For Me, It All Started With My First Pet
A Message from Dr. Ron Cherubino -- I have been called a sensitive and compassionate man. I don't normally share this with people, in fact I am positive that this is the first time I have ever put it into print. Occasionally, I am asked why this is so and I tell a short story about my first pet, Mitzi.
At the age of 11, I began what turned into a relentless quest to convince my parents to let me have a dog. Any of you that have been through this, from either side of the spectrum, know how it goes. My parents were initially convinced that I was much too young and irresponsible to take care of a dog. I, on the other hand, was equally as convinced that I could easily live up to the task. And so the conflict went on until I finally prevailed.
The Puppy Mill
Money was a legitimate concern and the fact that I had my heart set on a French poodle, preferably a small one, delayed the process. Every new litter that we heard about was just too expensive for our modest family budget.
Then, one day I found a newspaper ad for a French poodle puppy at nearly half the price of others we had seen. Mitzi was a toy/miniature poodle and the runt of the litter. To make matters worse she came from a very hyper, and noisy, Italian-American family. As I look back at the experience, I realize now that these people were not quality breeders but rather what would today be called a "puppy mill". She was a sad little thing that shook all over and jerked her head repeatedly when she was held. Nevertheless, I was in love and we brought her home that very evening.
Love Will Overcome
I spent every possible minute of my life with that puppy. I even slept on a sofa in the basement when she was being paper-trained. I would sit with her for hours and hold her in my lap and gently pat her head. I will never forget the feeling of her tiny head pushing up against my hand as I was trying to calm her.
What she was suffering from, I now know was a neurological tic. It's a medical condition that people and other animals can get from a damaged or genetically weak nervous system. Poor breeding and an emotionally stressful environment are precursors to the condition. Maybe it's a good thing that I didn't know that this was a medical condition, because I might have believed that it was incurable. Instead, I can remember clearly and calmly making the decision that I was going to love my dog out of this situation. And I did.
Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind
It took a considerable amount of time, several months, and a lot of loving effort. The truth was, I also lived in an Italian-American family that at times was quite noisy, hyper and stressful. I set aside times throughout the day for Mitzi and I to rest and unwind. During these times I would talk softly to her and stroke her gently as she, and I, inevitably fell asleep. I have never taken so many naps in my life, nor have I ever forgotten how love and compassion can overcome sickness and disease.
As I look back, this experience was a turning point and a major life lesson, instrumental in shaping me as a person, a doctor and a healer.
