Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M. June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010 |
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Pete Smith, D.V.M., and Milliron: Abbott “Pete” Smith, D.V.M. The Biography (Monday Creek Publishing 2017), including his wife Jody (1938-2021).
"You can't imagine how much love a person can
have for mankind and for animals."
Lucille Gallagher
From The Athens Messenger
Tuesday, March 10, 1987
Article by Mary Exline, Glouster correspondent
HOLLISTER - The modest trailer home belies the fact that it was purchased by a former physician and surgeon. A doormat on the porch reads "John Gallagher M.D.," a sad reminder of more prosperous times.
Lucille Gallagher lives in there, alone and often lonely, with her three cats. But she is not unhappy and has no intention of changing her way of life.
The Gallaghers moved to Hollister from Madison, W.Va. in 1971. Dr. Gallagher was ill, and the family's resources were depleted. Mrs. Gallagher said her husband did not believe in insurance, and during his nine-year illness huge medical bills were incurred. He died in 1974.
After her husband's death, Mrs. Gallagher, a practical nurse, worked at Kimes Convalescent Center in Athens. Illness forced her to retire, and she now lives on a fixed income. She has diabetes and glaucoma and recently had polyps removed from her vocal cords.
She loves animals. Her interest in cats began many years ago when Dr. Gallagher was practicing medicine in Charleston and Madison and the couple lived in Ridgeview.
"It was beautiful in summer, but very lonely and isolated in winter," she said. To fight her loneliness, she purchased a cat, the mother of two of her present felines, Preacher and Switch, who are now 18 years old. Her other cat, Jameson, is a stray who refused to leave. They are sleek, fat and sassy.
Preacher got her name because of her unblinking stare. "She is taking your confession, Lucille," Dr. Gallagher used to tell her. Switch was named because "she would rather fight than switch," Mrs. Gallagher said.
Her love for animals is not confined to cats. A friend built a pen for her porch, and until recently, Lucille fed six raccoons and two possums. She also feeds birds.
The wild animals disappeared during deer season, but the pen is waiting if they return. The ladders were installed to offer protection from dogs, she said. "You can't imagine how much love a person can have for mankind and for animals," she said.
Mrs. Gallagher is equally devoted to her hero, Dr. Abbott P. Smith of Milliron Clinic. The Athens veterinarian saved Preacher's life in January. The cat was listless and could not eat due to a bowel obstruction. Mrs. Gallagher nursed the cat night and day, dosing it with a quart of mineral oil daily. Its condition worsened.
Smith performed a two and one-half hour operation on the cat in January. Using a new procedure, he removed the entire colon and part of the rectum. The cat recovered rapidly.
The operation was expensive, but it was worth it, Gallagher said. "A long time ago, I had my cats, and only my cats, for company. I told them - You stick by me, and I'll stick by you," she said.
Mrs. Gallagher lives alone by choice. She has three daughters by a previous marriage and seven grandchildren in New York, Virginia and North Dakota. Her daughters and sons-in-law have invited her to live with them. She refused. She also has a boyfriend who takes her shopping and to her doctor, but she does not plan to marry.
She has all she needs - a home, her animals, a boyfriend. And occasionally, when the need arises, her friend Dr. Smith, who she holds in great esteem.
Have a great week ahead.
Connect with Gina...
Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.
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