Losing a pet hits a veterinarian as hard as it hits any other pet-lover. Maybe harder. In one sense we are sometimes too close to the death process, given that we are often called upon to be the facilitators, the ones who help ease the passing of a beloved pet. And many of the pets we are called upon to assist we've known for a long time - sometimes as long as they've been in their homes. We remember the bright, button-eyed puppy or kitten we met at that first visit long ago, as we mourn the loss of the dignified senior pet we've known and cared for. The owners grieve, and we grieve, too. Most people don't know how much crying goes on in veterinary hospitals, behind closed doors, so that we can remain the professionals you expect us to be when we face you.
Fall is a hard season for most veterinary hospitals; we are called upon to ease more passings over that Rainbow Bridge now than at any other time of year. This has been an especially hard year for me, since I lost two of my own pets this season, too. I will be honoring them in two ways: first, by honoring myself, right now. I'm taking a break from writing this column each month, for a bit. While I'm doing so, I will be continuing my work at the hospital. And, I will be planning what we can do to bring more and better pet health care information to you - and how we can do it.
You all know that I don't - couldn't - do what I do alone. I have the greatest staff in the world. Michelle runs our front office and is assisted full-time by Chani, who is close to graduating from college. Jenny supervises all our Nurses and Nurse Assistants, and is assisted by Nikki, Serena, Jamie, and Tina. While Jenny is on medical leave, Nikki is shouldering her job, and Jenny's too. Our Hospital Assistants, Micaela and Ashley, keep our facility clean and sanitary, and care for our KPR pets. And our volunteers give from their hearts to help us in innumerable ways. Tami works a half day every week, Doris helps as her health permits, and former Nurse Josh has recently asked to become a Knollwood Volunteer - so he will be on board soon, too! And, I am especially delighted to tell you that Dr. Mary Papacek will be beginning her second year with us, after retiring from a full career at her own animal hospital in Niles. She has raised the bar for medical and surgical care significantly, from her very first day with us!
I am blessed to have multiple staff members with outstanding computer skills. Our Webmistress, Kelly, works from home while she cares for her two babies, keeping up with all of our ideas on how to improve the website and turning them into reality. Dr. Papacek's remarkable skills with our in-hospital computer system allow us to get more information specific to your pet available to us and to you, as soon as a medical or surgical diagnosis is made. This helps us to develop better treatment protocols and allows you to be a more educated pet owner. Our Head Nurse, Jenny will be back from medical leave soon and will continue to develop the computerized training programs she initiated earlier this year. Serena, one of our Nurse Assistants, is utilizing her Art degree and creative skills to develop a new hospital logo. And there's more we have planned, but we need guidance and feedback from you.
Would you like to see us start up our seminar series again? Would you like more printed information when you come to visit us? Or would you like more access through our website? What works best for you? I'm anxious to hear how we can better get you the information you need to make more informed choices about your pet's care. Please contact our Webmistress Kelly with your ideas. By clicking on the underlined link, you can e-mail her at info@knollwoodhospitalforpets.com. You have until mid-December to comment, and then Kelly will collect all ideas received and will send them on to me. We'll use all of your feedback to upgrade how we get pet care information to you.
I told you there were two ways I planned to honor the memories of Sofia and Xena. The second came to me several weeks ago, while I was comforting a client who had recently lost a senior pet who was very dear to her. I had been treating her dog with acupuncture for three years and some months, and until recently, the treatments had given her pet a renewed sense of vitality and had kept the pet walking and feeling comfortable in her old age. The owner looked at me with tears in her eyes and told me that she felt that she was too old to get another dog; the new dog might outlive her. I hugged her and told her that I hoped that she would not deprive herself of the pleasure of owning another pet, perhaps even another rescued pet. "Any of us could be hit by a bus tomorrow, regardless of our age," I told her - "we shouldn't ever deny ourselves the pleasure of another pet, just because of our age - age is a number, not a disease."
So, to honor Sofia and Xena, I'm adopting someone who needs a home. And, I'm still looking for someone else to bring us back to a three-dog family as we used to be. Lizzie will be telling - and showing - you all about it in her columns each month. Until December, I’ll be focused on introducing our new, rescued family members to "life indoors" - and compiling any feedback you care to send Kelly. I hope to hear from you!
Dr. Mitchell
