I have a story to tell that was told to me. I have no reason to believe it is not true, so I will not use the names to protect everyone. Let me just pretend this happened in Pennsylvania so as not disparage the fine veterinarians in our area. Besides, the vets who might read this will know whether or not it was their office.

Last week a woman was driving past a veterinary office when her elderly dog began to seizure. Now if you have ever had a dog go into a seizure, you know how awfully upsetting it is. If it lasts more than two minutes, it is serious, and if seizures occur more than two times in a day, the dog needs to see a vet. In this case, this was the second seizure this dog had had in a couple of hours. So the woman rushed into the vet's office and told the girls at the desk what was going on. Instead of rushing to the aid of the dog or out to the car, the receptionist went into the back to talk to the doctor. She came back and asked the owner's name; went back and came out and said that they would not be able to see the dog.

Now, this woman, who has anxiety problems, had been fired from this office a few years ago. She would not have bothered them had it not been for this emergency. I don't care what she did, that doctor should have helped the dog. This is the most cold-hearted thing I have heard of, and not only unethical, but possibly illegal. The woman had to then drive to an emergency hospital with the seizuring dog that was urinating and defecating in her car. She was twice as upset and was risking herself and others by driving under those conditions. If she had had an accident, I ask you, who would be to blame?

This man knows who he is, if he reads this, and he should be absolutely ashamed of what he did. Even if he did not think it was an emergency, the dog was suffering and the woman deemed it an emergency.

Why was he so horrible? He would have been paid, if that was his concern: and if he couldn't handle a difficult client, what's he doing in that profession? I worked as a receptionist for a vet in New Jersey for ten years. Every practice has difficult clients, but the only time the vet ever fired someone from coming to his office was a man who used really obscene language against the receptionists. This woman is suffering from anxiety, but she is not dangerous. In New Jersey, a vet must see an animal who is an emergency. This was an emergency in many ways and the outcome of this story is that the little dog did have to be put to sleep two days later.

You know being a doctor of any kind is more than just check-ups and taking in the money. It should involve the patient or the client and pet and all the aspects of their problems. The woman I am writing of was treated well at Flannery Animal Hospital in Newburgh, so how awful is she? She accepted the end of life of her beloved dog and did not deserve the treatment by the first vet. Can you imagine if it were you and your dog or cat? I rest my case.

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Now that we have salt on the streets, remember to protect those sensitive paws. I have a bucket of warm water by the door and I dip each dog paw in as they come inside. You can have a towel there, too. Peters Market and hardware stores sell pet-safe ice remover. You also might want to get a short-haired dog a sweater or jacket for really cold days. Is there anything cuter than a dog in her winter coat?

I went over to visit my Sicilian donkey friend at Equine Rescue last week. I had Christmas horse cookies for him. All the dogs at the barn were wearing their jackets. It just warmed my heart so much to see a formerly abused pit-bull in a soft, plaid coat. I always think that a dog wearing a collar or a winter sweater is so truly loved. Not that dogs without coats are not loved; long-haired dogs do not need any extra protection, but all dogs should wear collars with tags. I am not so sure about cats with collars. Mine do not wear them, because I am so afraid they might get caught on something. As for going out in the cold; no self-respecting cat would think of venturing out below 25 degrees or in a snowstorm. After all, why should they — cats have servants to scoop out litter pans all winter.