I never thought I’d end up at an emergency clinic with my sweet Baby Kitty last night but I did. He was in respiratory distress when I got home from work. Drooling and desperately struggling to breathe. Being a nursing professor I knew he needed help……but where to take him? Certainly not Temecula Emergency Vet Clinic on Jefferson……I’d heard bad things over the years. I even had a bad experience there with my dog so many years ago but, my cat wasn’t going to make it if I took longer to drive anyplace else……..it was after hours after all. Let me publicly say that taking my kitty to these wonderful people was the right choice and i would do it again. My baby ended up not surviving and I am absolutely heartbroken, but, Dr. Owens and Thomas were exceptional with us. It was meant to be that I brought my boy to them last night………especially since i was headed to another hospital much farther away. I know how hard it is to deal with grieving, frightened, confused, and anxious families and watch them go through the early stages of grief (sometimes quickly) right before your eyes……I’m an intensive care nurse for children and infants. Dr. Owens…..you handled my frantic, 100mph “nurse talk” blubbering in your face when I arrived just beautifully……..as if I thought caring for a cat in respiratory distress was anywhere near like a human…….I learned tonite that it is not……..you are truly an asset to your profession and I will recommend you to everyone I know. Thank you for your compassionate care of my Baby Kitty while we said goodbye. You were amazing! Your soft voice and love toward Baby Kitty while he was dying was seen and so much appreciated. And Thomas…….where do I begin? I tell my nursing students that I cannot possibly give them the playbook for every possible death and dying scenario regarding how to act or what to say with and to patients and families dealing with this because there are just too many variables that can come into play………much of it is instinctive, not planned……….provide silent compassion if you’re not sure what to say? Maybe provide a comforting touch to the shoulder or hand? Or, do you say something? Choices the provider has to make often quickly. This is the most difficult part…….what to say? …..Thomas, your 1st words to me in the lobby after seeing my tear-stained face anxiously asking for my kitty’s lab results were, “You’re handling this so well………”. You took a chance and opened dialogue with me………and after that, the rapport was made. Your words to my daughter and I and the manner with which you handled every aspect of the death and dying process (to include after care) was beautiful. Perfect. You have a calling sweet Thomas to be there to care for our beloved animals and their families. I am so glad you were there with us. Meant to be. I want you to know you made this journey bearable for us. Thank you so so much. Your gentle voice and calm demeanor resonated so much with both my daughter and I. She had such good things to say about you (and Dr. Owens) on our lonely drive home. Anyway, I apologize for such a long post but I suppose it part of my grieving to review the events of last night with anyone that cares to read. Take your pets to this ER hospital, they truly care about our pets. Thank you all.

- Melanie Johnson Verified

Response from Emergency Pet Intensive Care Melanie, we would like to express our condolences for your loss and thank you for taking the time to write such a heartfelt review in a time of such sorrow.