WINSTON WEEKLY[1]

Vol. 2, No. 26

June 30, 2024

CANINES AND COLLEAGUES

After recently borrowing a colleague’s cell phone, I found myself unexpectedly engaged in a conversation not as much about the picture on the home screen but about the love and loss of his family’s black lab. A few months earlier, the lab was found with what appeared at first to be an abscess. Thinking it was an infection, the family went through a month of hope and uncertainty before facing a decision they had never encountered before. Multiple veterinarians were at a loss for why the six-year-old otherwise healthy lab suddenly suffered a collapsed lung and struggled to breathe. There was no explanation for the abscess nor the multiple other symptoms that followed before his lung collapsed.

Along with his five children, my colleague and his wife spent a month caring for their beloved family member in a way they never had. My colleague frequently slept on the floor, holding the dog close as his breathing became more strained. He and his family faced the eventual decision of having to put down their dog. His face was drenched with tears as he finished the story, and I too began to tear up. “There is no lasting love like the love of a dog,” I said. He nodded as he glanced at the picture of Lady Bird in his effort to dry his tears. The screen picture was not of the beloved black lab but of Lady Bird, the family’s other dog. While Lady Bird had not replaced the black lab, she brought the family together and provided my colleague with a new sense of hope.

Although the story was heart-wrenching, it provided a new appreciation of my colleague and caused me to pause and reflect on the difficult work of veterinarians and their staff. Not surprisingly, well-being is one of the biggest challenges for veterinarians. www.avma.org. For those interested in learning more about veterinarians, Dr. Phillip Schott provides a funny and heartbreaking perspective of small animal practice in his book, The Accidental Veterinarian.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

As July 4 approaches, remember to consider not only your pets but those of neighbors and friends. Fireworks can be scary, causing animals to run away or be anxious for days.  www.akc.org. And sunscreen, residue from fireworks, and certain foods can be toxic to dogs and other animals. Although there are dangers around the 4^th of July, the holiday offers opportunities to engage children in learning about the importance of animal ownership and Independence Day. Fun flag crafts abound. For other inspiration, read the late James Cross Giblin’s book, Fireworks, Picnics and Flags: The Story of the Fourth of July Symbols.

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[1] Copyright June 30, 2024. Please feel free to share with the appropriate attribute. Alysen’s views are her own.