People generally love their pets, but we’d be lying to say there isn’t an inter-species discrimination. How many fish owners do you know who’ve been with their goldfish to a veterinarian? Not that many, I presume. Certainly, number-wise it pales in comparison to dogs or cats. The story of a Scottish goldfish named Star which had its cancerous eye removed by doctors thus serves as a noble example of respect and responsibility that all pet owners should bear.

Image: FACEBOOK/INGLIS VETERINARY HOSPITAL

The operation was performed at the Fife’s Inglis Veterinary Hospital by specialist Brigitte Lord under an anesthetic.  According to Discovery News, the team also included a veterinarian who kept Star under sedation and a nurse in charge of monitoring the fish’s vital signs.

“This is a highly specialist field,” Lord said on the Inglis Vets Facebook page. “Using anesthetic on a goldfish carries a very high risk, and I’m delighted for the owner that everything went okay and the owners are happy.”

Star swimming a tank before it had its tumorous eye removed by surgery. Image: FACEBOOK/INGLIS VETERINARY HOSPITAL

Star  is owned by Janie Gordon, and her daughter Abby who won Star at a fair 12 years ago. In the same day, their other pet goldfish who shares a tank with Star was also under surgery to remove a lump. The two operations cost nearly 500 pounds (about US $755).

“I know it seems like a lot of money to spend on an operation for a goldfish,” Janie Gordon said. “But what was the alternative? I think we’ve a social responsibility to look after our pets and I know my daughter would have been distraught if anything had happened to the goldfish.”

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