VetStories: November 2014

This morning at the clinic, my veterinary assistant ushered in a middle-aged man with his white, bony dog. He smiled at me coyly. I returned the gesture and offered him a seat while I readied the consultation form. After the history-taking, I proceeded to the examination table to get the dog’s vital signs. As I was about to take the dog’s temperature, he stood up, held my hand and said with a pleading eyes and shaky voice. “Doctor, I want to be honest with you. I don’t have a single penny to pay you. I just can’t stand looking at my sick pet doing nothing to relieve his malady. He is like a brother to me. For the whole week, I sat early in my shop in the street, hoping I could fetch the money for my dog’s treatment. Unluckily, I managed only a single shoe repair.” I was totally stunned. I was not prepared to hear a supplication like that. But I could feel the honesty of the man and felt his love for his dog. I nodded my head, and replied. “Oh, it was great of you to care of your dog. I will treat your dog for free.” I could see the tears swelling in his eyes as he repeatedly thanked me. After medicating the dog, he bid me a good day. As the pair were about to leave, the man turned to me and said, “Doctor, if ever you have damaged shoes, please bring them all to me and I will stitch them for free!”

The other week, when I was about to cross the other lane, I screeched to a halt. Lying in the middle of the road was a full-grown canine, motionless, and with blood splattered around its lifeless body. Though I am sure the dog was dead, but it was a moving sight seeing it being mangled into pieces by merciless, passing tires. Should I embark and drag it to the side of the road? I have my second thoughts. I may be sideswiped by the rushing vehicles. But I am a vet. However, I fear for my safety and I have my two sons in the back seat for an early morning rush drive to school. After much thought, I started the engine and looked at the side mirror when I passed by the poor dog. I was too conscience-stricken. I lost the nerve and time to attend to its proper disposal.