7 p.m. and I would have to drive to Overland Park. I quickly called another vet and was given the same information.

My husband and I reluctantly jumped in the car and raced to Overland Park. Unfortunately, Zoey suffocated and died on the way.  She was not given the opportunity of a quick and peaceful death by euthanasia but instead slowly suffocated, gasping for air and begging me for help. I will never forget how helpless I felt.

I keep playing that 40 minutes over and over in my mind. I don’t know if Zoey would have survived if she had received emergency care but I do know she wouldn’t have suffered as much. She was my fur baby and definitely deserved better.

Certainly a city the size of Lawrence can support a 24-hour emergency care clinic for pets. A 40-minute drive for help was too far for Zoey.