Thanks guys. He's a family pet, and my dad's an old Nebraskan farmboy who chokes on the idea of spending the much on a pet. Back when he was a kid you just let nature take it's course or put them out of their misery if they were suffering. But as far as I'm concerned, he's a living creature that we agreed to be responsible for and he's not old enough that he can't recover from surgery (only 11 and healthy in every other way). So now I'm going over my finances to see where I can cut cause it'll be easier than arguing with him. I have a good saving I can dip into, but if I can pick up extra clients/bag lunch/mend old clothes rather than replace that'll be better. *Le sigh*