To the Staff at Winslow Animal Hospital
On September 30, 2009 I received a phone call that no pet owner ever wants. My neighbor had called me to let me know that he had found Bella injured. From the tone of his voice and the emotion in his words I knew it wasn’t good. For ten years I have been a Firefirghter and an EMT. I have been trained to expect and prepare for the worst, but also to hope for the best. After a torturous forty minute ride, I met up with my wife who had arrived home first and had already wrapped up her wound and gotten Bella ready to go get help. the question was where? We have only lived in Williamstown for a year and a half, and had no emergencies with any of our dogs. In the past we had always taken her to an office for routine visits almost an hour away that was familiar with Bella since she was a puppy. But time would not permit us to do that on this night. By the time we would arrive they would be closed and time elapsed since her injury was discovered it would be close to two and a half hours. I remembered seeing your sign in my daily travels and we felt that you would be the best option. When we arrived ar your office I asked the office staff if they would take a look at her. Even though it was starting to get near closing time, they were more than happy to help. At this moment, I realized htat you took your job and commitment seriously. Bella was taken into the back and you went to work. After a short time we were getting updates on Bella and a plan for her care was being formed. It would have been very easy for your staff to recommend that we just wait until the morning and bring her back You chose not to do that. In Bella’s best interest you called The University of Pennsylvania to get things moving. Also at this time my trust in your staff became abundantly clear. Obivously your staff was more concerned with Bella’s well being than making money. When HUP advised your staff they probably would not perform any procedures that night you attempted to contact other facilities for us. Because of the trust and respect we now had for you, the decision was made to bring Bella back in the next morning because no one else was going to fix her that night. This decision would turn out to be the most critical one we would have to make on Bella’s behalf. I am happy to say, without a doubt, that this decison would also turn out to be the best choice we could have made. I returned the next morning with Bella and you took her away to fix her. It was a long painful day of uncertainty, but it was comforted by the prior nights’ experience. When I picked Bella up I was told of her situation and what her plan of car was. It seemed like we had a very long and rocky road ahead with no certainty regarding the chances of outcome being either positive or negative. Over the course of the next few weeks, and many visits, Bella was recovering at a remarkable pace. I attribute this not only to her strength and dermination but also to the skill and expertise of your staff. As of this time of this letter Bella has made almost a complete recover and getting better everyday. Other than a small scar and some short hair from the pre-op preparations, you would never know she had a problem, let alone the major injury she suffered. Words cannot even begin to express the gratitude and amazement that my family and I have toward your staff. We can rest easy knowing that Bella wille njoy many more years with us and that she will enjoy them to the fullest without any impairment. On behalf of my family and most of all, Bella, thank you for a job well done. We will be forever gratefull for your services.
Respectfully,
David E. Levasseur
Printed with permission
