Dr. Hyatt (Kari),

My name is Sara McMillan and the beginning of March you found me and Toby
on Hillsborough St. As you may remember, my Miniature Doberman was hit
right across from my Cameron Court Apts. across from St. Mary’s. The next
day I contacted my friend Scharles, who has a friend in NCSU Vet school,
Julianne (I am unsure of her last name) to see if there was a possibility
of finding you. I couldn’t remember your name, although you showed your
I.D—but when you found me I was rather hysterical.
I am normally a stoic and objectively caring person, but I cannot express
how much my Toby meant to me nor how much your supportive hug and
veterinarian expertise meant to me. I bought him on a whim at a time when
I could barely go on and thus, that dog REALLY saved my life, and I am
eternally grateful for your presence when his life ended.
I believe that a doctor has the beautiful ability to save a human life,
but the intentions are not always there for every young person seeking a
Dr. to add to his name. Yet, a vet has the kind intentions to save a human
heart, and the kind empathy to care about the little four-legged friends
we often overlook. I have yet to meet a vet who does not understand the
love a person has for another animal. However, as people it is often
debatable on how we are able to love another human being. I thank you for
loving me in a weak moment. The people who surround me would not have been
able to because I would not have been able to break down to them as I did
with you—a kind woman, who professionally was a vet, and personally to me
was a stranger I felt compelled to relate to.
Anyway, I am not normally this sentimental, but I think it’s important to
share meaning with people who make you aware of it. I am not sure how much
spirituality/religious affiliation is involved with this but I thought I
should share it with you to let you know how you have affected my life as
a bypassing stranger:
Ironically, the next day my mom came to comfort me as she knew how much
Toby meant to me. We found out that day that her brother died. Although I
am not religious, I feel like my little “shit,” my best friend, Toby, was
telling me to get over myself and bring me and my mother together. I often
laugh at these correlations, but I found it ironically simple that I
understood this connection through my dying dog
The next week my 2 yr. girlfriend’s grandmother died (who was a second
mother to her after her father passed away), and I felt guilt at being
depressed at my loss. I have hesitated to contact you. But, I realized
this: Animals remind us of our humanity. They are as valuable to us as
friends when we keep them as pets, but this is because we invest time,
money, and love to have them. They are a request to heal us in our times
of inadequacy or in our times of hurt or in our times of needing to love
another creature.
Thank you
Sara McMillan

P.S. Toby is buried at Lake Johnson across from the Parking lot that is
perpendicular to lake Johnson. Sorry I have taken so long to contact you,
but if you feel comfortable I would appreciate you giving me your address
so I can send u a proper thank you. My email is mcmillan.sara@gmail.com. I
would feel much better at sending a proper thank you (other than e.mail)
but I wanted to ask your permission for your address before I did. Do you
have any pets, as I would like to treat them if you do?