Kelly and I were driving through an evening blizzard last December to get to one of our favorite patients and her heart broken Mom.
This gentle, beautiful Great Dane had bravely lived well as long as she could with a terminal cancer, and it was time to let her go. None of us, save the dog herself, were handling it well.
As a (huge) favor, two animal control officers from Nebraska Humane Society had arranged with Kelly to meet us at the home after their shift was over (in the same blizzard) to transport our patient's body to the Rainbow Bridge for after care.
When the first officer came to the door, I recognized him as the kind animal control officer we had (unfortunately) seen often lately. I said hi and greeted the officer behind him I had not previously met.
The first officer helped Kelly and me carry the stretcher to their van. The new officer walked with us and guided us around icy patches and made sure no one fell.
The next day, Kelly and I were pretty despondent. We missed our friend. We were concerned for her Mom. After telling a few stories about our sweet patient, we sat in silence for a while.
Kelly spoke up. "You know that wasn't an animal control officer, don't you?" she said.
"Who was it?" I asked.
"That was the new CEO of Nebraska Humane Society. She is doing ride alongs with the animal control officers." She said it just as casually and matter a factly as Nancy Hintz had ridden out in a blizzard with an animal control officer to take care of a grieving community member and her canine companion and make sure we did not fall on our butts on the slick ice.
"Wow. No, I didn't know that," I said. We sat in silence for a while more, then continued on with our day.
To Nancy Hintz, Nebraska Humane Society's new CEO,
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your kindness is startling, humble and deep.
Dog Mom, Kelly and I are blessed to have had you and the ACO there with us on that heartbreaking and sacred night. Omaha too is so very blessed to have you.
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Post from one year ago today...
April 21, 2016