Have you ever had a personal experience with a business where an employee or business owner did something so special that you never forgot it? On a very personal level, I remember various times when my husband, a pharmacist, would come home later than usual and I would ask him if he'd had a bad day. He'd say, "No, I delivered medication to a customer on my way home. It would have been very difficult for her to pick up her medication and she really needed it." I was always proud that he went out of his way to make sure his customers received their medication and I hoped that they were really appreciative of his efforts.
I was very fortunate to be on the receiving side of "more than customer service." I was reminded of this experience when River Oak Veterinary Hospital, Inc. was featured as one of the businesses in the Chamber Corner of The Riverbank News. It was a Sunday probably 12 years ago when I took my black toy poodle, Seve, in to see Dr. Kiely on an emergency basis. Seve was having a problem walking and I was quite worried. The situation had developed all at once. My husband and I were planning a 3-day, 2-night trip and had made arrangements to board our three dogs which included Seve. Dr. Kiely examined Seve and as he handed me his medication Dr. Kiely said, "You will need to watch Seve closely to be sure his situation doesn't worsen." With little thought, I blurted out, "We were planning to leave on a short vacation tomorrow morning and my husband hasn't had a vacation for more than a year." Dr. Kiely asked if we could take Seve with us and I said, "No, dogs aren't allowed." Then he said, "You can leave Seve with us so we can keep an eye on him. Just bring him in tomorrow morning." I was quite relieved and was happy that Seve would be in such a good environment while we were gone. I was also glad that I didn't have to tell my husband that he would have to cancel his vacation plans. When we returned from our vacation, I immediately went to pick up Seve. I could tell that he was feeling better. Of course, I asked, "How much do I owe for his boarding?" I was told nothing. There was no charge. I was so appreciative that I was able to leave Seve where he would be closely watched and very surprised that there was no charge. I realized then what a big favor Dr. Kiely had done for me. Whenever I think about it, I still appreciate Dr. Kiely's act of kindness. I have been taking my pets to River Oak Veterinary Hospital, Inc. in Riverbank California for more than 30 years.
