The next client we are celebrating is Kathy Creighton. We have loved all of her dogs, and have a special place in our hearts for each of them. 

Tell us about when you first met the Gentle Doctor team or a story about the team others may not know.

I started going to Mapleview Animal Clinic approximately forty-five years ago. Bob Bashara, Pete Bashara's father, was the owner and vet there, and he was the best!! He even let me bring in my daughter's guinea pig who needed to be shaved because the hair was all tangled. Her name was Molly. When I came to retrieve her, Bob informed me that Molly was really Maurice. My daughter (age three) did not get the full gist of this information, so we just kept the name of Molly!! Bob helped me say good-bye to so many of my four legged friends with such compassion. He has passed that on to his son.

Pete was in grade school when I first started going to Mapleview, and it was wonderful to watch him take the reins and put into practice all of his father's talents and beliefs. Neither man has any "quit" in him. 

They both have a superior work ethic second to none. Pete will always be available to me when I need him most, and he has guided me through all the trials and tribulations of having three wonderful dogs, each with their very own health problems.

Tell us more about the pets you have now and the pets you have had in the past.

I lost my big beautiful Ben, my golden retriever, last year, and Pete was right there to make sure it was done quietly and with dignity.

Ben

I have a fabulous goldendoodle, Sam, a rescue dog, who is diabetic and has stage three kidney failure. Pete has helped me with this little guy for years, and he is doing well.

Sam

My third boy, Snoops, was also a rescue dog and really had a mean time of it for the first year of his life or so. When he got to the humane society, he was within hours of dying from neglect and abuse. He is now ten years old and living the life of "Riley" and enjoying all that he has earned. He is so forgiving. Why should he ever have trusted anyone after the way he was treated?

Snoops

The next clients we are celebrating are Bill and Susan Fisher. We love when they are here and especially when they let their great little papillons, Louis and Chloe stay with us!

Tell us about your family – humans and pets!

We are the Fishers, Bill and Susan. We moved to Omaha from Alabama five years ago with our two papillons, Louis and Chloe.

What do the adults in the family do for a living and for fun?

My husband, Bill, works for First National Bank and I am a retired teacher.

Tell us about when you first met the Gentle Doctor team or a story about the team others may not know.

Our dogs are part of our family, so we immediately looked for a veterinarian for our pups. Someone recommended Gentle Doctor to us, and we have been more than pleased. Our dogs board often when we travel to visit our children in Houston, and we can always count on the staff to take good care of them while we are gone.

Louis Catching Some Rays

Chloe has several health issues now that she is fifteen years old and is no longer very interested in eating. We bring chicken to feed to her while boarding, and we really appreciate the effort everyone at Gentle Doctor makes to make sure that she eats while we are out of town. 

Chloe at the Hunting Camp

Tell us more about the pets you have now and the pets you have had in the past.

We have had shelties in the past and one summer accommodated our daughter's three pugs and two ferrets along with our sheltie and Chloe, our only papillon at the time. We even had what my daughter called "school" every morning where all the dogs lined up to learn some tricks with treats as a reward. The ferrets were more interested in treats than tricks, so they would just run willy-nilly through the schoolroom in an effort to disrupt our lessons. Such fun times with our pets!

A Summer of Ferret Fun!

Our next client we are celebrating is Angela Hannah. We have fallen hard for each of her wonderful dogs, and love to see her as well!

Tell us more about the dog you have now and the pets you have had in the past.

TJ came into the household as a playmate for an energetic yellow Labrador retriever named Cooper. I had searched for a friend for Cooper, but one didn’t click until I had met “Kobe,” a skinny, shy stray at the humane society. I had met other dogs at the humane society, but they didn’t seem to click. Although they were great dogs, I just didn’t know if they were a playmate for Cooper.

Cooper

There was something about sitting in the room with this dog, I knew he was coming home with me, and when he and Cooper met, I knew they would be friends for life. “Kobe” moved in and was renamed Theodore James, TJ for short. He thrived with me and Cooper, and they became life-long friends.

TJ

Cooper and TJ had ten years together. Cooper passed in June of 2013. TJ had never been the only dog. We were sad, and we missed Cooper, but TJ and I made it through the tough time, and TJ remained at my side, a spunky, happy, goofy dog full of personality. TJ loved to cuddle and often needed to be with his human at all times.

When TJ passed unexpectedly in October 2014, I was heartbroken. I missed him. I couldn’t believe he was gone. I thought he had an infection, nothing serious.  He was fine the day before. He had had some quirks recently, he was eleven and was slowing down, but he was doing all his dog stuff, running and chasing all rabbits who dared to enter his domain, playing with his toys, chewing on his bones and enjoying his meals. I was so sad when he passed, and my house felt so strange. I missed him. I was used to him greeting me with his crazy tail, licking my face and always being happy to see me.

I did not think I would get another dog as soon as I did, but I was looking at the Nebraska Humane Society website a week later, and there was Trevor. He reminded me of TJ in his eyes, and when I met him, his personality, and that was that. Trevor is an extreme cuddler, and it always reminds me of TJ. TJ just liked to have a paw on ya if he could. He thought he was 30 pounds, not 75…

Trevor

Tell us about when you first met the Gentle Doctor team or a story about the team others may not know.

Cooper my yellow Lab had an auto immune disorder and many other mystery illnesses. Cooper passed in June of 2013. Dr. Bashara and his team were wonderful with Cooper, always willing to answer my questions, and believe me there were A LOT of them. They never made me feel like I was a bother, and I am sure I was, and when it was time for Cooper to cross to the Rainbow Bridge, the team at Gentle Doctor was amazing, caring not only for Cooper, but for me, and I will never forget that. They helped me through a very difficult time in my life and helped me to make a decision I knew I could live with. 

Also, the team at Gentle Doctor was always fantastic when it came to the changes that TJ was going through. Not only was he now an only child, grieving himself, but also well into his senior years, developing allergies, a tumor, a broken tooth and ill-working anal glands!!!

TJ had some minor injuries in his younger days. He liked to chase, and usually caught, wildlife, birds, snakes, rabbits, and one time a possum, after which he ended up in emergency surgery with an infection. He was my minimal time at the vet dog; Cooper had been the special needs child.

This changed about two years ago, when, with age, TJ started experiencing some changes himself. He developed an infection in his anal glands, since which we had weekly if not twice a week visits for his “spa treatments." Again, the team at Gentle Doctor stepped up and took care of him, and always loved to see him. Even the day I brought him in, thinking he had an infection and found out he had two tumors, and one ruptured, and he was not going to get better, they were there. Dr. Thomassen and Becky were fantastic in yet another one of the worst days of my life. I know it was not their best day either, but they were caring, professional and reassuring.

After TJ passed, the call from Dr. Bashara, the cards from the staff, the tree planted for him, were so generous for you all to take the time from your busy days to think of me. I was heartbroken, but the care of Gentle Doctor...well, you all are amazing. You are in the right business. And when I even had a thought of getting another dog, being told “it’s okay” was what I needed to hear, I needed to know it was okay.  I had not ever been through this, and not only do you all care for animals, you care for the people caring for the animals, and that is what sets you apart.

What have you learned about pets that you did not know as a kid or before you had your own pets?

Pets take a lot of work! And they are worth every bit of it!! Growing up, we had dogs, cats, birds, a lop eared rabbit, turtles, fish and hamsters. My parents cultivated caring for animals and caring for others in our lives growing up, but I had no idea the amount of care an animal takes, especially ones with special needs, until I was an adult. Regular care or special care, the animals in my life have brought such joy, companionship and love…I would never live in a house without a dog; I guess I have proven that to be true. The right dog does something for the soul. They make my world better. The dogs in my life now and in the future have TJ and Cooper to thank for that.

Next in our series of clients were are celebrating...more of our favorite people, Shari Baumer and Mary Anne Chisholm! Shari and Mary Anne have Snuggles and Sweet Pea, two of the cutest dogs we know (and we know a lot of dogs!) Here is more on this wonderful family...

Tell us about your family - humans and pets!

There are four of us in our family, two humans and two fur babies.  

What do the people  in the family do for a living and for fun?

My partner Mary Anne and I have been together twenty-nine years, and we are both retired now. And we love it. Mary Anne is an artist with a company called Hot Flash Metals. She is a sculptural welder and shows her art at The Garden Gallery in Elkhorn. My name is Shari, and I am a runner. I started running and strength training in early 2014 following a stroke in 2012. I spent the first year recovering, and then decided to make a life change. So far I have lost 50 pounds, run a 5K, a 10K, and hope to run a half marathon this year.  

Mary Anne (left) and Shari (right)

Tell us more about your pets.

We have a bichon named Snuggles who is fifteen years old. He had some touch and go moments this past year but continues to keep going. He is just a great dog and a real tough little guy.

Snuggles

Our other baby is Sweet Pea,  a twelve year old shih tzu. She is just a real character, loves to run around outside even in the snow. We got her because Snuggles was lonely without a playmate. We tried doggie day care but decided it was just less expensive to get him his own dog.

Sweet Pea

Tell us about when you first met the Gentle Doctor team or a story about the team others may not know.

We came to Gentle Doctor because when Snuggles was little, we tried another vet first, and the vet was not nice to Snugs. So we decided to go to Gentle Doctor and have been here all these years. The care both our kids get is just great; We would recommend them to anyone and, in fact, have.

What have you learned about pets that you did not know as a kid or before you had your own pets?

I guess the only words of wisdom I have to share is that it takes a little more effort to take care of senior dogs. Snuggles can't hear anymore and can only see out of one eye. So you have to watch him to see what he wants, where he thinks he's going, etc. But they are your babies, and they deserve everything you can give them.   

On January 21, 2015, Snuggles passed away at the age of fifteen, surrounded by his loving family and veterinary/grooming team. He will be dearly missed by all of us.

In loving memory of Snuggles, 1999 - 2015