Joy

Anyone out there, have a question: Back in 1995, I obtained an entire set+ (30 pieces in total) of Belgique, professional grade, stainless steel cookware. Honestly, this has been the best set of cookware I've ever owned & will ever own. In short, I love this cookware. Back then, they were made in Belgium. Today, in China. I've found the quality of todays 'made in China' NOT the same as the cookware I currently own that was then made in Belgium. This Belgique comes w/a lifetime guarantee/warranty. Yesterday, a handle came off of my 11" frying pan/skillet!? :-o Lazarus went belly up, Macey's took over. There seemly is no such thing as contacting Belgique as one MUST go through Federated (who owns all the dept. stores who carry the line) I cannot get anyone who either understands or will honor the warranty. I refuse to get 'made in China' replacement (INFERIOR!) but warranty says I can get repair. (?!) Has anyone else encountered such 'issues" w/this? Pls. help! Thanks.

Everyone out there reading this, bear with me...I am beside myself on this & have many, many years of experience w/felines but this one is for the ages and & need some input from those of you out there who may have something productive to share. (Please, no idiot responses b/c this is serious = thanks). ...I'll try to make this brief...Last Sept. a stray female feline wondered up to property. She was very, very thin, young (prob 1 yr. old now) and had swollen teats. I knew she had kittens somewhere. I fed the poor starving animal b/c she was eating out of my trash can! Yep, feed a stray, they stay. Kept her as outdoor kitty. Have 3 car garage, heated in winter & doggy-door that cat was trained to use. Have food/water bowls & bed. Cat is a good, sweet, loving thing & a good mouser. She got pregnant again ( :-o ) & gave birth to 5 beautiful, healthy kittens. Gave all kittens away @ 8 wk. mark. Made plans for spaying. Financial times b tough so found one who'd do on the cheap. (it included all shots = we were thrilled @ the $65 quote!) Had to wait 3 wks. after last nursing of kittens & @ that 3 wk. mark, "Riley" went in to be spayed. Now, we were warned about this vet being known as a "butcher" and that a lot of folk around these parts usually has ended up w/dead pets after he gets hold of them. I was worried & concerned but again, times b tough; had to risk it. Riley went in on 5/23. Picked her up 5/24. Yep, she was "butched" & butched BIG time. I set about spoiling her & kept her confined for 3 days. On 5/31 @ 2:15pm, I found my little Riley-girl laying out in my driveway w/her guts lying outside of her body cavity. She was still alive! I ran to her, scooped her up w/guts in other hand. Put her in her carrier cage, sped off vet - HAD to use same one - what other choice did I have? (He ended up duping us & charged $125 for the spaying/shot deal - who's da sucker now folks?!) I have been traumatized, hysterical, depressed, worried & guilt to the 10th degree over all of this folks. ....still cannot get the image of poor little Riley out in driveway w/guts hanging out & believe me when I tell you that I am a "tough bird" when it comes to things...(No wuss is Miss Joy!) Vet nvr. sanitized hands or table, nvr. cleansed her innards. (I know b/c I stayed & witnessed it all). Shoved 'em back in & stitched. Filled her w/antibiotics, kept her for 2 days then sent her home w/me having to do wound care for 10 days & an antibiotic pill x2 a day. Vet said only 1 in 100 survive this sort of thing. Cat got constipated b/c of meds. Had to take her off for 2 days to soften bowels. Wound came open AGAIN 2 days ago. Rushed her back, this time he DID re-open her, cleansed everything, put her back together & I brought her home ystrday afternoon. She was full of infection & wound came open b/c she is so eaten up w/infection that her skin had begun to rot. It is amazing to me that this poor, innocent, sweet & loving animal has survived all of this (Me too!) and she'll drink fresh water, eats very, very, VERY little. Actually wretches @ smell of canned cat food. Will lick juices of pork fat ( to help w/bowels?) chicken noodle soup juices and kitten formula. Blessed little thing will even use litter box I've set up for her while she's on "lock-down". Vet sent me home this last time w/a spray for wound care called "Vetericyn" that cost us $30 for 4 oz. We gladly pd. him for it as the sucker did not charge us for the last two "episodes" (which he shouldn't have = bung hole) ...sorry... I have to spray her wound x4 a day & back on antibiotic pill x2 a day. I seriously need to bathe her as the infection "juices" that had been dripping & dripping out of her is all over her lower abdomen, legs, etc. I need to wait @ least 3 days to allow the fresh wound (surgical site) to seal before I make that attempt. What I need from anyone of you out there reading this is this: What can I do to help poor little Riley to eat & keep up her strength & health? Please, I am desperate. I care deeply about this animal and she did not deserve this happy-crappy & all that she's now gone through & I'm betting this kitty has used 5 of her 9 lives on all of this by now. (?!) (sigh & sniff) I feel so guilty & responsible and if she's still living after all of this, well then; Miss Joy ain't throwing in the towel either! Please, please, please - I am begging for ideas to get Miss Kitty to eat. Thanks for reading this folks. I have a good little cry each & everyday now for this animal...

I am new to this and enjoy sharing my "wisdom" in an attempt to help others w/things I know or have first hand experience with BUT wish to be safe in things I do here on this site. (ie. Miss Joy is no computer geek nor wishes to be). What are "Fans" and what are "Contacts"?? How does that work??? I'm willing to give up some of my points because I need to know or I'm quitting this. Thanks folks for your assistance.