Hi Dr Annie,
Thank you for reaching out. I have been holding onto your email since I first received it, knowing that I eventually would love to do this. However it has been very difficult for me to write.
It will be a year in June that we lost our Roxy. It has taken me this long to be able to bring myself to write this memorial for her as we have been so lost without her. In Roxy's last year she went from being able to walk several blocks to only being able to go outside and maybe on a lucky day walk a couple houses. We knew that we had to make a decision for her quality of life. I got Roxy from the pound when she was 7 and I was lucky enough to have her until she was 16.
Roxy was the most gracious host. Anytime someone would come up to her she would entice them to be her best friend. She loved to be loved and even more she loved to love. As much as Roxy loved everyone, she just never seemed to find a vet that she enjoyed going to visit. After having cancer 3 times and beating it, she came to realize the vet was a place for surgery.
My husband Kevin and I could not see her going there for her last moments. We wanted her to feel home and know she was safe. Dr. Annie made this possible. When Dr Annie arrived Roxy immediately felt comfortable. There was never any nervousness. Annie talked us through every step and never once did we feel pushed to move faster than what we were ready for. She gave us as long as we needed. She was patient, friendly, professional, and not to mention so caring with Roxy and so understanding towards what we were going through. As hard as the experience was to say goodbye, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way for Roxy.
The picture above is from the first day when I picked Roxy up at the pound.
Stacy Carter
Irvine