feb 2015

PET TALK
A Dog’s
Purpose
Remembering and
Grieving for Buffy
By Glenn Kalick, D.V.M.
Sometimes I feel like I am as much a therapist as I am a boss to
my employees. One day, one of our favorite patients, Buffy, passed
away on the day of the owner’s father’s funeral. We spent a lot
of time in the past year with Buffy and her owner. Buffy was a
survivor of orthopedic disease, severe allergies and pancreatitis and
was currently being treated for chronic kidney failure by coming
in three to five times a week for fluid therapy. Buffy and her owner
spent 15-30 minutes a night with us, and in all that time, a very
special bond was created.
So when Buffy passed on the night of the funeral, my staff was
devastated not only for the owner but for themselves. They questioned
the sense of fairness, and there was a strong feeling of
melancholy in the hospital. I thought it would pass, but after two
hours I needed to bring the staff together to have them talk it out.
Many questioned religion, some were upset over the unfortunate
timing, but I wanted to emphasize to them that I believe that Buffy
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had a purpose. Years ago I wrote an article about an owner who
had to put his paralyzed dog to sleep the day before his wife was
scheduled to give birth to his twin girls, and my feeling was that
this dog’s purpose was to make him the best father to his children
by giving him the patience and nurturing that was necessary to
take care of a paralyzed pet.
Buffy was a great dog, friend, and patient, but her role was more
than that. The owner was going through a tough time. Taking care
of sick parents and traveling to Miami every day was stressful.
Buffy was a happy face that greeted the owner every day after the
trip. Even though after a tough day, coming to the animal hospital
might not have been the perfect ending to the day, it did take her
mind off of the familial stress. Buffy was always happy. She took
her medicine like a champ and never acted like a sickly animal.
Buffy went on vacation with the owners, and when she didn’t,
everyone wanted to take care of her.
I let the staff talk and tears were shed. However, I wanted to
emphasize that Buffy’s purpose in life was to be the reason that
the owner smiled every night when familial circumstances were
not ideal and stress was high. She was one of the high points of
the day, and a friendly face that did not care what went on during
the day - just happy that the owner was home. Buffy’s purpose was
to support the family in the only way she could, and when her job
was done, her little body gave out. Buffy knew that she could not
give anymore. She survived as long as she could, and only stopped
when she knew that her family did not need her anymore. Buffy
allowed the family to spend as much time as they needed with the
father and pushed through her pancreatitis, orthopedic pain and
kidney failure because her family needed her strength and positive
personality. The staff listened and cried some more, but our memories
of Buffy are for the great personality that she had. Great dog,
great family and even better memories. P
Glenn Kalick, D.V.M., is the owner of Brookside Animal Hospital of
Coral Springs.
100 FEBRUARY JANUARY 2015 2015