There was a woman who had a beloved duck for a pet. One day she went out to the barn and the beloved duck was not moving. She listened for a heartbeat and heard nothing and listened for a breath but felt and heard nothing so in sinking desperation she bundled up her beloved pet and drove to the veterinarian's hoping for the best, but fearing the worst.
When she arrived the veterinarian doctor looked at the duck, used his stethoscope and pronounced, "I'm sorry. Your duck is dead."
The lady, not wanting to truly believe this sad news about her beloved duck, said, "Doctor, are you sure, I mean aren't you going to do more than that? Can't you run some tests to be sure? Maybe he is just in a deep coma. Please, can't you do something more, just to be sure?"
So the doctor said, "Well, all right. I can do some more tests, if that is what you want."
"Please." said the lady.
So the doctor sent the lady to the end of the room and left. Pretty soon a labrador retreiver came in. The Lab came up to the dead duck's body and sniffed all around and sadly shook its head and left.
Next, in came a cat, gingerly sidling up to the duck, he, too, took a few sniffs, shook his head and walked out.
Soon the doctor came in with the news. "The tests have come in and the verdict is conclusive. I am sorry, but your duck is dead."
"Oh," said the lady, "my poor beloved duck. Well, thank you for being sure. Now, how much do I owe you?"
Well, said the veterinarian doctor, "That will be $1500"
"1500 dollars$!!!" shouted the woman. "How can it be 1500 dollars?!?!" she exclaimed incredulously.
"Well," said the veterinarian doctor, "if you had just taken my word for it, it would only have been $50.00. But what with the Lab test and Cat Scan ... "