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.