Life

[66nova]

Today was kind of a strange day. One I will remember it for ever. To begin, I walked in the door this morning and the waiting room was packed (this is a good thing) and in one of the rooms was a dog with a laceration behind its shoulder blade that was 18 inches long and a couple muscle bellies torn. The owner is so freaked out that she couldn't even talked to me a neighbor had to be in the room. No big deal, I have dealt with this numerous times before. Morning continues to be busy. I put the shoulder back together and I go to lunch.

 

My little girl is upset and has been all day (and still is). I make it through a few dozen dirty diapers and I head back to the clinic. When I got back to work, I checked my mail like I always do and I noticed a letter from one of my clients. This is a client that drop her dogs off a couple days ago for boarding. She is an excellent client and actually one of my first clients I had when I opened my clinic.

 

My first thought was, this is a little odd to get a letter from a client that has animals current at the clinic. I open it and start reading as I am walking to my office, I sit down and then set the letter down. Then it hits me, what did I just read?!?! So, I slow down and read it again...The letter is a suicide note. Yes you read that correctly. A suicide note telling me that she will not becoming back for her dogs.

 

I'm in shock. I yell for my head technician and read it to her to make sure I am not making this up then I immediately call 911. A detective calls me back confirming that the letter was true.

 

My jaw is still on the floor. This is something that I know I couldn't have prevented, but can't help but think...could I have done something? She was in my hospital atleast every other week and I tried to talk to her at each visit. In fact I talked to her the day she ended her life. I don't I am just kinda taken aback. It just saddening to think someone feels so unloved(???) and worthless(????) that suicide is the only answer, when she had quite an effect on just our hospital. Everyone here really enjoyed her.

 

Sorry to be so long winded. Just need to share and thought maybe this would make a few people call and check on a loved one.

[VMax2007]

Wow, that sucks Robert. How old was she? Was she a single person (lonely?).

 

[Zembonez]

That's really odd. I can't imagine what makes a person feel that desperate. I've always told my wife that if I die and somebody says it was suicide... she better start looking for the killer.

 

RIP poor crazy lady.

 

I had a similarly odd situation yesterday. As many of you know I am a car buyer and I travel a lot looking at stuff to buy. A buddy in another town calls me and asks if I know anybody that might want a wrecked Dodge 4x4 that isn't damaged all that bad. The interesting part? The guy was driving down a highway at 65 mph and took a pistol and shot himself in the head. He was dead instantly and the truck wandered off the road and through a ditch before finally coming to a stop. Crazy. It had what looked like 5 gallons of blood in the interior. Not a pretty sight and I didn't get too near it.

 

Makes you wonder.

[Z71kris]

wow, crazy!

[hockeypro1411]

There's nothing you could've done man. It sounds like you and everyone else at the hospital appreciated her. This is a sad thing, no doubt, however why would she send YOU the note? It could've been because you had her dogs, but I think it was because she felt that you were the only person who she felt appreciated by. Try to stay strong!

[2000DV4.8]

Holy shit...

 

Were YOU the one she was "announcing" her suicide to, or was it just to inform you that she wouldn't be picking up the dogs? And what's going to happen to the dogs, SPCA?

[tobias]

That's so unfortunate but at least she did the right thing and left the dogs in your care.

 

I know that may suck for you but I hate to hear stories about someone doing such a thing to themselves and then leaving their dogs to die of starvation or to turn to eating each other or their owner.

 

What a sad story but at least the tragedy ended with just her.

[Nick The Great]

Damn . . . sorry to hear that.

[C & A s Dad]

Robert,

 

You are right, this had to be a shock.

 

I did not know you were a Vet. My 8 yr old Daughter has been saying since she was 4 that she wants to be a Vet. I am all for it and doing all I can to prepare for her education costs.

 

She has a real gift with animals and is our resident Dr. for our 3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 gerbils, 3 fish and 4 Chickens. As you can tell, we need a Vet in the family.

[66nova]

You all got it right...Crazy! I agree, atleast she didn't take anyone else out with her. But, that's the thing with suicide. It's such a selfish act, you may only be killing yourself, but you are taking other people down with you.

 

 

As far as the dog's go. She did not have any family in TX, but the detective said she had some family flying in from Indiana. If they don't want them, I will turn them over to a rescue.

[99silveradoz71]

Wow, definitely a tough day. You just have to do your best to keep yourself together and think that she left the animals, perhaps one of the few positives in her life(in her mind), in your care.

[rvsahs]

Wow, definitely a tough day. You just have to do your best to keep yourself together and think that she left the animals, perhaps one of the few positives in her life(in her mind), in your care.

 

+1!! Bet they didn't teach you about this kind of situation in the classroom at OSU Robert! Bummer for her extended family and friends. Hopefully her dogs will find a good home!

[onac255]

Man...

 

That's just like yesterday. I was at my Dad's shop changing the oil in my truck. When the shop neighbor shows up to borrow some tools and is kind of out of it. Well My Dad and I ask him where the other guy that works there is.

 

His eyes filled up with tears and he told us the man died the day before from a heart attack. Well the news hit my Dad especially hard because he has known the guy for about 10 years.

 

This man had a bad leg and had problems walking but my Dad said that no matter how bad a day he was having that the guy always managed to cheer him up.

 

These kind of things definitely make us reflect on how we take life for granted sometimes...

[ALange]

I am very sorry for you Robert. None of the events could have been influenced by you, and I truly understand how you feel. I don't respect people that suicide, but I do know depression can push people beyond their ability to cope and the true victims are the family and friends. It is a sad state we live in and a tremendous number of our American women are routinely medicated to fit into a crazy new world that defies the natural order of things. Equality with men was disastrous for women as it was a demotion in the societal pecking order that reduced women's status. Women were respected and truly the architects of our family structures and they dictated the development of the future generations. Man's role was secondary, catch the meat and stave off the predators (and kill the spiders). Sorry for getting philosophical on you.

[pennzoil29]

Prayer's to keep you strong brother. I know what it's like to lose a friend to suicide, for I have lost two. You can't see it coming, so there is really nothing you can do. I don't want to get to involved with this, because it will bring back sad moment's, but one of my friend's didn't go alone. He took his two children and the family dog with him.

So, anyhow Robert, keep your chin up, and move on.