Posts About Our Practice
We love the Murphy family and their adorable dog Furble!
From the family...
Tell us about your family – humans and pets!
We are Stacy, Mike, Charlotte (age 10) and Jay (age 7) .
We have one Mutt named Furble (age 4) who is probably a sheepdog and pointer mix.
What do the adults in the family do for a living and for fun?
Stacy is a marketing director for RehabVisions, a contract therapy company.
Mike is a partner and financial adviser with Nelson Murphy Insurance and Investments
What do the kids in the family do for fun?
Kids run in the neighborhood, bike, swim in the summer and play some organized sports (soccer and baseball).
Tell us more about Furble and the pets you have had in the past.
Furble is the only pet we have now. Phoebe was a red cockapoo, our "first" baby, who lived to age 13. We've also had two cats and a couple of fish.
Tell us about when you first met the Gentle Doctor team or a story about the team others may not know.
Furble was a gift from Santa via the Nebraska Humane Society. He was very sick when we first got him--continual diarrhea (a pretty common thing after a shelter stay). Dr. Finch was invaluable in advising us and getting him well. It was a hellish couple of weeks.
What have you learned about pets that you did not know as a kid or before you had your own pets?
I believe pets are a vital part of childhood. They give the family unconditional love but also something for the kids to care for and love. There is a sense of selflessness that comes with pet ownership.
Do you have a favorite breed or type of pet?
I like a good mutt.
Is their a shelter or rescue group or other pet related group that is dear to you that you would like us to help spread the word about?
A lot of good happens at the Nebraska Humane Society. We're fortunate to have such a good place in Omaha.
Is there a non-pet related cause you would like us to help spread the word about?
My husband is the current president of the Ronald McDonald House Charities board. That's near and dear to his heart. And we also love Project Harmony.
We love the Bergmann family!
From Dr. Stokes,
This family is so nice. I love that Ruger is such a tough nugget. He surprised us with pneumonia. He’s so energetic and happy that except for a slight cough, no one would have suspected!
His family was so good about follow-up. Now instead of "How are you?" like normal people say to each other, we say, "Was that a cough?" when we are together and Ruger is there! Tafy and Boomer are wondeful too. Thankfully, they are only due for routine dental care!
From the family,
Tell us about your family – humans and pets!
In our family, we have two adult humans, two child humans, three dogs and one tortoise
What do the adults in the family do for a living and for fun?
Karl is an orthopedic trauma surgeon. We like to hang out at home mostly.
What do the kids in the family do for fun?
Gabi is on the Kitty Lee Dance Team and enjoys spending time with friends. Alex takes taekwondo and likes to play video games
Tell us more about the pets you have now and the pets you have had in the past.
Boomer is almost fourteen years old. He is a black Lab-border collie mix that we adopted from the Humane Society in 2002.
Tafy is a mini poodle who will turn five in August.
Ruger is a German Short-haired Pointer that we bought from Pheasant Bonanza. He is a trained bird dog and will be four in January.
Bubbles is a Russian Tortoise that we "rescued" from Pet Smart. She is so fascinating.
Tell us about when you first met the Gentle Doctor team or a story about the team others may not know.
When we rescued Boomer, we researched vets. Even though we lived on North 27th at the time, we traveled to the office on 120th & Blondo. We loved Gentle Doctor from the start. When we moved back to Omaha and expanded our fur baby family, going someplace else was never a consideration.
What have you learned about pets that you did not know as a kid or before you had your own pets?
Dogs can get pneumonia! Little dogs are susceptible to knee injuries and a tiny dog CAN sneak onto the counter to eat semi-sweet baker's grade chocolate and live to tell about it, if you act quickly enough.
Do you have wisdom about any medical conditions that you could share with someone who is perhaps just starting to walk their pet through a similar situation?
When in doubt, have it checked out. Even Dr. Stokes was dumbfounded by Ruger's lung x-rays! He was a bit of an enigma :)
Do you have a favorite breed or type of pet?
We prefer dogs, but mostly because two of us are allergic to cats.
Is their a shelter or rescue group or other pet related group that is dear to you that you would like us to help spread the word about?
I like Hands, Hearts and Paws.
Meet the Finches! In the "My Mom Likes Me" catagory are some of our very favorite clients (and people!), Karen and Phill Finch! Karen and Phill are wonderful people and wonderful dog parents!
Karen and Phill with Lucy (left) and Jacy (right)
Tell us about your family – humans and pets!
We are Karen and Phill Finch. We have three grown children who with their spouses are Jodi and Shane Freeman, Kristi and Scott Jones and Russ and Shawn Finch, who is a doctor at Gentle Doctor! Shawn has been married to our son Russ for nineteen years.We have eight grandchildren and eight granddogs and three dogs of our own.
Tidus passed his Breed Ambassador test! Doesn't he look impressed with himself? Lucy not so much!
What do the adults in the family do for a living and for fun?
We are retired. We like to camp and travel in our motor home and spend time with family.
Lucy is ready to camp!
What do the kids in the family do for fun?
The grandkids like to come to Grandma and Grandpa’s to swim, rope swing, boat and fish.
Tidus always sees Lucy and Jacy on the end tables and figured that was what dogs do...
Tell us more about the pets you have now and the pets you have had in the past.
We have Jacy, a thirteen year old Lhasa apso, Lucy, a four year old Maltese mix and Tidus, a two year old Pitbull.
Jacy's wisdom after an ecollar helped her heal post-cancer surgery
In the past we have had two Schnauzers, Sassy and Holly, and later a Lhasa mix Skeeter and a Peke-a-schnoodle, Spunky.
Tell us about when you first met the Gentle Doctor team or a story about the team others may not know.
Four years ago when our daughter in law Dr. Shawn Finch started working there we met the Gentle Doctor team. The team at 89th and Grant saved Tidus’s life when he had parvo with wonderful care and lots of love.
Baby Tidus with Russ
What have you learned about pets that you did not know as a kid or before you had your own pets?
I grew up on a farm with outdoor pets only, so having indoor pets was a learning curve, but a very good one. I could never go back to outdoor-only pets.
Tidus being goofy
Do you have wisdom about any medical conditions that you could share with someone who is perhaps just starting to walk their pet through a similar situation?
Do not overfeed them! Being overweight is not good for pets any more than it is for people.
Lucy loves the toy bin at the 120th Gentle Doctor location!
Do you have a favorite breed or type of pet?
Our favorite is whatever dogs we have at the time. We have always been partial to Schnauzers and have learned to love Pitbulls!
Jacy looks great in her jacket, but she does not love it.
Is their a shelter or rescue group or other pet related group that is dear to you that you would like us to help spread the word about?
Nebraska Humane Society
Lucy being cute...
Meet our wonderful clients, Ross and Jaime and their great dog Gulliver!
From Dr. Shawn Finch...
The only thing I have enjoyed more than getting to know Ross and Jaime through Twitter is getting to know them and their sweet, sweet dog Gulliver in real life!
It is fun to tag pictures of Gulliver with labels like #HaveYouMetGulliver (A popular Ross-inspired hashtag on Twitter is #HaveYouMetRoss!), #GulliverTheBrave and #BowTiesAreCool. Even more rewarding has been walking with this wonderful family through the trials and triumphs of having an anxious dog. I am so impressed with Ross and Jaime and as impressed with Gulliver and the progress he has made! And you will never find a cuter dog in a bow tie!
From Jaime and Ross...
Tell us about your family – humans and pets!
Our family consists of Ross Nelson, Jaime Williams and our Shih Tzu mix Gulliver.
What do the people in the family do for a living and for fun?
Ross is a software developer, and Jaime does marketing for an insurance company. In our free time, we love going to concerts, trying out new restaurants and playing with Gulliver. Jaime is a huge fan of auto racing and loves going to races at local tracks, which Ross tolerates. :)
Tell us more about the pets you have now and the pets you have had in the past.
Gulliver was surrendered to Nebraska Humane Society by his previous owners, who gave limited but very negative feedback on him on the surrender paperwork. We were looking for a small dog that would fit into an apartment lifestyle and we decided to meet him even though the adoption specialist warned us about the negative things his previous owners said about him. When the specialist let him into the playroom, he climbed onto Jaime’s lap and fell asleep right away. We ended up adopting him that night.
Jaime’s family has a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Max, and Jaime adopted a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Zoe from Nebraska Humane Society when she was twenty. Zoe was a senior when she was adopted and had been abused by her previous owners She passed away in June of 2014 after five years with Jaime’s family.
Ross’s family has three cats: Gavin, Bailey, and Kado.
Tell us about when you first met the Gentle Doctor team or a story about the team others may not know.
Ross met Dr. Finch at a tweet-up several years ago, but at the time, he did not have any pets living with him to take to Gentle Doctor. After we adopted Gulliver, we originally took him to Jaime’s family’s vet and had a horrible experience with them. They denied that Gulliver had any anxiety issues and their answer to his panic attacks was “kennel him”, even though he lost a tooth trying to chew his way out of his kennel. Ross emailed Dr. Finch about our concerns with him and she was very understanding about his separation anxiety and panic attack issues. We immediately set up a “get to know you” appointment for him so Jaime could meet Dr. Finch too, and we were both very happy with the treatment plan Dr. Finch put in place. That was the day we officially made Gentle Doctor our veterinary team for Gulliver.
What have you learned about pets that you did not know as a kid or before you had your own pets?
We have learned that pets can have severe anxiety issues, just like humans can. We have also learned that rescue pets that are considered “damaged goods” can turn around and have a wonderful life once they adjust to their new, loving homes.
Do you have wisdom about any medical conditions that you could share with someone who is perhaps just starting to walk their pet through a similar situation?
Gulliver has severe anxiety issues, both separation anxiety and panic attacks at home. Loud noises scare him (especially fireworks, air horns, and car alarms) and he starts convulsing. When we first got him, he would start whimpering and try to follow us out the door if we were leaving. He would also poop and/or pee on the floor while we were gone. With great veterinary care, some medications recommended by Dr. Finch, and lots of love, we have been able to slow down his panic attacks and get him used to being home alone. We would tell someone going through the same thing with their dog to be patient and keep in close contact with their vet because it IS possible to make your dog happier and more comfortable, it just takes time.
Do you have a favorite breed or type of pet?
Ross is a cat person, but also likes small dogs. Jaime is a dog person and loves all breeds, especially Corgis, Shih Tzus, and Pit Bulls.
Is their a shelter or rescue group or other pet related group that is dear to you that you would like us to help spread the word about?
We are huge fans of Nebraska Humane Society — they do great things for animals throughout the metro area, and two of our pets have come from there.
Is there a non-pet related cause you would like us to help spread the word about?
We are also huge fans of an organization called Child’s Play. They raise money to buy video games, books and other fun things for children in homeless/domestic violence shelters and hospitals all over the country. Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha is one of the places that benefits from these donations.
Is there anything else we should include in your story?
I think that covers it!
Meet our wonderful client Michelle Mercer!
From Kelly Technician, LVT:
In my thirteen years working for Gentle Doctor, I have had the pleasure of getting to know Michelle Mercer and all of her amazing dogs. Through smiles and tears (and nail trims) she is one of the most caring and passionate people I know. Michelle will go to the ends of the earth for her four-legged companions.
From Michelle:
Tell us more about the pets you have now and the pets you have had in the past.
My name is Michelle, and I am a software engineer at a company here in Omaha. I currently have five dogs with whom I share my life. Dixie was my sixteen year old Australian Shepherd mix adopted from the Nebraska Humane Society when I was still living in an apartment. I got her when my engagement broke off, and she was definitely a better deal than the husband I would have had! She was so smart, and through training and living with her, she taught me so much about dogs that I would never have known otherwise.
Dixie, the energizer bunny!
We moved to a house after about six months, and I adopted Barney, a Basset Hound mix from the Nebraska Humane Society who was being treated for heartworms. I thought it would be good to have a lower energy dog in the mix, but Barney was a smart cookie and definitely not the complete couch potato I was expecting. I even trained him in agility, and he was pretty darned good! That just got me hooked on Basset Hounds.
Barney
I decided to foster for a nearby Basset Hound rescue and received a Basset named Goofy who was the sweetest thing ever; I just had to adopt her. Immediate foster failure!
Goofy
I volunteered at the Nebraska Humane Society for many years after adopting Barney, including adoption counseling and fostering dogs and puppies in my home. I had always been interested in Ibizan Hounds and Pharaoh Hounds growing up but never thought I would own one. Then came my first Ibizan Hound rescue, Bear, one of twenty one Ibizans the Nebraska Humane Society rescued and helped place. He was missing half of his tail and had urine burns but still had the sweetest nature. It didn’t take long and I was hooked on this breed too.
Bear
I did adopt another foster from Nebraska Border Collie Rescue, my border collie Ciaran. He suffered a lot of abuse, and I tried to do what I could to rehabilitate him. I learned the hard way that you cannot always save all of them. In final desperation, I sought the advice of an aggression expert, and she was not at all hopeful. He was unpredictable and didn’t show typical signs of when he might attack someone. I made the difficult decision to euthanize him.
Ciaran
I decided that I loved Bear so much, I wanted to have another Ibizan Hound and definitely one with some of his pedigree. That is how I got Kenya, my total spoiled brat, aka ‘The Hairdresser’. If she likes you, she will rub herself on your head.
Bear and Baby Kenya
Kenya
A friend of mine who has one of Kenya’s sisters saw two Portuguese Podengo Medio sisters at a shelter in California and fell in love with one. The other looked just like a miniature Kenya. She convinced me that we had to rescue them, so after several weeks of arrangements and one hurricane later, I got my little Darby flown out to me. She is an odd dog, won’t walk on hard floors (tile, wood, cement), but she is the sweetest little thing. I am not convinced that she isn’t part Basenji as she has the curly tail and many of the quirky traits of a Basenji, just didn’t get the no barking trait.
After I was down to just my three girls, Dixie, Kenya and Darby, I started fostering for IHCUS (Ibizan Hound Club of the United States) Rescue. Of course, that just meant I fell in love and added two sweet boys to my pack.
Shay came from a horrible situation similar to what Bear went through. I don’t think he knew much about life outside of a kennel run in his first four years. Once he got to my house, he immediately discovered the bed and the comfort of a pillow. He has been sleeping next to me ever since.
Shay
Chevy was a champion show dog who found himself in a retirement home with a Chihuahua, and I think he didn’t realize how big he was and accidently injured the little dog. Next thing you know, he was advertised on Craigslist, and when Ibizan Hound people saw that, we grabbed him. He is the dog with the perfect manners, a Labrador in an Ibizan Hound suit, he loves everyone!
Chevy and Darby
Chico
Then there’s my Mom’s little dog Chico. He was a puppy mill rescue from Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland even though he is neither. They say he is a Parson Russell Terrier, but he is a pretty laid back version of a terrier in general. He loves playing with and grooming the big dogs, no one told him that he was a little guy!
Tell us about when you first met the Gentle Doctor team or a story about the team others may not know.
I loved my Basset Hound, Goofy, so much but she was clearly suffering. We had determined that she probably had inoperable cancer. I was a mess when I brought her in to Gentle Doctor, and I knew I didn’t have the strength to stay with her when they gave her the injections. I still remember how carefully Dr. Madden scooped her up into his arms, and I gave her a kiss on the head. The thing that really got me was that then Dr. Madden bent down and he kissed her on her head as he left the room. You know you have a caring vet when they feel the pain as much as you do.
What have you learned about pets that you did not know as a kid or before you had your own pets?
Seeing so many abused animals over the years, I don’t think when I was growing up we really had a good idea of how important those formative weeks and months are for puppies/kittens. Even today, there are so many people ignorant of how important it is to expose a puppy to so many new things that I think a lot of issues could be avoided.
Do you have wisdom about any medical conditions that you could share with someone who is perhaps just starting to walk their pet through a similar situation?
Fortunately or not, my sixteen year old Dixie had been living with kidney disease for over four years. I really thought that when she was diagnosed at twelve years old and we would have to do subcutaneous fluids daily as well as make dietary changes and supplements that was it. No way did I think she would still be around four years later. She slowed down some over the last couple of years, dislocating a hip didn’t help, but acupuncture with Dr. Jones really helped her keep up her spunky attitude right until the end.
Do you have a favorite breed or type of pet? I think I have a dog addiction. Period. But I do have a soft spot for my hounds and border collies.
Is there a shelter or rescue group that is dear to you that you would like us to help spread the word about?
IHCUS (Ibizan Hound Club of the United States) Rescue. I am proud to say that most Ibizan Hound breeders love the breed so much and support rescue. Of course, a good breeder will always take back one of the dogs that they bred but there are always circumstances where that isn’t possible (ex. the breeder dies or has health issues, the owner gives the dog away, a dog ends up as a stray), and that is where IHCUS Rescue steps in to take care of Ibizan Hounds in need of a new home.
Eric, Debbie and Perry Maynor, Daisy, Grace and Lawrence
Meet our wonderful clients the Maynor family! We love when they come to see us with their great English Springer Spaniels!
Daisy
From Debbie Maynor -
Congratulations to Gentle Doctor on 50 years of quality care!!
Tell us about your family – humans and pets!
We are the Maynors - Perry, Debbie and Eric. We live with our three senior English Springer Spaniels. Their names are Daisy, Lawrence and Grace. They are 10, 11 and 13.
What do the adults in the family do for a living and for fun?
Perry works in fraud investigations at PayPal and has his own yard business. Debbie is a Product Manager for PSCU, a financial services company. Our adult son Eric is in car sales at Baxter Ford.
Perry and Debbie enjoy ballroom dancing, going out to dinner and spending time with good friends. We like to go to outdoor concerts and local events in the summer. We also enjoy working together in the yard. Our dogs especially love this as they love to be out in the back yard with us!
Debbie and Eric are in our church choir, and Debbie is involved in a Bible study and attends Jazzercise with her daughter-in-law, Jasmine.
Eric likes going to movies and going out to eat. He also is interested in cars and enjoys running.
What do the kids in the family do for fun?
Our dogs have become our kids in many ways since we no longer have children at home.
Grace
Tell us more about the pets you have now and the pets you have had in the past.
Our first family dog was Makenna. We adopted her from the Nebraska Humane Society when she was eight weeks old in 1997. She was a Brittany mix and was very smart and full of energy. Perry was her favorite human, and she was a beautiful, loyal dog. We really did not have a memory without her in it. She died at the age of 13.
When we lost Makenna in 2010, we had such huge holes in our hearts. I found Molly, an English Springer, online at Nebraska Humane Society. We always liked Springers. We got her the next day. She was eleven, and we were looking for a younger dog, but could not resist her. She was adorable, so sweet and gentle…a real treasure. Molly lived to be 14.
After Molly passed away, we realized that as painful as it is to lose a dog, we have a real heart for those that are displaced in their senior years and need a quiet, calm place to live out the remainder of their lives. At the same time, I became a member of English Springer Rescue of America (ESRA).
Through the rescue, I found Daisy who was a Springer released to English Springer Rescue of America as an owner surrender in 2013. She was nine years old, and her owner went into hospice. We adopted her right away. She is beautiful when she runs and loves to snuggle and give kisses.
We felt like Daisy may want another dog to keep her company. :) We found Lawrence through English Springer Rescue of America in late 2013. He was in a “kill” shelter in Minnesota when a nice foster couple rescued him. He sounded like the dog we were looking for. We drove to Eden Valley Minnesota to get him. He was in a car accident five years ago, but seems to be doing well today. He is a handsome dog who always has a smile. At 43 pounds, he thinks he is a lap dog. Everyone seems to love Lawrence.
Grace, our last addition just a couple of months ago, is a dog we began fostering for English Springer Rescue of America a few months ago. Her owner went into a care facility after having had her since she was a puppy. We failed at fostering…we could not let her go!! She is small for a Springer, only 24 pounds. While she is 13 years old, she has the energy of a puppy. She loves to run, go on walks and snuggle as close to you as possible. She has begun giving kisses and seeking belly rubs.
Tell us about when you first met the Gentle Doctor team or a story about the team others may not know.
We started bringing Makenna to Gentle Doctor after a friend recommended them. We had always been pleased. They helped us with Makenna through the remainder of her life and even sent us sympathy cards when we had to euthanize her due to terminal cancer. The staff was very kind, knowledgeable and compassionate.
When we adopted Molly, she had several chronic health issues. On one of the frequent visits, we met Dr. Stokes. She was knowledgeable, patient and calm. She always went above and beyond and worked diligently to find just the right treatments and medications for Molly. With her help, we were able to address her ongoing illnesses so she could enjoy a quality life in her final years. We can’t thank Karen enough! We are big fans of Dr. Stokes and have followed her to the 120th and Blondo location. In addition to the quality service she provides to our dog crew, she is always a pleasure to work with and I always look forward to seeing her.
We also have truly enjoyed taking each of our dogs to Amy for regular grooming. She is attentive and always alerts us to unusual behaviors or physical changes she notices for each. I took Molly to her for grooming almost two years ago, and Molly became very ill while waiting in the kennel. Amy reacted quickly and got her to Dr. Bashara who determined she had a life threatening condition. Amy called me and stayed with Molly until I could arrive to be with her. Molly’s condition was deemed untreatable, and we ultimately had to have her euthanized. However, due to the quick reaction of Amy and the staff, Molly did not suffer in her final hours. I will always be grateful to Amy for her kindness and quick action.
Our Daisy put on weight when she came to us. Perhaps it was too many treats… :)
I became concerned at the increase and contacted the Blondo Street office. Kelly met with Daisy and me. She evaluated Daisy’s diet and created a plan for Daisy based on her daily calorie needs. She told us how much to feed her and how many snacks she could have. Kelly has met with us several times and has always been patient, informative and a pleasure to work with. Thanks to her personal care and direction, Daisy has reached her goal weight! She is able to run easily and enjoy the nice weather. I am meeting with Kelly again to establish Daisy’s maintenance diet. Thank you Kelly!
What have you learned about pets that you did not know as a kid or before you had your own pets?
Each one has its own unique personality and preferences, much like people. I also love to see their “happiness” when reacting to certain things. I did not realize how happy dogs always seem to be to see you. Also, our dogs are the best snugglers ever!
Do you have wisdom about any medical conditions that you could share with someone who is perhaps just starting to walk their pet through a similar situation?
Dogs with long ears can be prone to ear infections. Keep an eye on their ears to see if they seem to be dirty or waxy inside. There are veterinarian prescribed cleaners that you can use to help prevent infection. If that is not enough, there are other ear drop options available that can be given ongoing on a daily basis. Chronic ear infection can lead to pain, issues with balance and permanent hearing loss.
Do you have a favorite breed or type of pet?
Our favorite breed is English Springer Spaniels. We like them because they are very affectionate. They are great family dogs. Springers love to go on walks and are generally good with all people.
Is there a shelter or rescue group that is dear to you that you would like us to help spread the word about
I am a member of English Springer Rescue of America (ESRA). All of our current dogs have come from this group. They are highly organized and passionate about helping the dogs. They have a good, structured network of volunteers across the nation. They have many foster homes and volunteers to help with transportation and training. Visit their website at www.springerrescue.org.
Grace and Lawrence
Brody
You may remember our client Jodi Hoatson from when she and her gorgeous dog Brody won a gift basket for referring our 500th fan (Jodi's Mom!) to our Facebook page. We have known Jodi and her family in real life much longer, and as a team with Dr. Stokes have enjoyed getting to know her and her wonderful dogs over the years!
From Jodi...
It is just Brody and I here in Omaha. I work too much, and he waits patiently by the front door each night. A fourteen year old collie/sheltie mix, Dr. Karen Stokes - his vet at Gentle Doctor - still calls him the youngest-acting old dog she knows.
I enjoy listening to/making music and searching for the best bottle of wine in the country. I also like watching and playing sports - with my background in college athletics - and cooking/baking great food after working for four years at a culinary college. I think that Brody only enjoys that I'm a good cook. Even though he only gets dog food, he just keeps hoping that I will drop something that he can gobble up.
All of my dogs have been rescues. I truly believe they have more love to give knowing that you adopted them - saving them from dire circumstances at times.
Brody is the third dog I've had since moving to Omaha ten years ago.
Nukka
Gentle Doctors has also taken care of two of my other rescues - Nukka, an eskie, and Indy, another sheltie. Nukka passed away from cancer two years ago after six years of chewing up my best shoes.
Indy
Indy was heartworm-positive when I adopted him. I only got a month with him before he passed away - but he had more people love and care in that time than any dog I've ever known.
Tawny
When I lived in California, I also rescued Tawny, a Queensland heeler who lived into her teens and dug at least one hundred holes in the back yard.
Whenever someone I know gets their first pet, I always recommend Gentle Doctor vets. The staff there has seen me through good and bad times with my pups. No matter what, I know they are getting the best healthcare available from a staff that really cares.
Brody Collage
Meet our wonderful clients DeAnne Carr and Heidi Schlabach!
From our Hospital Director Angie Werth, LVT,
When I first met DeAnne and Heidi it was while assisting Dr. Krapfl with their dog Mia. Mia underwent numerous chemotherapy treatments and was the bravest patient I have had the pleasure of knowing.
Her playmate Molly was best known for grabbing a new toy every time she came in for a visit. Whether it was for a nail trim or a dental cleaning, she was such a pampered little girl!
DeAnne rescued not one, but two, kittens. She found the kittens, Otis and Oliver, at her workplace near a dumpster! Sadly Otis succumbed to a cancerous tumor in his abdomen at the age of six. Later Oliver welcomed his little brother Oscar to the family. Oliver is a big furry boy who has a penchant for foreign objects. He has had two endoscopies to remove foreign objects within six months of each other.
Needless to say, Deanne and Heidi have their hands full with this fun, furry bunch!
Sidney (Cocker Spaniel), Libby (Beagle) and Reese (Min Pin)
From DeAnne as told to Dr. Finch,
Tell us about your pets!
We have…
Libby (Beagle)
Sidney (Cocker Spaniel)
Reese (Min Pin)
Oscar (grey kitty) and
Oliver (our million dollar white and grey kitty).
Sidney, Libby and Reese
What do the adults in the family do for a living and for fun?
We love to hang out with the four legged kids in our back yard around the pond.
Reese
What do the kids in the family do for fun?
Our four legged kids love to help us feed the fish in the pond, torment the cats and otherwise "rule the ranch.”
What are you doing, Libby? Oliver Kitty and Sidney look on.
Tell us more about the pets you have now and the pets you have had in the past.
Gentle Doctor has cared for all of my animals, and I would never go anywhere else.
Oliver and Oscar
What have you learned about pets that you did not know as a kid or before you had your own pets?
I like my pets better than most humans! :)
Oscar Stretching!
Meet Christie Miller and Charles Womack!
From Dr. Pete Bashara,
Christie Miller first encountered me at the Gentle Doctor in 1997 – two years before our current Gentle Doctor name!! Christie was sporting an eight week old shih tzu pup named Murphy, who had just found his way into Christie’s life from a breeder in Tildon Nebraska. Christie, Murphy and I met at our 120th and Blondo location (called Candlewood Animal Hospital at that time). Truth be told, I had not been a practicing veterinarian for much more than eight weeks! Murphy was an immediate favorite of mine, and I was blessed to care for him for over seventeen years!
Murphy - 1997 - 2014
Christy was teaching young kids in those days and invited me to speak to her class for several years. I always enjoy these opportunities to do extra things for clients that give so much to their pets.
There have been several pets in Christie’s life since then – all of which we compare to Murphy (silently of course!) Our entire team has been honored to be an integral part of patient care for all of Christie's and Charles' dogs!
Here is our interview of this great family...
Tell us about your family – humans and pets!
We are a semi-retired couple who loves dogs! We have had five different dogs in the last ten years. We lost Abigail about seven years ago, and we lost both Murphy and Jackson, our “furry children” last year. That was so hard! We now have Dempsey, who is four years old and Dudley, recently adopted from the Nebraska Humane Society, who is about two or three years old. Both Dempsey and Dudley are shelter dogs. We adopted Dempsey as a small abandoned puppy while Charlie was working near Elk City Oklahoma.
Dempsey
Dudley
What do the adults in the family do for a living and for fun?
We enjoy family time, walking, reading, and playing with “the boys!” We also spend a lot of time with our grandchildren! Christie is a retired elementary teacher, working part time now for the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, supervising student teachers. Charlie has been a safety supervisor and is now working as the maintenance custodian at our church.
What do the kids in the family do for fun?
Well, mostly they love to run and wrestle and chase squirrels! Dudley loves to walk! He is a silky terrier with an abundance of energy. Dempsey is a Yorkie mix and has some issues with fear and anxiety. He is also very active and “talkative!” We are working on that!
Tell us more about the pets you have now and the pets you have had in the past.
Murphy, our beloved shih tzu, was a little over seventeen years old when he died in June 2014. He was a “perfect” dog! He was gentle, funny, loving and loyal to the end! He got along with everyone, adults, children, and other dogs. We miss him every day!
Jackson, our feisty, fun, full of energy Jack Russell, was also a rescue dog. He was my walking partner every day and the BEST squirrel hunter!! He became ill suddenly last October at age eight and has also crossed the Rainbow Bridge. He and Murphy became best friends!
For a short time, we had a little female shih tzu, Abigail, who also died suddenly about eight years ago. She was absolutely darling and loved to be loved!
We now have Dempsey and Dudley. Dempsey came from a shelter in Oklahoma as a puppy. He is four now and loves his new brother, Dudley.
In January, 2015, we decided to look for a companion for Dempsey because he was really grieving the loss of Jackson. We found Dudley, and he stole our hearts immediately. He came home with us that very day.
Dempsey was a bit jealous at first, but both dogs now love being together and playing and running!
Tell us about when you first met the Gentle Doctor team or a story about the team others may not know.
We brought Murphy to Gentle Doctor as a puppy almost eighteen years ago and met Dr. Pete. We have loved ALL of the staff and would not think of taking the boys anywhere else! We also use the grooming services and feel that Pam loves Dempsey and Dudley as much as we do!
When we lost Jackson last October, there were five or six staff members and doctors who came in the room to say good-bye. Everyone was in tears and expressed their love and compassion to us.
Jackson - 2006 - 2014
Do you have a favorite breed or type of pet?
I would say that I am partial to shih tzus but have found all of our dogs to be wonderful companions!
Is their a shelter or rescue group or other pet related group that is dear to you that you would like us to help spread the word about?
Nebraska Humane Society has been wonderful when helping us with our shelter dogs.
Meet the Kwasnieskis! We love seeing this family, whether it is with Ruby in for her bath and brush or Millie and Watson for their cat wellness care or Tony the Salamander to get his skin in great shape so he can go back to educating the students! We miss Toby Kwasnieski dearly, and are so honored to walk through all of life's ups and downs with this great family and their pets.
Baby and Watson, "Getting to Know You"
Milly Hiding in Bubble Wrap
Tell us about your family – humans and pets!
Today we have Ruby, a border collie mix, Millie, a calico cat and Watson, a grey tabby. The vet staff calls Watson by another name because he is an enormous cat with a squeaky voice. They refer to him as Mike Tyson.
Watson Hiding, 2013
Since we started at Gentle Doctor (in 1989?), we have had two daughters, eight cats, two dogs, two rats and a salamander.
What does the family do for a living and for fun?
Ruby likes to bark at squirrels and birds, so we never have wildlife in our yard. The cats like to play and nap. Mark works and goes to school part time, Leslie teaches microbiology at Metro and watches our adorable 19 month old grandson on Fridays.
Tell us more about the pets you have now and the pets you have had in the past.
At one point we had pet rats. When they got sick, Pete anesthetized them.
Our favorite pet was Toby. He was twenty years old this year and developed an abscessed tooth. There were other complications, so we had to put him to sleep, probably the most difficult day of my life, but the Candlewood staff made it so much easier.
Toby was a stray, and one day just showed up with an abscess on his back. Dr R. Bashara told us we had to bring him in as a pet or give him to the humane society, but we couldn’t continue to leave him as a stray. Best decision we ever made. He loved people and would crawl into someone’s lap for attention, especially if he sensed they were allergic.
Toby
Tell us about when you first met the Gentle Doctor team or a story about the team others may not know.
We originally became customers because I met Laura Drews. She hosted a Tupperware party, and I was the Tupperware lady. We have loved the respect that your staff has shown our pets over the years.
What have you learned about pets that you did not know as a kid or before you had your own pets?
How much it hurts to say goodbye. All those jokes about taking the family cat/dog to the farm certainly spared our feelings when we were children.
Do you have wisdom about any medical conditions that you could share with someone who is perhaps just starting to walk their pet through a similar situation?
Trust your vet to tell you when it is time to let a pet go.
Do you have a favorite breed or type of pet?
I love my cats, but I have a pet salamander named Tony at work. He is incredibly popular. He has people that come down daily to see him. When he got an infection Dr. Finch saved his life with a simple antibiotic. I didn’t think it was possible!
Tony the Salamander
Is there a cause you would like us to help spread the word about?
We volunteer for a non-profit organization called CommuniTyler. We have one day a year where we do community service in Omaha. We have been making fleece blankets to donate to Project Harmony, who gives them to abused and neglected children in the Omaha area. This year our volunteers donated 75 blankets! It is an annual event, usually early in May.
Is there anything else we should include in your story?
Just that we have really appreciated all the times we have needed help and the Gentle Doctor staff has been there to console, fix, babysit, and laugh with us. You’re family, and we consider ourselves to be fortunate to be your patients.
Watson Climbs Ladders, 2014