It is with a heavy, yet encouraged, heart that I write this letter. On Aug. 23, my family witnessed our beloved weimaraner, Heide, die at Southern Crescent Animal Emergency Clinic in Fayetteville.

Heide suffered internal injuries of unknown origin. What is known, however, is that she had been shot with a BB gun in the chest as the pellet was visualized on x-ray. In addition, we believed she sustained further fatal injuries.

Unknown to us that August morning, our dogs escaped the security of our yard in Peachtree City. Heide was shot and seriously injured, and ended up in a neighbor’s backyard a few blocks away.

The neighbor called the Animal Medical Clinic on Ga. Highway 74 in Peachtree City and they responded by sending an employee, Dana, to the home with a stretcher to transport Heide for emergency treatment. The clinic notified me and I arrived immediately.

Dr. Landrum, the veterinarian, informed me that Heide was in shock and was having difficulty breathing and may not survive.

I was very emotional and distraught. The staff was very caring and comforting, especially Debbie and Sarah. I was able to go back to the treatment area and be with her while she was receiving intravenous fluids and medications.

Later that afternoon, while our family was with her, it was determined she would need surgery for internal bleeding. She would need to be transported to the Southern Crescent Clinic in Fayetteville.

Dr. Landrum rode in the back of our family’s SUV trying to keep Heide stabilized. Unfortunately, she died before surgery could be performed.

As we watched the tireless, compassionate care given to our pet by the clinic and hospital staff over the course of the afternoon and evening, we realized it takes a special individual to display that type of selflessness. How encouraging and comforting it was to witness such skilled and dedicated professionals at work.

We feel certain the person(s) responsible would rethink their action if they had any idea what our pet and family have experienced as a result of their poor decision.

Our hope is that they will one day come to possess the same caring, humane qualities as the staff at the Animal Medical Clinic and Southern Crescent Clinic.

In the meantime, we will continue to grieve over the loss of our pet.

Kathy Lang

Peachtree City, Ga.