Clinic News 01/12/2010

         Let me take this opportunity to introduce you to my great staff.  They are huge pet lovers.  They are dedicated to providing your pets with the very best care and attention, and I know they work very hard to help all of you and to answer your questions.  They are amazing assistants for me.

         Most of you already know Priscilla Hostman, our Clinic Services Supervisor and “right-hand woman”.  Priscilla does most everything at the clinic.  She is an outstanding veterinary assistant and receptionist.  She is caring and hard-working, and makes it easy for me to focus on your veterinary needs while she manages the clinic’s “behind-the-scenes” operations.
         Besides being a great assistant to me, Priscilla is also an artist.  She paints all the clinic’s window artwork for me, and her pottery is beautiful.  Priscilla graduated from Truman State University in Kirksville with a B.F.A. in Studio Art and a minor in Psychology.  Her love of animals, starting with her first pet “Zeeke”, is what brought her to our clinic and a change of careers.  I am very happy that it did.
         Along with everything else at the clinic, she is also an Animal Massage Therapist.  Her therapy has helped many of our patients suffering from arthritis, injuries and prolonged illnesses.  Her talents really helped my sweet 16 year old dog, “Wicket” live pain-free at the end of her life despite a debilitating disease.
         Priscilla shares her life with her fiancé, Derek, who is also a veterinary receptionist/ assistant, her sweet cat “Familiar” and her spunky and beautiful black Labrador puppy, “Juniper”.

         Samantha or "Sam" Elliott has joined our staff recently as a pet caregiver working to make our furry boarders feel right at home when you leave them in our care.
         Sam is a student at Lincoln University studying biology and zoology. She is a true animal lover, and a fast learner. Very soon Sam will be ready to start training for a position as a veterinary assistant.

         My veterinary assistant, Niki Wickers, is a dedicated animal lover and a very hard worker.  Niki has 4 dogs herself, and runs a cat rescue shelter in her home with 13 cats currently that she cares for while they await their “forever” homes.  Niki assists me with patient care, and at the same time, she works part-time at two other jobs. 
         She’s the mother of two; Mike, who is 18, and Chrissie, who is 14.

         Amanda Thrasher has been at the Animal Clinic only 11 months, but she’s a natural with patients and their owner’s needs.  Amanda attends Lincoln University each morning, studying for her Animal Science and Wildlife Management degree, and works as our receptionist in the afternoons.  She has a great boyfriend named Zach, who serves in the Army, and a turtle. 

         Vanessa Barrett is an amazing asset to the clinic.  She’s our Financial Manager; a more talented, self-assured, caring and conscientious person you will never meet.  Vanessa has a full-time job managing my husband, Dave’s, Appraisal Company.  She works only one evening a week at the clinic, but does more in that one evening than seems humanly possible. 

          Most of you already know Dr. Tracy Royer, who sees patients every other Saturday at the clinic.  She is terrific.  She really enjoys working with clients and patients, and my staff loves working with her.  Every client that meets her is impressed.  Dr. Royer shares her life with a veterinarian husband; two daughters, Laurel, 12 years old, and Heidi, 8 years old; a dog named “Mick”; two cats, Claude and Strawberry; and Joey the cockatiel.  She loves pets as much as I do.  I feel very lucky to have Dr. Royer at the clinic. 

         So that’s my great human staff, and now I’ll tell you about our animal ambassadors. 
         Of course, Petunia is my number one girl.  She basically owns the clinic and allows everyone else (including me) to share it with her.  She is one of the great loves of my life and the sweetest girl ever.  She loves everyone and tries hard to welcome them into her home.
         Petunia is 17 years old now and suffers from kidney disease.  My wonderful staff works hard on a daily basis to give her special diets and fluid therapy to keep her strong and healthy, and she rewards us all with love and attention.
         For years Petunia refused to share her home with other kitty-intruders, so we were a one-cat clinic until 3 years ago.  Then the boys showed up; two kitty brothers that desperately needed a home and seemed to have personalities that I hoped Petunia would like.  Fortunately, I was correct.  Petunia accepted her new “brothers” right away and we became a three-cat clinic overnight.
        
         Many of you have probably met “Hoss” the wild brother.  He is fun-loving, curious about everything and everyone, and I apologize in advance if he sticks his head into where he doesn’t belong.  If he does, immediately tell me or my staff and we’ll banish him to my office.
        
         “Little Joe” (you’ll understand their names if you’re as old as me and a “Bonanza” TV show fan) is black and white, very handsome and shy.  He hangs out in the background, but is a lover, when he gets to know you, and really enjoys a good nap. 

         We were one big three-cat clinic family, and then “Taz” (for the “Tazmanian Devil”) came into our lives. 
         “Taz” is very affectionate, loving, energetic and nutty.  She is not a cat I thought “Petunia” would like, but she was starving and badly in need of a home.  While we searched desperately for a “forever home” my staff and I fell in love with her, and “Petunia” has grown to “accept” her, so we are now a four-cat clinic family. 

         Then we have four of my six dogs who visit the clinic daily and return home with me each night to their doggy brother and sister; Yeager and Maggiano Little Italy.  Yeager (named after Dave’s hero Chuck Yeager) is the most handsome and wonderful 120 pound Labrador Retriever/ Newfoundland mix and the love of my life.  Maggiano is Dave’s little darling, an Affenpincher mix, and the smartest, as well as silliest looking girl you’d ever want to meet.  Yeager and Maggiano watch over our home during the day, keeping each other company until the rest of their pack returns home at night.

         Macaroni ‘n Cheese is my big, blue-eyed Fox Hound mix and a real love.  He’s shy and very sweet.  Macaroni comes to us from a puppyhood of abuse and neglect.  Teaching him how to trust people has taught me a great deal about patience and the importance of repetitions, consistency and calm when working with anxious dogs.  He also taught me that the definition of pack leader needs to be pack “protector” for your dogs’ sake.

         Macaroni’s best friend is Gussie Grissom (named after the famous astronaut Virgil I “Gus” Grissom).  Gussie is one of our two West Highland Terriers.  He was rescued from a puppy mill by a great organization, Westie Rescue of Kansas City.  I am very grateful to them for rescuing Gus and trusting me and my husband, Dave, with his care.  He is the gentlest of souls.  When he came to us he did not know what dog food or dog toys and treats were.  He had to learn everything, including trusting people.  His bond to Macaroni was immediate and continues to help both of them in so many ways.

         Duckie Doodle is my second West Highland Terrier.  Dave and I adopted him from the Columbia Animal Shelter. Duckie is the same breed as Gus, but their personalities couldn’t be different.  While Gussie is quiet, Duckie is in perpetual motion.  While Gus had to learn to trust people, Duckie loves and wants to kiss everyone.  He’s my little “wild child”, but adorable, too.
         He and Gus are the perfect examples that you can’t just choose a specific breed, you need to really choose the energy and personality of the dog. 

         Then we have our most handsome Australian Shepherd, Asiago Cheese, or Asie.  Single-handedly, Asie has taught me more about dog behavior and becoming the pack leader than any dog I’ve ever known (and I’ve known many).  Asie spent two years in a shelter waiting for adoption when I first saw him.  He is a curious mixture of anxiety and aggression, and is always in a high state of excitement.  He has proven to be my ultimate and wonderful challenge.  He, like Macaroni, has taught me how important it is to be calm and quiet when working with a pack of dogs.  He has also proven to me that the pack leader position must be earned on a daily basis. 
         It is the most amazing feeling to serve as the leader “protector” of my pack, and an honor to me to share my life in the company of these pets. 
         So, this is my staff and my pack.  My life is enriched from knowing every single one of them.