The 'good guys' still exist

I am loathed really to make mention of things financial where the subject of Poppy is concerned but this incident is so unprecedented in my life and so utterly reaffirming of the kindness of human nature in some that I can't let it go by without sharing it.

We seem to live in a corporate world where life is driven by the dollar, the pound or the yen, where little is of consequence other than pecuniary gain and thousands die for the want of a what amounts to s few pence. By comparison what happened in gemmak's-ville yesterday is small but for me it was a rare illustration that happily not everyone sees money as a God.

When PG, heavy hearted, visited the vets yesterday afternoon to collect Poppy's remains and bring her home he was also, as expected, presented with the bill for services rendered. That bill included almost two hours of the vets time on the day he made the journey here to put Poppy to sleep, the drugs involved,and for medical reasons it was not straight forward and required more specialist medications, his travel costs and the costs incurred for her cremation that was carried out by a third party. We had an estimate and that was in the region of £400.

PG collected Poppy and the bill (to be paid 'anytime' was the instruction) and set off for home. Before he drove off he looked at the bill and then called me to confirm what I thought the cost should have been. " they have made a mistake" he said, "this bill is only £137.....I'll go back and let them know" and that he did.

Once back with the vet he explained that a mistake must have been made, our bill was way less than it should have been.The receptionist went to fetch the vet who appeared shaking his head, "no mistake" he said, I have charged you the £100 for Poppy's cremation as charged to us by the third party and £37 for our services and drugs". PG began explaining, thinking that maybe the vet had not recalled our specific case and confused us with someone else, that our bill should include specialist drugs and two hours of the mans time etc. etc. The vet looked at him and said again "no mistake", confused PG began again to protest that we had been under charged. "No", said the vet again....."very rarely have I come across and animal so loved or cared for, I couldn't add to your loss, I felt privileged to be allowed to take care of Poppy in her last hours and have only charged you cost price for the drugs, nothing more, have it on me and I'll hear nothing more about it"!

What a guy! In all seriousness his treatment of Poppy and his manner, his caring and his compassion on the day had been so amazing. He was fantastic, his handling of the sad situation had made it, if such a thing is possible, the most perfect end under the circumstances, we had been so impressed and touched we would have happily paid him any amount and with a smile, and yet, this outstanding individual felt it necessary to offer us even more kindness! The money was not really the issue here for me, the thought and the compassion from a man who until that day had never met us was, the fact that he felt as he did, and took the action he did was extremely touching and in my life at least, not something I have been witness to often, if ever.

Any failing faith in human nature has been truly restored in gemmak's-ville.