Woof! Woof! Woof! Both dogs broke out barking at the same time as the cacophony filled the great room.  I spotted a dusty Subaru out front — the car of mountain residents everywhere in Colorado.  A rap on the door signaled the arrival of Dr. Bob.

I had a knot in my stomach as I timidly opened the front door.  Bryon, sensing the confrontation that was about to occur, had exited the house and busied himself out by the shed.  Simon ran up to Dr. Bob, tail wagging, eager for a treat.  So far, so good.

But then again I’d seen this Dr. Jekyll and Dr. Hyde act before from Simon.  I remained skeptical that Dr. Bob would be able to accomplish his mission.

He sat on the floor with Simon, as I babbled about Simon’s “issues.”  I was terrified he’d start to growl, or worse yet, nip Dr. Bob.

Dr. Bob started to rub Simon’s flank as he became acquainted with him.  Then he pulled out his stethoscope to listen to his heart.  Surely, this is where it would all go wrong.  But no, Simon was still behaving with nary a snap or a growl.

Things proceeded smoothly until Dr. Bob pulled out the vaccination needles.  Then Simon let out a growl and balked.  Still Dr. Bob remained cheerful as we brainstormed ideas.  Finally, he suggested, “Why don’t you take him outside for a walk, and I will just sneak up on him from behind?”

I clip the leash to Simon’s harness and out the door we go.  He’s doing his usual routine — leg up, mark a bush, sniff, sniff, sniff.  Suddenly, Dr. Bob is there, and before I know it, he’s given him his shots.  Simon looks around as if a mosquito has bitten him, but then quickly goes back to his sniffing.

The exam is over — with far less trauma than our previous experience at the vet.  Thank God for Dr. Bob.

I don’t know if it’s the long drive to Boulder, or how foreign and sterile the exams room seem compared to our dusty log home.  Whatever the reason, suddenly, 3 of our 4 animals have taken a strong and hostile disliking to the vet hospital we normally go to in Boulder.

Enter Dr. Bob.

It started with our sickly cat Maya.  She had chronic liver disease for four years, and so disliked the drive to Boulder, that she would poop and vomit in her carrier during the 40-minute drive to the vet.  I dreaded bringing her in, so our regular vet at Boulder Humane suggested having Dr. Bob come to our house to see her.

Wow, a vet who makes house calls!

I immediately liked Dr. Bob, with his friendly, down-to-earth personality, mop of curly gray hair and his caring, but knowledgeable demeanor towards our cat.  Most surprising, but touching was his handwritten note that we received after she died.

After Maya, came his visit to Simon.  Simon is a rescue who clearly had a dislike of strangers hands on him.  This did not bode well for a vet visit.  Particularly so after being muzzled and manhandled at a vet in western Colorado.

Dr. Bob worked miracles with him, able to give him a more thorough exam than he had had in years, due to his friendly, non-threatening visit to our home.

The final patient is Dora, our black-and-white mighty might cat who seems to have become devil kitty while  the vet town.  I took her to get her shots, and she spent the entire time hiding in a car hissing, claws flailing anytime anyone came near her.  Giving her shots in this state was completely impossible.  The only way we could get her back in the carrier was for the tech to don large oven mitt type gloves to snatch her up and stuff her back in.

Another patient for Dr. Bob.

For those of us living in the rural areas around Boulder, he is a god send.  He provides tender loving care with cheerful good humor and good will.  All while providing much needed vet care to the many cats and dogs owned by residents of Boulder county.

Of course, the ultimate gift he gives is his final act.  Rather than hauling your dog or cat to the antiseptic rooms of a vet hospital to have them put down, Dr. Bob will come to your house to perform the final and ultimate gift of love in the comfort of your own home.

Thanks Dr. Bob!

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