Calendar Benefiting The Pet Pantry Is On Sale NOW!!!!!!

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry!! Get your copy fast, they are flying off the shelves! Only $6.00 each!

The calendar features 13 months of fantastic photos taken at area businesses, illustrating how important our pets are to each and everyone of us (no, we don't let Darwin do surgery on cats!!!). Please join in the fun a purchase your own copy(they make great stocking stuffers, too).

Copies are for sale at : Veterinary Care Specialists,Carls Family Y, Fitz Squared, Main Street Art, Club Pet, and Pet Supplies Plus to name a few....

Read more...

Like humans, abused baby birds grow into bullies

Like humans, abused baby birds grow into bullies

Read more...

Lucky Louie!

Louie had been rescued from an animal shelter, lived with a woman, Meredith , who adored him and he was lost and then found through the kindness of a community. Louie is a very lucky dog. We all got to know Louie almost a month ago when he escaped Meredith’s parents house and began running. Not an unusual of a scenario, but then it got interesting. Meredith and a few friends began a Facebook page, Looking for Louie, and people began to learn of his plight. There were frequent updates of Louie sightings, organized search parties, a discussion of how to best capture him and many folks out with fliers. Louie was definitely on the move, some of the early sightings were miles away from where he began. Then he moved east to an area choked with lakes, parks and dead end roads. There was worry that he might be inside a large wilderness area called Highland Recreation. Then he was seen back in Milford, next he headed north and east. Each sighting was investigated and many people spent precious free time looking for the wayward canine. He was finally found last week. His rescue was challenging, but everyone persevered. He then came to our hospital for evaluation, re-hydration and some well needed rest. He went home with Meredith on Thursday. We all wish Louie well.

I think the thing that makes Louie the very most fortunate is that he was lost in our little community. I realize that it would have been preferable that he had not been lost at all, but if you’re going to need a little help from a group of kind hearted people, well then, this is the place. I grew up in Milford and Highland. Everyone knew each other or at least knew of one another when I was a kid. You were recognized at every shop and everyone made time to attend our parades. I thought most places were like my home ‘towns’. I left for school went on to internships and residencies and lived in a few different places. I am still a little surprised I ended back home, but I am so happy to be back.

Our community has done something amazing, even though we have grown in population, we have managed to stay small and still care deeply about each member’s individual success as well as our community’s success. We have been buffeted by a stunningly painful economic down turn that has left us all reeling. We have lost businesses and friends. But, we all have toughened up and pulled together, not apart. Those are the core characteristics of our little ‘cow town’ (that’s what a prestigious veterinarian told me Milford was when Peter and I announce we were opening our hospital in Milford), that made it possible for Louie to be returned to Meredith, for Community Sharing to reach out to so many families in need, even when times are tough we kept trying to help each other succeed. We were Louie’s lucky star and we should take a moment and reminded ourselves how lucky we all are.

Read more...

A Note From A Client

Peter read this note at BNI a few weeks ago and there was not a dry eye in the house. Thought I would share it now...

I just want to say that I am more than appreciative with your clinic and above all Dr. Hass. Even though my true best friend Hunter did not have a good outcome I feel that he was on great hands and that your practice should be the example for all others. I do truly believe that he was in the best hands possible and that if I would have followed my own thought originally and took him to your clinic Hunter and I would be walking around the campground unleashed and right by my side without a care or distraction in the world because he was the perfect dog and you do in my eyes have a perfect practice. I am a small business owner as well and I truly have a ton of respect for the employees and Dr's of your clinic. You guys really set a standard. Thank you so much Dr.Hass, you were the piece of mind that I needed and I feel so much better after the conversations we had and your concern for Hunter...you are the best. Once again...you guys set the standard and thank you.
Jeremy Funke

Read more...

Trivia Contest to Win A Fabulous Prize

Winner of this quiz will receive one free ticket for this Thursdays drawing of the Wild Joker Raffle that is sponsored by the Milford Rotary and Huron Valley Optimists.
So, here's the question:
What was the name of the first small animal veterinarian (cared for mainly small animals, no farm animals) in Milford and Highland?
You can post the answer on our Facebook wall or email your answer to vcs@vcsmilford.com

Read more...

Some Fun Pictures

Pooh Bear and His Doggles

Pooh Bear is 16 years old and recently suffered some head trauma. He was hospitalized for a few days and has been doing very well at home. After his discharge the owners noticed that he was light sensitive. I suggested they consider some tinted goggles, there is a company that makes them for dogs they are called Doggles. Pooh Bear returned for his next exam sporting his new eye wear. Pretty groovy, don't you think?

A Sign That You Have Too Many Cats

Through our kindness we here at Veterinary Care Specialists and VCS Pets First have acquired a few resident cats. But, when you go to the employee's restroom and you are greeted by these two characters, you know you have too many cats.
By the way, we do have two adult cats that are looking for a good home........

Read more...

To Deny Disease And Fend Against Death

I have had a particularly bad week. I’ve cared for many sick animals and some have died. Today I euthanized a friend’s 16 year old dog and sat quietly as my friends and their twenty-one year old daughter grieved. This dog had been a family member to the girl, as much a part of her life as her sisters and parents. It seemed unfair. Yet the dog had lived a full life, rescued from a dog pound, then living with this family who loved her, and who cared for her. Really, can we ask for anything more?

This evening a very young duckling, he had been found in a pool yesterday, died. I was fostering him, envisioning him flying off, in the fall, fully grown, ready for new adventures. That was not to happen. We will bury him at our home and cry a little, sensing the loss of a precious creature. It is a sad time for me, but not for him. That future was never in his thoughts. Sure he got separated from his mom, but someone cared enough to save him, he was cared for by me and my family. He did not die alone and he did not suffer.

I’ve been pondering these events and I have come to realize that my job is to ward off death, cheat it of a few days, hours or years. I realize that some might find this pretentious. ‘My god, she is after all only a veterinarian’, they might say. It is not like I am a brain surgeon or rescue worker. They are, after all, animals. However, to me they are all important. It’s my job and I try to do it the very best way possible. I take the patients success or their passing very personally. I am not very fond of death, but I feel like I know it pretty well.

I see many very sick animals, critical cases, severe trauma and serious illnesses every day. From the moment they are under my care, after the first exam or diagnostic test, the battle is on. Make good choices, pick the right tests, watch all the vitals and take care of the owners. It’s like chess, but for keeps. Even the well pets that I see, every vaccine or medication that I might recommend is geared towards denying disease a foot hold and making sure death waits far in that animals future.

I take losing to death very hard. But, then, after I recover, I have to remember that it is not the amount of time an animal lives, but how they live. Death will win with all of us at one time or another. We must make the best of it for as long as possible. I will try to continue doing that for my patients, by keeping them happy, healthy, and out of pain and try to be sure that they know that someone cares.

Read more...