He's Gone

We arrived for a layover in Dallas last night and when I checked my voicemail, there was one call that struck us down. At the dawning of a new year and on the eve of his anticipated wedding, Dr. Thomas Van Cise was felled by a massive coronary. His veterinarian practice All Animals Exotic or Small created hope and wellness for countless pets in the southland.
Anyone who knows of Seven's history will recall 5 1/2 years ago his body became wrecked with cluster seizures. Every three months would mean an extended stay in a hospital while the doctors would break the epileptic cycle. These same doctors condemned Seven to haze filled life of ever increasing doses of liver damaging barbiturates.
It was our friend Amy who suggested a quirky doctor's small practice some 70 miles east of Los Angeles. Through the use of nutrition, western and eastern medicines, Dr. Van Cise's care produced results. Seven seizures are now infrequent one off events that we can manage at home. Seven loved to go on the long car ride to the office every two or three months. Dr V's paramount concern was always the animal's well being. At first his detachment from the human owner could be off putting but his intense devotion to our dog through observation and copious note taking made us converts to his ways. And at the end of any session he was always willing to answer our questions. The staff also took personal interest in Seven's life as well as ours.
Like all his patients, next week we will begin the search for a new doctor to hopefully continue in his good work. But for this week and for the memorial service on saturday, we mourn the passing of a true talent.