It was a guy who said it, actually. For some reason I tend to have more problem with men than with women. (Female high-maintenance clients especially really seem to like me. Including the one where God tells her what is wrong with her animal. I'm all right with that as long as she listens to me when I prescribe medications.) I pretty much just froze up for a few seconds, eventually said yes, and then got him out of the clinic as fast as I could. I was just sort of flummoxed to have him throw that question at me. I've had people tell me that I just want to kill their animal, that I don't care about their animal, that they're just going to go shoot their animal if I won't do things for free. That's the first time I've had someone ask me if I cry over what happens. I just really wasn't prepared at all. It kind of bypassed whatever emotional barricades I've made for myself.

I couldn't do your job. Computers hate me. I'd somehow manage to make them spontaneously combust. :-) And at least most people treat me with respect, even when they're angry or accusatory. Having to be polite to idiots who don't make even a pretense of being polite in return takes a different skill set entirely.

I think the jury's still out on my sanity, but I'm still doing the best job I can, I'm not abusing drugs, and I haven't attempted to kill myself yet. Avoiding the most common pitfalls of the profession so far!