Meet our client Trisha Clary and her wonderful dogs!

From Dr. Miranda Thomassen:

I have known Trisha and her 4-legged kids for about five years. Her Boston Terriers Rigley and Roscoe will always hold a special place in my heart -- two of the sweetest Bostons I've ever cared for, loved by their mama so much, and had to travel to the Rainbow Bridge much too young. Two other black/white dogs quickly have filled Trisha's heart, as well as the hearts of entire staff at Gentle Doctor. Blaise and Quinn are quite the dynamic duo! We all look forward to continuing to care for these silly boys for years to come! 

From Trisha Clary as told to Dr. Shawn Finch:

Tell us more about the pets you have now and the pets you have had in the past.

Roscoe (2003-2011) was my very first dog. He was a Boston Terrier and the best first dog I could ask for. He was so smart, sweet and friendly. He loved playing and jumping! But I always described him as dapper. True to the Boston Terrier name, he was an American Gentleman. He loved sleeping under the covers no matter how hot it was.

Rigley (2005-2011) was my second Boston Terrier who I adopted through Mid-America Boston Terrier Rescue. He was a super cuddler and a clown. He had a rough first six months of his life and lost his left eye, and his jaw had been broken so his tongue hung out an extra long amount...which only made him more adorable. He loved playing with big balls in the back yard and would push them up high in the air and bounce them off his snout.

Roe and Rigs 

Unfortunately I lost both Roscoe and Rigley too young from cancer and only a few weeks apart from one another.

Blaise (2011-present) I adopted in September 2011 after losing Roscoe and Rigley. He’s 50% cocker spaniel, 25% beagle and 25% silken terrier (I had him DNA tested). I named him Blaise after Saint Blaise the healer. I wasn’t sure I was ready to adopt, but he was a stray from the 2011 floods at Hearts United for Animals, and after I picked him up he just clung on to me…I couldn’t let him go. He’s so kind and sweet, but very nervous of other people and very protective of me. We’ve come a long way over the last four years, and he is better around strangers. He’s the most gentle dog I have ever known once he knows someone.

Quinn (2011-present) I adopted from Nebraska Humane Society. I went to meet another dog, but Quinn was just standing at the front of the kennel demanding to be seen, and it was love at first sight. I don’t know for sure what breeds he is…part corgi and maybe some kind of pitbull or Staffordshire terrier. He was a run away and still has the urge to run so I have to always make sure he does not get out of the yard/house. I believe when he has gotten out, he was singing “Born Free” in his head, and he ran as fast as he could! We’ve worked hard on the stay command and have not had any recent escape attempts. He’s a snuggle bug and loves to play ALL-THE-TIME! He also always has to have something to chew on! Don’t let his four inch legs fool you, he’s a jumper…I have a chipped tooth to prove it.

Blaise and Quinn

Tell us about when you first met the Gentle Doctor team or a story about the team others may not know.

I came to Gentle Doctor at the recommendation of a friend when Rigley needed knee surgery. He had stopped using one of his back legs totally due to a luxating patella.

I knew instantly when Dr. Pete Bashara got on the floor to meet Rigley that this would be my new permanent vet for both Roscoe and Rigley. All my dogs have loved going there, which I think is a major sign of a great vet!

In 2010 when Roscoe was diagnosed with tonsil cancer, at the young age of seven, I was so grateful for how kind and helpful everyone was in helping me understand the options available for Roscoe’s treatment. He was given a prognosis of three or four months, but I fortunately had almost twelve more months with him.

In July 2011, Rigley was diagnosed with stomach cancer that was very advanced. I lost him several weeks later. It was heart breaking because his was not even six years old, and he had so much energy and life that was just zapped from him.

A couple of weeks later Roscoe lost his battle with cancer (I believe in part he too was heartbroken from the loss of Rigley). I don’t know if I could have made it through that time without Gentle Doctor and Dr. Thomassen. They were so kind, and helped to make their passings so peaceful.

What have you learned about pets that you did not know as a kid or before you had your own pets?

Dogs get into the grossest stuff!!! They eat everything they are not supposed to (poopsicles, ewe!), roll in anything stinky, and amazingly enough have caught more wildlife in my backyard then I ever imagined. However, I can’t imagine my life without them, but I could def do without the gross parts!

Do you have wisdom about any medical conditions that you could share with someone who is perhaps just starting to walk their pet through a similar situation?

It’s good to know what over the counter meds are safe for dogs (with direction of Gentle Doctor of course). Benedryl and Claritin have been life savers for Blaise’s allergies!

Do you have a favorite breed or type of pet?

A piece of my heart will always be with Boston Terriers, but I love a mutt. Although unplanned, I think I have a soft spot for black and white dogs as that’s all I’ve ever owned.

Is their a shelter or rescue group or other pet related group that is dear to you that you would like us to help spread the word about?

I’m the treasurer for the Omaha Dog Park Advocates.

Also, I think Hearts United for Animals, Nebraska Humane Society and Mid-America Boston Terrier Rescue do great things for dogs!

Madi and Maya

Meet some of our very favorite people! Jodi and Shane Freeman and their children (well, children to us - they are quite grown up!) bring their pets all the way from Lincoln Nebraska to see us, and we so appreciate it!

Travis and Tidus

You may remember Travis and his Pit Bull Tidus - from his bout with parvo or his cute video on Gentle Doctor's Facebook page today! 

Meet more of this wonderful family!

Travis, Kylah, Jodi, Madi and Shane

From Jodi...

Tell us about your family – humans and pets!

My family includes five humans and twenty-two critters (quick, breathe, it’s okay!) People hear our story, and then ask “Do you live on a farm?!” No, we live in a little house, but we SHOULD live on a farm. The humans are Shane and Jodi, Travis (age 23), Kylah (age 20), and Madi (age 12). Travis lives in Chico California and Kylah lives in Omaha. The rest of us live in Lincoln Nebraska.

Shane with Sid, Maya and Taco

We have three dogs of our own, Sid, Taco and Maya, and we are semi-permanently foster-grandparenting another – Tidus.

Freebird

We also have a horse, Freebird, and Madi claims sixteen chickens – but only two have names, Maudi and Mavis.

What do the adults in the family do for a living and for fun? 

Shane is in manufacturing with GSK in Lincoln, and Jodi is the Director of Outreach at a funeral home (which is way cooler than one might think, but that’s a whole other article).

Shane and Tidus

Shane plays guitar and keyboard in a cover band, and Jodi dedicates her time to training Freebird and volunteering at Epona.

What do the kids in the family do for fun?

Kylah and Maya

Travis is an up-and-coming rapper and vocalist, Kylah and her boyfriend Cole are into pro-am ATV racing (Cole racing, Kylah being the cheerleader), and Madi is a HUGE help at the Rescue and is learning to be a top-notch horsewoman.  She is also entering a scholastic/beauty pageant for the first time this year.

Tell us more about the pets you have now and the pets you have had in the past.

Sid the ancient fox terrier mix is seventeen years old and more than likely a puppy mill dog. We got her at a flea market outside of Houston Texas (the irony does not escape me).

Sid

Taco is eleven years old, and a shepherdy mix,  maybe lab & Belgian Malinois, who was rescued from a shelter in Topeka Kansas.

Taco and Maya

Maya is a seven year old Boston Terrier who perfectly meets the crazy Boston stereotype.

Maya

Our “foster/grandpuppy” is a two year old purebred red-nosed Pit Bull, Tidus, who breaks every pittie stereotype there is. He’s a big love, and would just as soon sit on your lap and lick you to death than even *think* about being dangerous.  

Our horse is a yearling (fifteen months old) Paint filly, Freebird, who is busy learning everything a young horse needs to learn. She was adopted from Epona Horse Rescue – her mother was rescued out of a starving herd in Wyoming about five months before she was born. She was raised at Epona until we adopted her in early May…more on Epona later!

The chickens actually belong to the Rescue, but Madi has been so anxious to become a chicken owner that she has claimed them, and works hard to care for them. Technically, we could claim all of the critters at the Rescue, if caring for them is the criteria – but then people really would think we’ve gone off the deep end!

We have also had several rats (including fostering a family of ten newborn ratties from Nebraska Humane Society), three hamsters, a mouse, a rabbit, a turtle, two snakes (much against Jodi’s wishes) and innumerable fish.

Tell us about when you first met the Gentle Doctor team or a story about the team others may not know.

We met Dr. Finch over twenty years ago when she started dating Russ – better known at that time as Jodi’s little brother!

What have you learned about pets that you did not know as a kid or before you had your own pets?

Times have definitely changed in pet ownership since we were growing up. We have always had pets, but we didn’t understand as much as we do now, about things like ear cropping (I can’t even imagine doing that to a dog now), training, crates, and so much more. I definitely feel like we are better pet owners having a veterinarian in the family than we ever were before.  We also know better than to buy into the stereotypes of humans and animals alike.

Do you have wisdom about any medical conditions that you could share with someone who is perhaps just starting to walk their pet through a similar situation?

Tidus gave us a huge scare when he was just a few weeks old – Dr. Finch has written a fabulous blog about it. He contracted parvo through an unvaccinated dog! He had been given one dose of vaccine, and then before his second dose, he was unfortunately living with a dog (unbeknownst to us) whose owner didn’t believe in vaccination. Tidus was knocking at death’s door, and terrified all of us. Please, vaccinate your pets! You never know when you’ll be around one that is not vaccinated, or when your unvaccinated pet might inadvertently cause tragedy in another family.

Do you have a favorite breed or type of pet?

We are huge animal lovers! We love bully-breed dogs and their silly antics the most of all dog breeds. We also plan to have another horse (or two, shhh, don’t tell Shane) in the not-so-distant future because riding is more fun in groups. 

Is there a shelter or rescue group or other pet related group that is dear to you that you would like us to help spread the word about?

Epona Horse Rescue in Crete Nebraska is very close to our hearts. We learned about Epona last November when we attended the Lancaster County Horse Expo, and started volunteering almost immediately. The number of equine lives saved in the ten years since Epona opened its (barn) doors, is countless. Besides being a wonderful place for horses in need, Epona has becoming a huge “happy place” for us, and for many others. Horses are wonderful friends to people – they bond emotionally, especially with people who have physical and emotional struggles. They help build confidence and character, and give us great insight into our own personalities when we take the time to get to know them.

You can learn more about Epona by visiting them on Facebook, or at www.eponahorserescue.com. You’re always welcome to come visit, learn more about the critters (besides the horses, there are goats, donkeys, dogs, and the aforementioned chickens). 

Meet the Turbes family! We love these people and their dogs!

From Dr. Miranda Thomassen:

The Turbes family first came to us in June 2012 for a second opinion skin consultation on their black lab Tacy. I’m so thankful that we won their trust during those initial visits…this is an amazing family to know! It didn’t take us long to fall in love with Tacy and her sister Tibb -- they are quite the pair. 

Skin conditions can be very frustrating to treat and manage, but Cindy and Paul were committed to doing the best for Tacy and followed our recommendations. Today, Tacy has her occasional skin flare-up, but is doing very well on her prescription skin diet and thyroid supplement.

We look forward to many more years working with this family and loving on their sweet girls Tacy and Tibb. :)

Tacy (black) & Tibb (blonde)

Our family consists of three children who are all grown now. When the children were still at home years ago, we started out with a cat, which our children named Pumpkin because of his beautiful coat. We then got a dog we all loved dearly. Her name was Maddy. She was a Lab mix with long hair like a golden Retriever. She was very gentle and kind to everyone. But, she really ran the house.

Pumpkin got old and passed away. Maddy was with us for over ten years and died suddenly. It was not until she passed that we truly realized how much a part of the family she was.  Even the neighbors missed her, including the mailman who she would accompany on his walk in the neighborhood.     

So now our home was without kids (graduated from college and living elsewhere) and no loving pet to greet us when we got home. It took five years before we felt comfortable looking for a new dog. It had to be a lab mix, and preferably black, not sure why black, but that was what we were looking for.

We found an ad in the paper looking for a home for free Lab mix puppies. So on a very very cold December morning, we headed out to find our new family member...and ended up bringing two wonderful lab mix puppies home.

Yes, two and in the weather. We don’t recommend puppies in the weather; but would not give our two loving friends up for anything.  

We gave them the names Tacy (black) and Tibb (blonde) which our older daughter picked out from one of her favorite childhood books, “Betsy, Tacy & Tibb” by Harriet Lovelace. Little did we know that when we took them to seperate Humane Society puppy manners classes that their names sounded a lot alike, and both of them would follow commands no matter what name we would call.

These two dogs have won the hearts of everyone they meet. They are gentle and look totally different with very different personalities. We love to tell everyone they are from the same litter, as one is tall and blonde and the other is typical Lab statue and very black. Both love to greet people and are very gentle.

These dogs are our grandson’s best friend, from the moment he was able to crawl all over them; a true breed that will put up with anything, even being bit in the tummy by a teething child.

*** Paul and I work part time now, but keep busy at home playing with the dogs.= They are always at the door greeting us and waiting to play.

Tibb loves playing with her ball. Both of the dogs love the water. They have a small pool on the back deck to enjoy in the hot summer days.

Even though our three grown children were not living at home to pick out the family pets, they all love them, and the dogs look forward to them visiting.

Our son and daughter-in-law live in Kansas City and have two bulldogs adopted from a rescue in the Chicago area, where they used to live. They visit often with the dogs, and the house is taken over by the four animals, which get along very well.

*** We first started coming to Gentle Doctor hospital when Tacy was having skin issues. The staff there was amazing and very concerned about her and started various tests. It was found that she had a thyroid issue, and medication was prescribed, which was very successful. Without their expertise and love for her, she would not be where she is today.

THANK YOU DOCTORS and STAFF. 

Having a pet is just like having a child in your life. As a child growing up, I don’t think you realize how much time and care it takes to have a pet, but their unconditional love is worth every bit of it.

*** One thing we have learned with these two dogs is to pay attention to their daily behaviors. If there is a change, it is very important to pay attention to that change.

Tacy was limping a little. We really didn’t think much of it. Then she would try to go to the bathroom but had to lift one of her back legs. Things got worse. We took her to our vet (NOT GENTLE  DOCTORS); x-rays were done on the hips as that is a common issue with labs. Finally we were sent to a specialist only to find out she had a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). Surgery was performed. It was very successful; only for her other ACL to tear, more than likely due to not paying attention to the first situation in a timely manner causing extended weight on the good leg 

If you have a dog that needs to have ACL surgery, the recovery is long, but so important that you follow the timeline. Tacy has not had any issues since then. We had a challenge, as when she was feeling better she wanted to play with Tibb, and we had to be very careful not to allow it in order for the leg to heal.

*** I have to say we are very particular to Lab mixes. They fit our personalities the best. Second, we love our son’s bulldogs.

Tacy (black) & Tibb (blonde)

Nixi

Jack

Meet the Mitera family! We love when Tony and Rhi come in with any combination of their three cats!

Nixi

When they saved Jack's life and let us help with his very first days and beyond, we all fell completely in love with the now-not-so-tiny kitten!

Jack

What do the adults in the family do for a living and for fun?

Tony works in the IT world as a Systems Engineer, while Rhi is in her dream job as a stay at home mom. For fun the two of us play video games, catch the latest Marvel movies in the theater, and watch sci-fi shows on TV.

Milo and Nixi

What do the kids in the family do for fun?

Our first kid is still on the way. While we don’t even know the gender yet, their favorite pastime seems to be kicking their mom in the spine and bladder.

Nixi and Milo

Tell us more about the pets you have now and the pets you have had in the past.

Milo and Jack

We have three cats, Milo, Nixi and Jack.

Nixi and Milo

Milo is one of the most empathetic and friendly cats I’ve ever met, and loves to be the regal statesman of the house. 

Milo

Nixi has two modes, hanging out with the other cats or going into what we call “crazy tabby mode” where she sprints around and trills. 

Nixi

Jack is our little miracle kitten, literally plucked from our front bushes as an abandoned kitten minutes before a severe October thunderstorm. Now he is just an adorable bundle of energy, wrestling with the other cats in between bouts of cuddling with Rhi.

Jack

Tell us about when you first met the Gentle Doctor team or a story about the team others may not know.

Jack

We have been with Gentle Doctor since our first cat, but my favorite story with the team was when we first brought in Jack.

We had a mewling kitten on our hands, and no clue what to do. The staff at Gentle Doctor told me over the phone how to care for him, and helped check him out the next day to see how healthy he was. Without their help I’m not sure we’d have been able to successfully bring him in.

Jack

What have you learned about pets that you did not know as a kid or before you had your own pets?

I have learned that pets definitely have their own personalities, and it’s evident in how they interact with each other as much as with people.

Nixi

Nixi is terrified outside of the home, whereas Milo is an absolute ham every time we bring him out of his element.

Milo

Do you have wisdom about any medical conditions that you could share with someone who is perhaps just starting to walk their pet through a similar situation?

The most trying situation that came to mind for me was when we were raising Jack for those critical first few weeks. Hand raising kittens, especially ones so young, is an incredibly taxing experience.

Jack

Do not be afraid to reach out when you need information or guidance, and try to get some help from friends or family.

Jack

At one point my mother in law came over for a few feedings, letting Rhi get a desperately needed few extra hours of sleep. It’s a harsh timetable to keep up with the feedings, but it is so worth it in the end.

Milo and Nixi

Do you have a favorite breed or type of pet?

Milo

Not really, we both love animals in general. We’d love to get a dog as well, but our current home makes a fenced in yard impossible.

Nixi

Is their a shelter or rescue group or other pet related group that is dear to you that you would like us to help spread the word about?

Nixi

We’re big fans of SOLAS (http://solaspetadoption.org/). We got Nixi through them, and they are a great group of people that help find loving homes for a variety of animals.

Is there a non-pet related cause you would like us to help spread the word about?

Extra Life is a charity that helps raise money for sick children whose families can’t afford the medical care. While other charity drives are about physical feats, Extra Life is one where people play games (video games or tabletop) for twenty-five hours straight. It is a great way to raise money for the kids, either as someone tackling the marathon or as those desperately needed to fund them and help cheer them on.

Milo

Is there anything else we should include in your story?

Nothing comes to mind, other than that Gentle Doctor absolutely has to be the best place to take your animals in the city. The entire staff excels at what they do, but just as importantly they all clearly love animals. It is not “just a job” for any of them, and I’ve always appreciated that.

Jack

Do you want to know one of the biggest compliments a veterinarian can receive? One of the biggest compliments a veterinarian can receive is the trust of another veterinarian! Dr. Thomassen and Dr. Finch and the entire team at the 89th and Grant location have loved getting to know Dr. and Mrs. Weidle and their family.

Dr. Weidle and Cooper

From the Weidle family...

OUR FAMILY - Annette and I are transplants from Arizona and followed our sons when they attended Creighton University. We have been in Omaha now since 2007. We celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary last January. We have two sons. One still lives near us in Omaha, and the other is now in Denver. We have a wonderful five year old granddaughter here in Omaha and a one and a half year old grandson in Denver, our pride and joys.

Dr. and Mrs. Weidle

Our eight year old cocker, Karma, is a rescue dog. She is strictly an indoors dog and very timid. We brought with us our two cats, Cooper and Scout. Both are fourteen years old and doing well. Yes, our pets are such a big part of our lives, and we wouldn't know what to do without them!  

WHAT WE DO - Nick is a retired small animal veterinarian with hobbies that now include woodworking and making home brew beer. Annette is a CPA and telecommutes from home part time to her old job in Arizona. She is scheduled to finally retire this September. Hobbies include gardening and going to yard sales. After her retirement, we hope to do some traveling. We are focused primarily on our grandkids as we help with babysitting, pick-ups after school and babysitting trips to Denver. We enjoy our involvement with our church and our friends here in Omaha.

OUR PETS - We have always had cats and/or dogs in our lives. They not only give us their unconditional love but also give us purpose and joy every day.

Scout

GENTLE DOCTOR - We began our association when we moved from our downtown condo to our present home on 52nd Street. The clinic is only minutes away. We have very much enjoyed all the staff there and especially Drs. Finch and Thommasen. They have always given us their full attention and shown us real concern for our animals. We are grateful for their care.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS - We have had dogs that suffered from arthritis (mostly an older dog problem.) This can be pretty subtle and can often be helped with medications. Pet owners must be aware of changes that occur when their pets get older and realize that they may no longer be able to do what YOU want them to do (such as certain walking regimens or dragging them on a bike ride with you!)

Vision problems can be subtle. Our Karma needed cataract surgery or she would likely have become blind. Since they don't verbally communicate with us they depend on us to understand that and make wise decisions for them. Keeping them comfortable and healthy requires attention to all phases of their lives. In most cases we are the only family they will have for their entire lives.

FAVORITE BREEDS - Cockers, golden retrievers, Labs, bassets, pugs, Boston terriers, and domestic short hair cats!

SHELTER/RESCUE GROUP - Always: the Nebraska Humane Society.  They do so much.  Also Hearts United for Animals and No Pets Left Behind (That's where we got our dog Karma.)

Karma