And Tilley’s stone, too, made the transition from the old building to the new. It sits below a tree just outside my office window, where I can see it as I write records. It is a tribute not only to a courageous dog but to Lisa’s memory, and it is also a testament to the many dedicated staff members who, like Lisa, gave their very best to all those patients that made their way through our office, infusing our work with compassion, meaning, and humanity. It remains a reminder to me of the emotional and compassionate intertwining of hearts and hands, of science and souls, of lighthearted laughter and wrenching sadness that form the core of a veterinary hospital. Yes, it is a business, but one that enfolds within its mission the very essence of the fabric woven of the bond between individuals of different species.
It is indeed a Gift to experience this bond—a Gift that has been graciously bestowed on me as it had been on Lisa. But it is also a Gift to be the guardian of this bond, to be charged and entrusted with its protection and maintenance by people wholly consumed by it. This Gift, this magical and all-encompassing treasure, is at the heart of being a veterinarian. And it is a Gift that, for me, has offered untold rewards of love, of fulfillment, of joy and contentment. It has had its challenges, to be sure, but nothing could have provided me with a more wonderful life’s work than this. I know if Lisa were here to look with me at Tilley’s stone outside my office window, she would agree.
Acknowledgments
There are many people involved in bringing these simple stories to you. The first are those wonderful and eclectic groups of people and animals who are the subjects of the stories. All of the stories are true, though some dialogue may be altered and some people may be composites of several actual clients. For those of you who may recognize yourself in the narrative, please know that it is with appreciation and respect that I relayed your part in the stories told.
I am very appreciative of my office staff for being unwitting subjects in the book. Susan, Rachel, and Krystal are still employees in the hospital and have been very gracious about their inclusion in the book. Rachel, who continues her April Fools’ Day shenanigans (some of which have been cut from this memoir) got to choose her name in these pages. Susan, as of the spring of 2012, has worked with me in the office for twenty years, longer than many marriages.
Much gratitude goes to Lisa, though I cannot thank her personally, as you will see. I appreciate Lisa’s family for letting me tell a story that may be difficult for them to read. Lisa’s is a story of great courage and strength, of personal reinvention and professional growth. But it is also filled with sadness still for those who love her. Thank you, Amelia, Melanie, and Steven for allowing me to share her story with my readers.
I am greatly indebted to Cynthia, Jace, and Tucker for their patience with the process of writing this book. It was often a mistress that distracted me from family events. They are also featured in it, perhaps against their will. I love you all so very much and am grateful beyond words for each of you.
My agent, Jacques de Spoelberch, was a great help in honing and refining The Gift of Pets while keeping faith in its eventual success. He is to be credited for helping to keep a few stories in it that were slated for removal as too sad for animal lovers. When Simone passed, his faithful canine companion of many shared years and some 7,000 common miles, it was Jacques who argued that such sadness is a rich and valuable component of our lives with our pets. Even the sadness is a Gift, a testament to the depth of meaning they bring. Thank you, Jacques, for the assistance and professionalism you brought to this project.
A huge thank-you is extended to the entire team of wonderful professionals at Thomas Dunne Books. Toni Plummer has been a partner and active participant in bringing this book to you, and her skills, suggestions, and input have made it better than the manuscript she was originally presented. The copy editor, Carol Edwards, worked to improve the clarity and flow of the stories. And the cover designers, the typesetters, the publicity team, and the rest, whose names I don’t even know, make the production and distribution of books seem seamless and simple, though I can see that it is not.
Finally, I thank my readers who respond so positively to the telling of these stories. Many, many letters, responses on my author Web site (www.brucecoston.com), e-mails, and comments at book events have come my way, and they highlight how deep is the impact our animals have on our hearts. Thank you for reading these stories. Go ahead … tell your friends!
Also by Bruce R. Coston
Ask the Animals
About the Author
Bruce R. Coston, D.V.M., earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota. He currently resides in Virginia with his wife, their three cats (Webster, Phelps, and Kimi), and their dog (Starr). While not practicing in his hospital, he enjoys writing, golf, scuba diving, and any time spent on the lake.
Visit his Web site at www.brucecoston.com.
THE GIFT OF PETS. Copyright © 2012 by Bruce R. Coston. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.thomasdunnebooks.com
www.stmartins.com
Cover design by Kerri Resnick
Cover photograph of kitten by Orhan Cam/Shutterstock
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Coston, Bruce R.
The gift of pets: stories only a vet could tell / Bruce R. Coston.—1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-250-00666-0 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-250-01498-6 (e-book)
1. Pets—Anecdotes. 2. Pet owners—Anecdotes. 3. Veterinary medicine—Anecdotes. I. Title.
SF411.5C674 2012
636.088'7—dc23
2012011013
eISBN 9781250014986
First Edition: August 2012
The Gift of Pets: Stories Only a Vet Could Tell Page 27