Dog Went to the Emergency Room - to Oppose Health Care Reform?

An injured German Shepherd mix went to the emergency room of San Juan Regional Medical Center in New Mexico last Saturday night. Speculation is now swirling that he did so in a last ditch effort to highlight his opposition to the Obama health care reform plan.

Apparently, a heated disagreement with one of his peers over health care reform turned violent, leaving the German Shepherd bloodied and limping. Being a very intelligent breed, however, sources say the impassioned dog decided to turn the incident into a "teaching moment" and headed for the nearest emergency room to illustrate his point.

Just as he had apparently argued, the injured canine was not only not stopped from entering the emergency room, he was reportedly greeted with great compassion by both hospital workers and other patients who were present. In spite of a lack of any proof of insurance coverage or ability to pay, hospital staff immediately called in a specialist and the suffering patient was quickly transferred to the best facility for his treatment.

Fortunately, the dog activist's injuries turned out to be minor. Still having presented no insurance card or other means of payment, his wounds were dressed and he was provided the necessary care, including water, shelter and a warm blanket. His family was later located and the patient, now known to be called "Scottie ", was sent home to recover. He was not available for comment.

However, a neighborhood beagle and an alley cat, who referred to himself as "an independent", agreed to be interviewed under condition of anonymity. They both spoke highly of the heroic shepherd mix and explained that they were surprised by his actions as they described him as a "very loving and "normal" family dog who had never seemed interested in politics before". The beagle said, however, that Scottie had become impassioned over the health care debate in recent months, quoting him as snarling that while he was "in favor of improving our health care system and continuing to make sure that even those less fortunate had access to health care", he was "adamantly opposed to the current health care bill and the sleazy way Congress is trying to cram it down the American people's throats".

The anonymous sources further stated that Scottie was alarmed by the massive tax increases and commensurate job losses the Obamacare bill would bring; the unconstitutional mandates and damage to small businesses; the devastating impact upon our seniors because of the billions of dollars taken from Medicare and the insidious taxes on medical supplies and equipment; the declining care that our children and children's children would necessarily receive as doctors leave the profession, innovation is choked off and rationing becomes a reality. "Not the least of his concerns," said the beagle, "was the trillion plus dollars this bill would add to the deficit, in spite of Congress and the President's claims to the contrary." "After all," the beagle said the shepherd said, "if this bill was really going to be good for Americans, for health care or for the economy, they wouldn't have to charge for it for years before they start providing the benefits, they wouldn't have to hide it and they wouldn't have to bribe other Congressmen in their own party just to get them to vote for it!"

"And why should taxpayers who don't believe in abortion be forced to pay for it?" the cat said the shepherd would whine, adding, "Have we seen any evidence that Obama, Pelosi or Reid would actually keep any of the promises they make to these sucker Congressmen to get their votes?" "If this bill passes, we all know abortion will be federally funded." The two pets agreed.

"Like most Americans," said the beagle, "I have to agree with my friend, the dog that went to the emergency room." The cat concurred, growling, "This bill should be road-kill!"