On Saturday I took three pets to Oak Valley Animal Hospital

It reminded me how much can be accomplished when compassionate people come together for animals who need them.

I gathered 18-year-old Gracie (Kitty), 14.5 year-old Laila (American Staffordshire), and met 10-year-old Aiyana (Lab/Pit mix) and her dad at the park to pick her up. Laila and her Mom stayed overnight at the sanctuary so Laila would be here, since her Mom had to leave town by 630 am.

When I message Cynthia about how overwhelmed I was feeling, she dropped everything at a moment’s notice and offered to come with me. (For the record, it was not the animals causing the stress—it was several humans who were making me stressed that week.)

Her help getting everyone in and out of the car and settled in the examination room was invaluable, but her kindness and moral support meant just as much.

Our trip included one unexpected roadside interruption. Coming down the hill through Morongo, I had apparently picked up far more speed than I realized and was pulled over for going 25 miles over the speed limit.

When Cynthia explained where we were going and why, the officer’s stern expression melted. He took mercy on me and, instead of citing me for going 25 miles over, wrote the ticket for only five miles over. I was extremely grateful—and watched my speed very carefully for the rest of the drive!

Each of our three seniors needed something different.

Gracie continues to eat very little despite all the different foods I have offered her, including Science Diet. She received subcutaneous fluids, special urgent-care food, and a senior blood panel. I am anxiously awaiting her results. At 18 years old, you never know what diagnostic testing may reveal, and I am hoping it gives us answers that will help Gracie feel better and begin eating again.

Laila has several large tumors along her spine. We received an estimate for surgery to remove them, along with medication for her arthritic shaking. The next step is choosing the right time to schedule her surgery.

Aiyana returned for a follow-up examination of her eye infection. Her infection has cleared, she received a clean bill of health, and we now have medication available if she experiences another flare-up.

Oak Valley did something no other animal hospital has allowed me to do: they scheduled three consecutive 15-minute appointments and welcomed all three pets into the same examination room. Other hospitals have always required separate visits. That simple kindness spared these seniors additional travel and allowed us to accomplish every one of our goals in a single trip.

Oak Valley remains my favorite animal hospital. Their compassion and willingness to work with the sanctuary make the drive to Beaumont completely worthwhile. I only wish they would open another location closer to us—and give local vets a little healthy competition!

We did not arrive home until 8 p.m. Cynthia volunteered to come with me, and another volunteer remained on standby to check on and walk the pets at the sanctuary if we were gone too long. Because people were willing to show up, every animal—both at the hospital and at home—was cared for.

My younger self would never believe it, but there is honestly no better way I would have wanted to spend my Saturday.