There must be some law of the universe that says if you're going to have a medical emergency, it's almost duty bound to happen on a Sunday. When I poked myself in the eye with a yucca plant, it was on a Sunday. When my husband dropped a pan of boiling artichoke water, which splashed upward and scalded his face, it was on a Sunday. As you know, doctor's offices are closed on Sundays.

Ditto for veterinary doctors. My cat, Brandon, had an emergency late yesterday afternoon. He fell face first into his litter box. It was clear he was in pain. I'll spare you the gory details, but when you're owned by a cat who is sick, you'll be amazed at the grossest things you will do and the lengths you will go to clean up after the cat. Blood, diarrhea, vomit, nothing phases you.

Ordinarily, Brandon's medical health is managed by the Midtown Animal Clinic in Davis. He has arthritis, seasonal asthma and mild renal dysfunction. Since Midtown Animal Clinic was closed, my husband and I put our dinner plans on hold and drove to the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching College in Davis, which has a 24-hour small animal emergency clinic.

On the way over the Yolo Bypass to Davis, a starling flew into our windshield. Death. Brandon was amazingly quiet for being transported to the vet. Usually he screams bloody murder all the way, so loud that I have to crank up the CD player to tune out his wails. My husband and I always listen to music in the car, but not last night.

Brandon is almost 18. That's old for a cat. I tried to think about escrows, upcoming listings, even how much some short sale banks frustrate me just to get my mind off Brandon's situation and the sorry scenarios my mind wanted to naturally gravitate toward.

The School of Veterinary Medicine at Davis is a national leader in animal research, teaching and animal health services. Its medical teaching college is part of that UC Davis system. The staff is comprised of board-certified veterinary specialists and veterinary residents in advanced programs. The fee for an emergency visit to the small animal clinic is $100, not including X-rays, special procedures or blood work, but it's not that much more than you'd pay at your own vet.

Diana, a veterinary resident, completed our intake interview. Dr. Joan Teitler examined Brandon and gave him two enemas. The radiographs showed a distended and impacted bowel. We were at the clinic for 4 hours.

Brandon is still a bit lethargic this morning, but he appears to be recovering, thank goodness. I am quite certain that Dr. Teitler saved his life, and I'm so grateful. I am thankful to be living near one of the top veterinary medical schools in the nation. If you have a pet emergency in Sacramento, I can recommend no better place to go than the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching College. The VMTH Small Animal Clinic phone number is 530.752.1393.

The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, available at Amazon.com

Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, columnist for The New York Times'-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout Sacramento. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you.