Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.: June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010 Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021 |
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.
"...a lonesome person is a lazy person."
― Virginia "Meme" Haley
From the March 6, 1987 edition of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, a story of Jody's mother, Virginia, written by Amy Truxton:
There's No Time for Loneliness With Cuddles, Cutie in Her Life
Virginia Haley's cure for loneliness comes in the form of two pathetic-looking pooches with no teeth or lower jaws, and little hair.
Caring for the couple of old Yorkshire terriers keeps the 81-year-old Haley too busy.
"How can I be lonely with this?" the Venice East resident asked as she sat on her living room floor, hand-feeding Cuddles and Cutie.
Their tongues hang out because of their missing mandibles, and before Haley feeds them she spreads paper napkins as tablecloths. She puts morsels of warmed dog food-hamburger-egg mixture into their mouths until a whole can is gone. She feeds them at least once a day; twice a day she squirts a liquid B-complex formula into their mouths with syringes.
"These two dogs are family," she said. "Everyone over 60 who is lonely should have a dog. It would give them something to do so they wouldn't worry about themselves."
"Handicapped" pets, rather than more frisky animals that might run off, are perfect for the elderly, Haley said.
"People ask, 'How do you spend so much time with them?'" said Haley, who estimates it takes 45 minutes to feed the dogs, not to mention the time she takes to accompany them outdoors for sun. "What else do I have to do?"
Besides, Haley loves her companions. "My friends say, 'How can you stand to look at that?'" she said, holding up Cuddles, who has three legs, no tail and just a tuft of hair on a bony head. "When you love them, you love them."
Haley, who was widowed in 1984 after being married for 55 years, has had Cuddles for seven years. Her son-in-law, a veterinarian in Ohio, gave her the dog, which had been brought to his office to be put to sleep.
Her son-in-law thinks Cuddles lost one of her legs when someone stepped on it. Neither he nor Haley are sure how old Cuddles is.
Cutie, also known as "the Waif," joined the family in December. Two boys found her in Nokomis and took her to Dr. Craig Moore's veterinary office. Pat Miller, a receptionist and technician, introduced Cutie when Haley brought Cuddles in for a checkup. "She (Haley) absolutely fell in love with her," Miller said. "If it has 10 hairs on it, it was a miracle."
The next day, Haley returned with a blanket to take Cutie home, Miller said. "She's a wonderful, marvelous lady," she added.
Haley kept Cutie while Moore tried to find her owner. No one claimed her, and now Haley is attached to the dog. "I want to find out more about her, like her name," Haley said. "But there's no way they can have her back."
Moore thinks Cutie is about 13 years old, Haley said. He also thinks she has arthritis in one hind leg. "My son says Cutie walks just like a little old man," she said. "And my daughter says hers is the longest tongue she's seen. It hangs down clear to her chest."
Haley marvels at how she's ended up with two Yorkshire terriers that look so much alike. She said poor nutrition probably caused them to lose their teeth and lower jaws. Cutie used to be bald like Cuddles, but has recently developed a scruffy coat of black and gray hair.
Cuddles, a tan miniature terrier, shivers a lot because she lacks a coat. Haley keeps her wrapped in a wool blanket. Both dogs have soft beds.
Haley believes a "lonesome person is a lazy person," so she stays active. For instance, there's Candlelight Dining at Venice High School, sponsored by the Senior Friendship Centers of Sarasota County. Not only does Haley dine with others, but she often serves food and carries trays. She also provides transportation for some participants.
Candlelight regulars know Haley as "The Bell Lady" because she gives them knitted bells each Christmas.
Haley regularly drives to Ohio to visit her son and daughter, and spends part of each year in North Carolina. Cuddles goes, too, traveling in a special car seat. "Now I'm going to have two babies with me," she said. "They're just like children."
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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