Posts from May 2014
Meet Our Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals Veterinary Team!
Our Featured Team Member:
Allison Parker, Licenced Veterinary Technician (LVT)
Gentle Doctor Animal Hospital has the BEST clients and patients in the world! This is true across every one of our three locations in Omaha and our Grooming Salon. We also have a very kind, compassionate and knowledgeable veterinary team. Since you may not have gotten to meet our entire team, we would like to introduce them to you one at a time.
Please meet one of our wonderful technicians, Allison Parker!
Allison with Groomer Pam's Boxer Jaxson
Name: Allison Parker
Position: Licensed Veterinary Technician
When did you join the Gentle Doctor team? November 2010
Tell us about the people and pets in your family.
- Sam (black and white cat) was born in 2005. He was rescued from a dumpster by a good person when he was about 6 weeks old. I took him home from the clinic I did my externship at when he was about 9 weeks old.
- Olivia (grey tabby medium hair) was born in 2011. Olivia was found abandoned behind a K-Mart store when she only weighed 12 ounces! A good person brought her to Gentle Doctor Animal Hospital, and I took her home to "foster" her for the weekend. She ended up staying, and now rules the roost and home and keeps all the boys in check. :)
Sam and Olivia
- Taco (dark grey cat) was born in 2007. Taco was rescued with his sister after their mother was scared off. Dr. Deneen Hawley nursed them back to health when they only weighed 9 ounces! I took Taco home when he was about 4 months old.
- Frank (grey tabby short hair) was born in 2009. Frank was attacked by a dog when he was little. The attack left Frank with some skull trauma which causes him to have seizures. With the appropriate medication and care from Dr. Krapfl, he has done great!
Frank and Taco
What do you like to do when you are not restoring and maintaining the health of pets?
I like to read and catch up on favorite TV shows
What do you like most about your career?
I enjoy client education in general and behavior education specifically. I enjoy being able to sort through and help clients with their pets’ issues and better their relationship.
What is one of the more difficult aspects of your career?
Having to discuss with clients about when it's time to euthanize their pets is one of the more difficult aspects of my career. Clients sometimes look to the veterinary staff to tell them when it's time, but it’s not our job to make the decision. Rather it is our job to comfort and support the client’s decision.
As an expert in your field, what advice would you give people about maintaining the health of their pets?
Basic healthcare for pets can go a very long way. Follow recommended vaccine protocols, and administer routine medication like heartworm prevention.
What advice would you give someone looking into a career in veterinary medicine?
They obviously need to have a huge love for animals, but also be able to interact with the clients. Animals obviously can't talk to tell you what's wrong, so we rely on communicating with clients in order to better serve our patients.
Tell us about one of your favorite patients.
I was fortunate enough to meet Toby, a Shiloh Shepherd. He is a true gentle giant, weighing in around 130 lbs. He is very docile and well mannered for how big he is.
Is there anything else you would like readers to know about you or veterinary medicine?
My job is not just playing with puppies and kittens all day. But when they do come in it brightens my day! :)
Omaha Gives!
An online giving opportunity for the city of Omaha to support and celebrate the groups doing good in Omaha!
Omaha's second annual one-day-long Omaha Gives! event is this Wednesday, May 21, 2014.
We are supporting the Nebraska Humane Society and Taysia Blue Husky and Malamute Rescue!
Last year, Nebraska Humane Society had the MOST donations, winning this incredible group additional funding to help the animals in and around Omaha. We were SO proud to be a part of that, and are so proud to support them again this year.
This is the FIRST year for Taysia Blue Husky and Malamute Rescue to participate in Omaha Gives! We KNOW the incredible people who lead, volunteer for and support Taysia Blue Husky and Malamute Rescue are THE BEST Omaha (and beyond!) has, and cannot wait to see how much support is raised for this great group!
Here is a partial list of our favorite participants in Omaha Gives! 2014...
Taysia Blue Husky and Malamute Rescue
Click on the names to donate to each specific group or go right to the Omaha Gives! website to choose your favorites from the complete list!
We are, as always, so proud to be a part of this incredible community!
Let's show Omaha how much we love Omaha, Omaha! :)
Who are your favorite non-profit groups in Omaha?
Let us know in the comments below, on Facebook, Twitter (#OmahaGives) or in Real Life!
Dr. Bashara and his family were featured as Honorary Chair Family and just as importantly...the Adoptive Family of Ducky at this year's Nebraska Humane Society Black Tie and Tails Event held at the Ramada Inn in Omaha Saturday, April 26, 2014.
Andrea and Ducky, Dr. Bashara, Alexander and Victoria Bashara, Pam Wiese of Nebraska Humane Society, picture courtesy of Mike Roach
In attendance were Dr. Pete Bashara, his wife Andrea, their two children and Dr. Bashara's siblings and parents.
Also honored was Pete's father, Dr. Bashara, for his extensive contributions to the Nebraska Humane Society, personally and as the founder of Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals and for his work with the Doris Day Animal Foundation.
Guests of Dr. Bashara included Angie and her husband Mark, Drs. Merkley, Nickerson, Stokes, Finch and Thomassen and their spouses.
Angie and Mark at the Silent Auction
Omaha's Surgical Specialist Dr. Merkley and Dr. Nickerson
Our veterinary technician Caleb Applebaum and his dog Buddy were featured during the segment celebrating pets who had been adopted through the Nebraska Humane Society after overcoming medical obstacles with the help of the incredible veterinary team at Nebraska Humane Society.
Gentle Doctor Animal Hospital's Veterinary Technician Caleb and his Dog Buddy Adopted from the Nebraska Humane Society
Also in attendance were two of our personal heroes, Jackie and Mike Roach, the founders and leaders of Taysia Blue Siberian Husky Rescue, and many other wonderful clients and friends.
Dr. and Mrs. Merkley with a Baby Bulldog
The Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals team with the help of Nebraska Humane Society surprised Dr. Bashara with a slideshow we created celebrating our theme song this year, "Speak Life" by Toby Mac.
The adoption of the Bashara family's Ducky dog was celebrated during the evening. Here is a link to the video of her story:
The Story of Ducky
We videotaped the portion of the event celebrating the Bashara family for team members who could not be present:
A fun night was had by all!
Our Friend and Patient Sophie
Every month at Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals we choose a breed to highlight online. Sometimes we choose the breed of the month based on rescue groups we love, sometimes we choose the breed of the month based on the pets we have in our own families and sometimes we choose the breed of the month because, in our professional opinions, the breed we have chosen to celebrate is just a great breed!
This month we chose our breed because we LOVE this breed, AND...We LOVE Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland!
The May 2014 Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals Breed of the Month is...The Basset Hound!
The breed we have chosen for May 2014 is the Basset Hound. We will spend the rest of the month celebrating this breed with you!
Our friend and patient Sherman
Joining the Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals Breed of the Month Online Conversation:
Make sure to join us on whatever online forum you like best –
or right here on our blog in the comment section of this post. What questions do you have about Basset Hounds? What do YOU love about Basset Hounds? Let us know why YOUR Basset Hound or Basset Hound mix is great! Send us your pictures, your health questions and your stories. We are looking forward to this month with you!