A Beggar with a Dog Isn't as Hungry as He Says He Is

In the July 30th issue of Newsweek, Frederick R. Lynch explains why the 11 grand he spent to save the life of his pet cat, Fritz, was worth every penny.

I knew about soaring human medical costs from the college course I teach on health-care policy. But I was not fully aware of how the same wonderful but costly technologies for prolonging human life are also revolutionizing veterinary care. American pet guardians spend more than $20 billion annually on health care for their furry pals. Our pets now have access to many of the same restorative medical treatments as do humans. Dogs with ticker problems may qualify for a $3,000 pacemaker. A guardian of a cat with renal failure may opt for a feline kidney transplant, at about $8,000.