Golden retriever Samson takes his job as a medical service response dog very seriously, maybe even too seriously. For owner Lea Hendy, it became apparent quickly that the loveable giant didn’t know how to dog. On their days off at the dog park, Samson was the odd man out, sitting alone in the corner while the other pups played. It seemed like he couldn’t turn off work mode or form bonds with other dogs. Samson joined Lea’s family to train as a service dog. When she noticed his seeming lack of social skills with other dogs, she was determined to find a way to bring him out of his shell. Little did she know that a chance encounter with a cat would change everything. While they were out traveling, Samson spotted a kitten in the window of a building and immediately wanted to play. It was an “aha!” moment that Samson could indeed make deep bonds; it just had to be with the right animal. A couple of months later, they brought home a tiny kitten named Cleo, and the instant friendship surprised everyone. They gently placed the backpack with the little kitten inside in the middle of the room, and Samson immediately sprung into excited barks and tail wags. Lea said they were never expecting him to be so excited about his new friend, and the two have been inseparable since. How a Kitten Helped Samson Unleash His Inner Pup A PURR-FECT MATCH
We have always believed in shopping locally, and we are grateful to all of our friends and neighbors in the community who support our Veterinary Center. In this newsletter last month, we thanked many of them for helping us prepare to open our new location in Hotchkiss. But we forgot to mention one very important contributor: Our local hardware store, Big John’s Ace Hardware & Building Supply in Cedaredge! All of the great people at Big John’s helped us reach our goal, and we want to shout out a big “thank you” to each of them — Susan, Scott, Paul, Robert, Jason, Eric, Lee, Kyle, Asa, Sharon, Sarah, Tracy, Mike, Dave, Eli, John, Hope, Vickie, Bob, and Pat. We appreciate each THANK YOU, BIG JOHN’S! Project Success
“It was so heartwarming to see him come out of his shell and immediately form a connection with Cleo,” Lea said.
Now, the pair spend every moment they can together, playing, napping, and enjoying each other’s company. Cleo has become an avid adventurer since the family started taking her on hikes. When the kitty tires out, she takes a ride on her older brother Samson, who looks so proud to be transporting his sister. Cleo, a tiny kitten with a big heart, allowed Samson, a workaholic looking for a friend, to break out of his shell and explore his world in ways his family never thought possible. Now, thousands of people worldwide watch their friendship and adventures on the animal-odd couple’s Instagram page @calvin.andco.
of you for your terrific service throughout our work improving the site for our new clinic.
We are excited to serve your pet in Hotchkiss, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Clients are welcome to schedule appointments for checkups,
“It shows that friendship has no bounds,” Lea said. “Anyone can be friends.”
vaccinations, minor illnesses, wound care, and basic spaying and neutering. The clinic is fully equipped with X-ray equipment, a laboratory, a surgery room, and examination rooms. We saw the need for veterinary care in the North Fork area and secured the Hotchkiss site in 2020. Numerous clients, friends, and neighbors pitched in to help, and we are grateful for the extra work and expertise they offered. We never could have reached this goal without their help! A famous educator once said that all progress and stability depend on our confidence in our neighbors. We are lucky to have so many neighbors who inspire confidence and trust! Thank you all.
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