I AM THANKFUL MY CLIENT CHOSE TO HAVE HER DOG EUTHANIZED

I am thankful my client chose to have her dog euthanized when she moved into assisted living.

On our second appointment, she told me she would have me euthanize her dog when she moved. (I would not have, but we never got to that point, thank goodness.)

She was a sweet, caring pet owner. It was common in the past to have pets euthanized when moving or having a baby or with any other major life change or financial difficulty.

As she sadly told me of her plan, she was holding Benji in her arms. As if he heard, Benji jumped into MY arms, and we were never apart again. She was relieved and grateful. Russ talked our apartment manager into accepting dogs in the complex. He was the best little dog we have ever known.

Amanda, 3 months and Benji, 11 years. They adored each other.

...

Post from one year ago today...

November 5, 2016

MIXED MESSAGES

Post from two years ago today...

November 5, 2015

NINE LIVES WELL LIVED

I AM THANKFUL FOR MY JOB AT COLUMBINE ANIMAL HOSPITAL

I am thankful for my first job at Columbine Animal Hospital.

The first job I accepted in Denver was at Columbine Animal Hospital. I worked 80 hours a week including overnights. I struggled as a vet just out of school and often on my own. The atmosphere at work was a smidge bit toxic. Well, no, it sucked. It was very demotivating, but I was in mountain and forest and lake and dirt bike country living my dream of being a vet, and we couldn't be happier. At first.

My boss at Columbine Animal Hospital had Russ and I over for Christmas Eve. He gave me my first stethoscope which I still have today and is the best one I have ever had.

He took me on a balloon ride. A balloon ride you guys!

He took us boating a couple of times and let me carry his Miniature Dachshund Sherman everywhere. Sherman loved being carried like a baby. (I got my first and only case of ringworm on my inner elbow from Sherman's ears.)

When work gets rough, it's never as rough as overnights with two snake venom cases and one vial of antidote. (Littleton Hospital saved us. I didn't know how gutsy that was to ask. I just asked.)

When I get lonely for my family, they are never as far away as they were that first year.

When I work super hard, it is never on a continually busy day then night shift with no technical help.

When I struggle with ethical decisions, and, I hope, choose correctly, I never get as  much friction as I did at Columbine.

Columbine Animal Hospital made me tough. The rare down time I got was spent doing amazing things in the beautiful outdoors of Colorado. I treasure the time and the experiences. I haven't always, but I do now.

...

Post from one year ago today...

November 4, 2016

MY FAVORITE BABY ANNOUNCEMENT

Post from two years ago today...

November 4, 2015

MAX AND SAMSON BY AUTUMN ARMSTRONG

I AM THANKFUL FOR BEING TOLD I COULD NOT BE A VET IN DENVER

This Thanksgiving...

I am thankful that in 1997, the AVMA President told me I would never find a job as a veterinarian in Denver. She was giving a "motivational" talk to our veterinary class. She said that veterinary jobs were everywhere, unless we wanted to live in Denver or work with marine animals. I went up after the talk and explained my situation to her. "I would be able to find a job in Denver, wouldn't I?"

"No," she said. "Absolutely not."

Denver - No! You cannot work here!

Our whole plan for after I finished veterinary school was to move to Denver for Russ to go to graduate school at Denver Seminary. We were locked into our plan by our own excitement and stubbornness, so we saw no other option than to move to Denver where I would find the said to be non-existent veterinary job.

Denver Seminary

Being told I cannot do something is always a huge motivator for me. :) I applied for several jobs and accepted a job with Columbine Animal Hospital within days of arriving in Denver.

Columbine Animal Hospital

...

Post from one year ago today...

November 2, 2016

TSUM TSUM

...

Post from two years ago today...

November 2, 2015

I HAVE NEVER TRIED THIS

SANDESTIN

This is one of my favorite dogs, Sandestin LaBroad. Jordan LaBroad is a good friend.

Sandestin was not feeling well, just not her usual happy, high energy self. We started supportive care, and Dr. Krapfl scheduled a cardiac ultrasound for her.

Jordan was trying to get home from Manhattan Kansas, and I was trying to keep her up to the minute on how Sandy was doing without falling apart.

Sandy's tail beat wildly every time someone stopped to pet her or talk to her. As tired as she was, she seemed to love this day so much.

Dr. Krapfl found the reason for Sandy's energy drop, and it was amazing she was doing as well as she was. It was not good news.

I sat down with Sandy and pet her for an hour. I felt so helpless.

I left town, and Jordan made it back to her baby. All of the LaBroad family was there to say goodbye with the vet team.

She was a great dog. There is no ideal way to go. I felt awful that Jordan had to rush home. I felt awful that I left town. I felt awful that Mr. LaBroad was so astute he noticed a mild energy drop and yet did not get to have good news.

In the end though, Sandy had a wonderful, long life with a wonderful family, and her tail was wagging till the very end. I doubt she would change a thing. We - as a vet team and a family - will always take on all of the sadness we can to protect our animal friends.

Would do again. We love you Sandy Girl.

...

Post from one year ago today...

July 15, 2016

NOPE.

BAILEY BELL

Bailey was my cousin JJ and my Aunt Penny and Uncle Scott's dog. He was the best dog. He was a favorite in our family and around his neighborhood.

If JJ isn't going to drive, Bailey is going to take himself to the dog park.

Try as we might to plan a graceful exit for Bailey, he outdid us all and went peacefully with Penny by his side. His tail wagged to his last day.

This beautiful picture is from Penny and Scott's friend Julie Hansen. I love it so much.

We will miss you Bailey Dog.

...

Post from one year ago today...

July 13, 2016

PIG AND FINCH

GUEST POST! BEING A VET TECH IS HARD

Erika Singh is one of my closest friends and favorite people. Erika is a licensed veterinary technician - one of the best in the industry! We are once again working together - Erika has been a veterinary technician at Gentle Doctor for over a year. Yay. The following is a post of Erika's wise and encouraging words...

Being a Vet Tech is Hard

"Being a vet tech is hard." These are the words I woke up with in my head after I came home from my twelve hour shift and passed out, sore, tired and mentally and emotionally exhausted.

Erika's Tiny Taffi doing what she does best

I gave my husband a kiss, snuggled my pets who were all excited to see me and then was out cold.

A few weeks ago, I posted a funny picture of one of my best friends and an amazing vet at my hospital on our Facebook page with her funny quote "Being a vet is hard. I need, like, seven calculators!"

Dr. Aly Taplett working hard!

Being a vet is hard.

Being a vet tech is hard.

Being a veterinary assistant is hard.

Being a veterinary receptionist is hard.

Being an animal care attendant is hard.

We wouldn't be doing this years later if we weren't the strongest of the strong. We wouldn't get up every day, knowing that our bodies, minds and emotions were all going to take a beating if we weren't strong.

Dr. Taplett, Hannah and Erika at Nebraska Humane Society's Walk for the Animals 2016

But what about the days we don't feel strong? When we don't feel like we can get up and do it all again tomorrow? These are the truly hardest days. The ones where we feel defeated. The ones where we're not sure we can do another hour, let alone another day.

But we do.

Because we are the heroes of four-legged family members, and the humans they own.

So for the days when you don't feel strong, remember you are. Remember you're amazing. Remember you are a lifeline to countless critters that wouldn't have a fighting chance, a happy, healthy life or a peaceful transition to the rainbow bridge.

Stay Strong.

Erika is a veterinary technician at Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals and a server at Romeo's. She and her husband live in Omaha Nebraska. They have three beautiful cats and a beautiful tiny dog.

...

Post from one year ago today...

July 10, 2016

TOLERENCE VS CELEBRATION

IT'S NOT TOO LATE, BUT NEXT YEAR WE WILL START PREPARING IN MARCH

Happy Independence Day!

Before you light the really impressive fireworks, consider the veterans and dogs and cats in the vicinity. If you can go out to the country, or light quiet fireworks, do.

That is not this crowd for the most part though. We are the ones under the bed with the dogs telling them all is well and will be over soon.

Next year we will start together in the spring. We will spend days taking the Thundershirts on and off our scardy pets with many treats involved. We will test medication before it is needed - with our vet team - to see what works best and at what dose. We will spray every surface with Adaptil and stuff all the Kongs. We will figure out the quietest, calmest rooms in our homes and stock them with blankies and toys and treats. And we will buy every edition of every album made by "Through A Dog's Ear." 

Artwork by Abby

Today...

Use antianxiety medications that have been prescribed for your pets if they have helped in the past. Give a dose before the day gets crazy.

Stay home with your pets if they are nervous, anxious or phobic if you can.

Do not bring the dogs to fireworks shows or even outside. Even the calmest dog can develop a noise phobia if they are exposed to the loud noises. This is the number one day for lost pets. And the fireworks are no safer for dogs than for a high energy toddler (most likely because of their many similarities :))

Make sure dogs have a quiet, dark place to retreat if they want to and that cats have a high and a low place to go (this is always a good kitty rule of dewclaw).

Hide under the bed with them if you need to. Tell them This Too Shall Pass.

Do whatever it takes to calm their anxiety...and yours.

Have a great holiday Friends. Let me know tomorrow how it went.

I love how photogenic Luna is, but this is one of my favorite pictures of her yet! Photos by Abby, too :)

...

Post from one year ago today...

July 4, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVE AND AMERICA!

A LETTER TO GULLIVER'S FORMER HUMANS

GUEST POST!

Gulliver is one of my favorite dogs in the world. And his people are my favorite people. They have worked so hard in conjunction with his veterinary team and his grooming team (that is, Amy) to get him through so much, not the least of which has been several anxiety issues. He is the best little dog, and I hope you love him as much as I do after reading about him.

The following is a letter Gulliver's Mom Jaime wrote to his former humans.

To Gulliver’s former humans:

May 29, 2017 will mark three years since we first met Gulliver.  You abandoned him at NHS a couple days prior, with floor length hair matted down to the skin and a ThunderShirt which provided him no comfort.  You cited a laundry list of reasons on the surrender paperwork for why you made the decision, along with some “helpful hints” for his future owners.  I’ve had a lot to say to you for the last three years and I need to get it out of my system now.

I saw Gulliver on the NHS website and asked my boss to leave work early to meet him.  I was in the midst of a two-year long bout with crippling depression and I thought a pet might help.  My now-fiancé Ross gave me two stipulations: the pet had to be small and he didn’t want them to shed.  Gulliver fit that mold, so I left work early on the afternoon of May 29, 2014 to go see him with Ross.

We waited patiently for a room and an adoption specialist to become available.  When we got the room, I sat on the floor to await his arrival.  He barreled into the room a few minutes later, jumped into my lap, and curled up in a ball to sleep the rest of the time we were speaking with the adoption specialist.  She told us all of the horrible things you said about Gulliver: that he was aggressive with kids, that he refused to be potty trained, that he would jump over baby gates but go crazy if he was kenneled, that he refused to play with toys…the list went on and on.

I almost asked to see another dog.  I asked Ross to tell me we couldn’t bring him home, and he refused.  You almost talked me out of taking him home.  But I looked down at the tiny little dog sleeping soundly in my lap, and I couldn’t let the adoption specialist take him back to the kennel.  I told Ross we could do training classes with him if he needed them.  I told him we could figure something out if he truly had behavioral issues.  I felt that he picked me when he jumped into my lap that afternoon, so we took him home.

You knew he had anxiety issues because you sent him to NHS in a ThunderShirt.  Did it ever occur to you to speak with a vet about it?  Because that occurred to us right after we brought him home.  He tried chasing us out the door every time one or both of us left.  He only went potty in the apartment if he was left by himself at home.  He lost two teeth trying to chew his way out of a kennel.  He would randomly start convulsing.  The first vet we saw said anxiety isn’t a thing with dogs and that we needed to keep kenneling him.  That wasn’t good enough for us, so we took him to Dr. Finch.  She believed that Gulliver needed treatment for anxiety and started him on two different meds.

He’s a completely different dog today.  His panic attacks have stopped and he doesn’t try to chase us out the door anymore.  He gets free roam of the apartment and he doesn’t touch anything that isn’t his.  Squeaky toys litter our apartment because we determined you lied about him not playing with toys—did the squeaking bother you too much or something?  Because that’s just something dogs do.  And the most aggressive thing he has done to a child is stealing a piece of toast out of the hand of our friend’s toddler.  He’s the light of our lives, and Ross even included him in the proposal a couple months ago.  You almost talked me out of taking him home.  I’m eternally grateful that I didn’t listen to you.

I’ve spent three years wanting to chew you out for failing to meet his needs, and for abandoning him without a second thought.  Instead, as I write this today, I’m wanting to thank you for giving us the opportunity to give him a better life.  We would jump through flaming hoops for that little guy.  He shows us so much love and we give him the best life possible in return.  We’re going to celebrate his adoption day by taking him for his beloved car ride to get ice cream.  Thank you for giving up on him, because now he’s ours to dote on for the rest of his life.

Sincerely,

Gulliver’s new mom, Jaime

...

Post from one year ago today...

May 29, 2016

MOM IS DOING WELL

LEARNING SIGN LANGUAGE

We have a client who speaks only Spanish, which was the kick in the butt I needed to learn Spanish.

We have a client who speaks Sign Language, and I have had clients who speak Sign Language before this as well. If my Spanish speaking client is warm and kind, our Sign Language client is...the opposite. You know the people who look like they really need a hug, but you know if you hug them, there is a very good chance they will punch you? I do not think this client would punch me, but I have not hugged him either.

The pop-up on his pets' medical records lists the doctors he prefers, and, I am not making this up, it lists every doctor in the practice, including some who have left, EXCEPT me. And somehow the poor guy seems to always get stuck with me.

I love when he and his dogs are in.

He is very good at reading lips, and we write notes back and forth. 

I write in a big diagonal swoop in purple sparkle pen, "Has he been itching?? :) :) :)"

and he writes in small neat letters in a straight line in black ball point pen - unless he does not have one in which case I loan him my purple sparkle pen - "yes."

I write, "I will help him! <3" and he rolls his eyes and mouths "thank you."

We may have more differences than hearing ability, but I still think it has been a jerk move on my part to not learn a LITTLE Sign Language over the years. I will start with learning "thank you," which I hope he will know will mean "I appreciate you putting up with me, and I think you and your wife and your dogs are great! :) (((hugs)))"

...

Post from one year ago today...

May 23, 2016

ON DISCUSSING TREATMENT PLANS

LEARNING SPANISH

Recently I had a client ask in Spanish if I knew any Spanish.

"No," I said (in Spanish and English). "Do you know any English?" I asked in English.

"No!" she said, and laughed. She was a very good sport about trying to tell me about her dog (who thankfully was in for wellness care, so communicating was a little more straightforward.)

I decided that the next time she and her dog were in, I would be able to say "yes."

Which I have since learned is "sí." And I learned how to make an accent mark with the keyboard!

I have no excuse for living in America - the country with the highest percentage of Spanish speakers other than primarily Spanish speaking countries - and having Spanish speaking veterinary classmates and having Spanish speaking preschool Sunday school students and having Spanish speaking clients and living in South Omaha (for Pete's sake!) and not knowing Spanish.

Thanks to my Spanish speaking client, I now have no excuse and motivation.

I found three fun apps - Rocket Languages, Duolingo and Tiny Cards.

So now I have no excuse, motivation and an obsessive compulsive drive. 

Kristen (who already had the Duolingo app and who is much more multilingual than you would suspect) and Kelly and Hannah and Russ and Karen and I all decided to learn/brush up on languages with Duolingo together. (Team 120!)

So now I have no excuse, motivation, an obsessive compulsive drive...and encouragement.

This has been very fun so far! After a month's study, I can say, "sí, un poco." (Yes, a little). Next to learn will be upside down exclamation points so when my dear client and I meet again, I can say it emphatically :)

...

Post from one year ago today...

May 22, 2016

WHY?

THE LONG FLIGHT OF STAIRS

The couple had been in often lately with their old dog. She had surmounted many health challenges with grace, and was now - even on supplements and arthritis medication and back at a healthy weight - unable to climb stairs any more.

Dad said, "you know, she gives me the same look at the bottom of the stairs that she gave me when she was a puppy." I think the look means, "You don't really expect me to do that by myself do you?" 

I said, "when she was a puppy, each stair was probably bigger than her!" She was now, after diligent care from her Mom and Dad, back down from a slightly high weight to a lean fifty pounds.

"Yeah," Mom said. "She was so small. As soon as she was a little taller, she figured those stairs out, and would tear up and down them all the time."

Dad smiled and said, "I carried her then, I'll carry her now."

They left ready to face this next stage as well as they have every one before this. I get a little teary eyed thinking about this dog and her family, but it makes me smile picturing her as a tiny puppy, ready, as ready as she is now, to take on the next challenge.

...

Post from one year ago today...

May 15, 2016

RUSS SHOULD SHOW UP FOR BIBLE STUDY MORE OFTEN

LEAVING WORK

Before the road trip for Russ's birthday, I was running on empty. I was putting all of my energy into caring for patients, which usually comes a little more naturally, or at least more easily. I was sleeping all of the time I was at home. Depression and physical exhaustion were doing their damnedest to smash me, and I ran to the point of using sheer will power to function. And I did it. I made it to the last hour of the last work day before our trip with the last of what I had left.

I let Dr. Bashara know I would not have my phone on, but he could get ahold of me on Russ's phone if he needed anything. I let our parents know. Between the five of them, they could get word to friends and family if need be.

I tossed my phone into my nightstand with a exhausted, relieved sigh. I turned it back on Monday morning.

Other than Mom and Dad's puppies eating Mom's medication (!!!), no one needed me all weekend, and all went well. Mom knew she could reach me if she needed (You still could have called me Mom!), but she called VCA Midwest Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center, and they walked her through making sure the puppies were safe. (Thank you Midwest. I cannot tell you how much of postponing - and hopefully avoiding - burnout is because you are there when I cannot be. I am forever grateful.) The puppies did not get sick. 

I rested with Russ, Amanda and Abby and the dogs all weekend and recovered.

During the three day weekend my phone was in my nightstand and I was in Kansas City, I received twenty six texts plus calls and emails requesting immediate responses to work related things. I turned my phone back on on the way to work Monday morning. (I pulled over and stopped first!)

Sometimes you guys, I just need to walk away. As much as I love my teammates, our clients and their pets, my profession and my job...when I am off, I need that time. Not always. Sometimes though. If I don't answer right away, keep calling, but if there is anyone else at work or in your circle who can help you, please let them. 

Luna does not have a problem with work-life balance.

I get that this is not a career I can disappear from. Pets are not sick 9-5 weekdays. (Just kidding! I mean not 7:30-6 or 7 weekdays and 7:30-1 Saturdays!) Still, we have an amazing veterinary community at Gentle Doctor and in Omaha at large whose whole (on the clock) goal is to protect the health and well being of our pets. 

You can call. Always call. Always call any time. But please be patient with me and forgive me if sometimes I am not there. I promise to always return, and when I am present, I promise to be present 100%.

...

Post from one year ago today...

May 10, 2016

ANYTHING BUT BARIUM

EASTER CANDY!

Here is a typical chocolate case:

Your job as a veterinary team is to turn this pile into the number of ounces of types of chocolate most likely ingested that you can convert to grams of theobromine to compare to the weight of your patient - who is either not saying when he or she tipped the basket/raided the stocking/tore open the Valentine box or is standing before you happy as can be with a chocolate smile and no signs of toxicity - yet? Ever?

That is what you need to figure out!

Also, do not forget to account for any xylitol in sugar free candy and gum and any toys or wrappers or other things that could have been ingested and cause stomach or intestinal damage or an obstruction.

Thankfully, this particular tiny dog, though he ate enough to cause vomiting and diarrhea, had no clinical signs and did well.

Worse case is a danger of neurotoxicity.

Worst case is a fatality.

Thankfully, I have never had a patient die of chocolate toxicity, and the most stressful part of every case has always been turning something as vague as something like this pile of wrappers into a number we can use to help our patient.

...

Post from one year ago today...

April 27, 2016

DON'T FORGET TO STOP AND PET THE DOGS

KITTENS ARE OFTEN THE ANSWER

A client adopted two kittens for her terminal dog to cheer him up.

It worked.

Now the three of them are best friends.

...

Post from one year ago today...

April 26, 2016

DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT

WHY I LOVE NANCY HINTZ

Kelly and I were driving through an evening blizzard last December to get to one of our favorite patients and her heart broken Mom.

This gentle, beautiful Great Dane had bravely lived well as long as she could with a terminal cancer, and it was time to let her go. None of us, save the dog herself, were handling it well.

As a (huge) favor, two animal control officers from Nebraska Humane Society had arranged with Kelly to meet us at the home after their shift was over (in the same blizzard) to transport our patient's body to the Rainbow Bridge for after care.

When the first officer came to the door, I recognized him as the kind animal control officer we had (unfortunately) seen often lately. I said hi and greeted the officer behind him I had not previously met.

The first officer helped Kelly and me carry the stretcher to their van. The new officer walked with us and guided us around icy patches and made sure no one fell.

The next day, Kelly and I were pretty despondent. We missed our friend. We were concerned for her Mom. After telling a few stories about our sweet patient, we sat in silence for a while.

Kelly spoke up. "You know that wasn't an animal control officer, don't you?" she said.

"Who was it?" I asked.

"That was the new CEO of Nebraska Humane Society. She is doing ride alongs with the animal control officers." She said it just as casually and matter a factly as Nancy Hintz had ridden out in a blizzard with an animal control officer to take care of a grieving community member and her canine companion and make sure we did not fall on our butts on the slick ice.

"Wow. No, I didn't know that," I said. We sat in silence for a while more, then continued on with our day.

To Nancy Hintz, Nebraska Humane Society's new CEO,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your kindness is startling, humble and deep.

Dog Mom, Kelly and I are blessed to have had you and the ACO there with us on that heartbreaking and sacred night. Omaha too is so very blessed to have you.

...

Post from one year ago today...

April 21, 2016

ON MEETING NICK NOLTE

THE LAST CAT UNTIL THE NEXT CAT

I saw a cat yesterday.

I mean, not like I have been seeing cats, where I ask if I can pet someone else's patient or a boarder, and all my friends, in an effort to keep me alive, yell "no" or some loud/urgent/profane variation thereof, and I sulk away and take a picture instead.

I had a cat patient. My team did the same life saving heroics they always do, and I insisted on seeing her.

A day later, I am writing this to you coughing and hacking and vowing to be more careful.

Which is a way better place than I was in yesterday. My doctor friend kindly sent me home after I saw the cat. I paused to catch my breath three times on the way home. Russ had rescue medications waiting for me and we decided against urgent care since I could breathe pretty well.

I took some more oral medications which knocked me out (sorry I was crabby family) and I fell asleep still not breathing great.

Tomorrow I should be a little better, and the day after that I should be okay again.

It's my pride. It's my optimism. It's my longing to have our own Max the Cat back, and it's missing my patients. It's my stubborn refusal to listen to the gentle admonition of my allergist who said I need to be done seeing cats. It's wanting to do a good job at work, where the best I can do now seems like doing half my job.

I think this is it you guys. Each time I see a cat is scarier, and I need to step back.

...

Post from one year ago today...

April 20, 2017

SOME MOMENTS FOREVER CHANGE THE WAY YOU SEE THE WORLD

SOME MORE WORDS

In my original post on the subject, I asked for comments, anonymous or out loud. I got comments. Here are some.

"Reusing syringes is gross."

"They cost pennies - throw them away!"

"I don't care if you wash and sterilize, it is not okay to draw blood and then inject a medication with the same syringe."

"I have worked in practices that did this as well, and I broke the rules openly too. I don't care what the argument is on sterilizing and saving money, it's a one time use product, and that's how it should be used."

"I used to stand by the trash with the bin of syringes and sneeze them into the trash."

"That's terrible! I have never thought to reuse a syringe/needle."

"At no time can I think of an instance where I would be okay reusing them now."

"If they say dispose, they aren't meant to be cleaned and probably could not be effectively sterilized, so I wouldn't want that used on my fur kids."

"As a client, I am glad you use new syringes on my dogs."

"Wouldn't want used one-time needles used on my girls."

"Sad fact of life, greed usually wins out over care and safety. You are concerned about safety."

"As a pet owner, I am disgusted this is even a thing. It never would have crossed my mind that a syringe would be reused because in my mind, it's common sense that you toss after its intended use."

"Wait, how is throwing syringes away bullying? You're not being mean to that person, nor belittling them, nor harming them. You're practicing quality veterinary care."

"The absolute last thing anybody could ever say about you is that you are a bully. What the hell?"

"Calling you a bully could be considered creating a hostile work environment."

"I am still trying to figure out in what world that would be considered bullying."

"Absolutely not a bully."

"You're not a bully. You support ethics on every front."

"I just don't get the connection. How can this be bullying?"

"You are the least likely person to ever be a bully."

My favorite comments...

"Do you all at Nebraska Medicine reuse syringes for humans?" "Gross, no."

and...

"What. The. Actual. Fuck."

...

Post from one year ago today...

April 14, 2015

THE PUPPY AND THE STETHOSCOPE

UPWARD

A list of groups with links to their position statements on reusing single use syringes...

American Society of Anesthesiologists

Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Center for Disease Control

Friend to Friend - a website for IV drug users

Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy

Nurses Service Organization

Safety Vet

UNICEF

World Health Organization

1 800 Pet Meds

...

Post from one year ago today...

April 13, 2016

ALL THE GOSLINGS

ONWARD

The reason I did not write for so many days when I had been posting daily is that I am letting a work issue drive me crazy.

It is not my boss's fault, though our run in is what threw me off course.

He has said that we cannot speak of it together and things will not change.

Which I take to mean I can speak and write of it.

I figure whoever is more stubborn will have the last word on if things will change.

In the case of a stubbornness stalemate, the tie breaker, of course, would be the owner of the company.

Also, my boss is one of my favorite people in the world, and I would stop this silliness if it really came to choosing the fight over the person.

Onward...

...

Post from one year ago today...

April 12, 2016

WHAT VAMPIRES DO

IN MEMORY OF NOODLE THE POODLE

Noodle the Poodle passed away in the spring of 2016. I wasn't ready to write about how supportive you all were until now. Thank you so much. Now looking back at your kind words and remembering Noodle makes me mostly happy, not mostly sad. That has to be a step in the right direction, right?

Here are some of the things I keep close...

Jaime Williams and Ross Nelson brought me this beautiful stone right after Noodle passed away. I love it so much. At the risk of being punched, I gave Ross an unwanted hug. He either was too slow or was feeling poodle pity because instead of punching me, he hugged me back. Thank you guys so much! You are the best! (((hugs)))

This beautiful handmade card was from my former coworker Jan Green. I still miss you Jan!!

Janie Helt and her family gave us a beautiful Easter Lily and a sweet card.

From work friends <3 The inside reads, "The Arbor Day Foundation has received a donation in memory of Noodle. As a tribute, a tree will be planted and registered in Tahoe National Forest. This memorial was given by Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals. May this living monument to your friend comfort you during this time." Thank you guys. I love you.

...

Post from one year ago today...

March 13, 2016

WHY NOAH?