A Turner Valley area woman has gone through a period of tough times, but the tenderness of a veterinarian has helped soften the blow.
Cheryl Gross’s dog, 13-year-old Gem, passed in March not long after the death of her father, Jim McClelland, in October of 2016. Cheryl also lost her mother, Joyce, in February.
The McClellands often took care of Gem when Cheryl was working.
“My dad was like a babysitter and when he passed away, Gem just wasn’t herself — that is when I phoned Wayne (Steiger, owner/operator of Diamond Valley Veterinary),” Gross said.
Steiger was a long-time friend of the McClellands, a Turner Valley ranching family.
At first it was felt Gem was missing his long-time friend, Jim, but the dog was later diagnosed with a blood disease.
Chemotherapy was initially considered, but it was determined it would be too difficult on the dog. Iodine was used, with Steiger coming to Gross’s home to make the injections sometimes.
However, the cancer was too far advanced.
“Wayne told me to take Gem home and spend quality time with her and I would know when it was time to go,” Gross said.
When it was Gem’s time, Steiger went to Gross’s home to put Gem to sleep.
Steiger, who has been a veterinarian in Turner Valley since 1992, said the McClellands are down-to-earth people.
“Jim always had some chickens, cattle, dogs, horses and he really liked his animals — they (the McClellands) were really well liked in the community,” Steiger said.
He said going beyond the call of duty at times is all part of being a veterinarian.
“It’s fairly common that we have to deal with someone’s loss when they lose an animal,” Steiger said. ‘Gem was part of her father too, and was close to Cheryl’s son.
Gem was the fishing buddy to Cheryl’s son, Leighton.
“Sometimes we (vets) have to help people with their daily lives as well.”
He said coming to put an animal to sleep at a patient’s residence, isn’t uncommon among veteran veterinarians in the Foothills.
“I have known these people a long time and if that is what their wish is, that’s what we do,” Steiger said. “I was very close to that family and Jim was a good friend of mine. If they want me to go to their home to do it, that’s what I will do.”
He added the majority of veterinarians in the Foothills area have kept that small-town feel to their businesses.
Diamond Valley Veterinary has also been the home of the High Country SPCA, where staff take in and care for abused and abandoned animals in the Foothills region and cover many of the medical expenses.
