Our Tom (yes, a rotten thing to name a neutered male, but he arrived at our house pre-named) had a long and happy life, but the last few weeks of it were a barrage of vet visits, medicines, exams, and other stresses on a very timid homebody of a cat. I'm a good pet owner and acknowledged my duty to ease his passage, but I simply could not bring myself to put him in the cat carrier for that last ride to a place he so hated.
Dr Tina made a housecall of mercy, and she couldn't have been kinder and better -- not only to Tom but to the entire household of grieving adults and children. (She was especially good with the kids, taking the time to explain what was happening and what to expect. She and I talked privately afterward and she confirmed that this is a priority for her practice, since the death of a pet is most kids' first interaction with the dying process.) Her care and unhurried kindness was particularly amazing as we'd phoned her with just a few hours' notice, and with her due across the lake for a class within the hour. If she hadn't mentioned the time pressure in the phone call before she arrived, you'd never have known -- she took the time that needed to be taken, and everything was done to be sure that everything was done as gently and peacefully as could be.
Tom passed away in his favorite chair, with all of us in the room and a little afternoon sunlight on his paws. It was the last kindness we could give him, and Dr Tina made that possible. We cannot thank her enough, and I cannot speak highly enough of her services. read more