Kind Words

From Someone Who Loved Sylvie

Late on a Thursday night, a little over a month ago, I received a distressed phone call from a very dear friend. She needed help and support to do the hardest thing every pet owner must eventually face: saying goodbye to her beloved but failing companion.

For many reasons, I knew it was not only the right decision, but that it needed to happen the next day—and it needed to happen in her home.​ Very early Friday morning, I began making phone calls. I left messages and was offered appointments several days or even a week away. Every option felt too late.​ Then came a returned call from Dr. Vivian at Peaceful Paws. She was warm, kind, understanding, and available later that day. Little did I know that I had found “my angel.”

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“Dr. Vivian took the saddest of days and made it a peaceful transition.”

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This is her business, but there was nothing businesslike about the way she cared for us. She was calm and compassionate and made us feel as though she had all the time in the world.​ She wanted to learn about my friend, Sylvie, and the special relationship they shared. We sat together outside in the sunlight, talking, and only when everyone was ready did she gently begin.​ Everything was handled discreetly beneath a beautiful, soft white blanket. Afterward, we remained together with Sylvie, with no sense of time constraints or pressure for Dr. Vivian to leave.​ When it was time, Dr. Vivian carefully placed Sylvie on a hammock stretcher and settled her in the car on another soft white blanket, surrounded by white roses.

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Dr. Vivian took the saddest of days and made it a peaceful transition. Humans should be given such a gift of tender, loving care when it is their time to leave this world.

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— Terri, a close friend of Sylvie’s family

Natick, Massachusetts