What kind of person becomes a veterinarian?

I loved to read James Herriot's books as a kid. The English veterinarian treated country livestock: horses, sheep and cows and occasionally the family pet. His stories about the trials of a beginning vet were heartwarming. He cared so much for the delightful animals he treated, and put up with the crazy people who owned them. He was a saint.

I consider Dr. Scott Harada, our family vet at The Pet Clinic on Beretania, a saint, too. He treated my pug, Ginger, in the '90s. Ever patient and kind, Dr. Scott didn't mind when Ginger would growl and snap at him while he listened to her heart and palpated her stomach. All he'd say is, "Hey Ginger, I'm your friend. Don't be angry."

As Ginger grew older, her kidneys failed, her joints bothered her, her eyesight diminished, her breathing got more labored and all her teeth fell out. Whenever I brought her in, it never failed, Dr. Scott would call that same night asking how she was doing. Several times, he rushed down to the clinic after hours because she wasn't feeling well. Dr. Scott never made me feel silly for caring so much about my pet.

In July 2004, it was time to let Ginger go. As Dr. Scott slipped the needle into her leg vein, she drifted off to sleep in my arms. Dr. Scott shared my sadness that day, at the same time reassuring me that Ginger was finally at peace. Several days later, when I picked up Ginger's urn, there was a letter waiting from Dr. Scott. It said how special Ginger was and how much he enjoyed caring for her. I still have his letter tucked away with her ashes.

Our family's relationship with Dr. Scott didn't end there. I got Zoe from the Humane Society six months later. She was heartworm positive and very ill. Frequent visits to the Pet Clinic became the norm again and my phone calls about Zoe's health resumed. He still doesn't seem to mind to this day.

Thank goodness for veterinarians like Dr. Scott.

Who's your family vet?

Animal lover Leslie Kawamoto has been with the Advertiser for 18 years, or 126 in dog years. Check out her blog at www.HonoluluAdvertiser.com/Blogs.