Goodbye Uncle Duncan

 

For the last 15 years we have been lucky enough to have had the most wonderful vet - Duncan MacWhirter of Roborough Vets near Plymouth.

Fifteen years is a long time in anyone’s life. In dog years, it is a whole dynasty. Puppies have grown into veterans. Grey muzzles have quietly appeared. There have been wagging tails in waiting rooms, anxious phone calls, routine appointments, emergency dashes, and those conversations where the air feels heavier than usual.

Through all of it, Duncan has been our constant.

There are vets who are clinically excellent. There are vets who are kind. Very occasionally, you find one who is both, and who also treats you as part of the process rather than an inconvenient bystander at the end of the lead. Duncan has always listened. Properly listened. He has respected my own knowledge of my dogs and worked with me, not over me. Appointments were never rushed transactions. They were conversations. Lessons. Reassurance wrapped in quiet competence.

He never saw “just another dog” or “a routine case.” He saw them for who they were - their individual quirks, their sensitivities, their dramatic flair, their stoicism. He remembered them. He understood that they are not simply animals who share our homes, but the family members who anchor our days.

Over the years he has stitched, scanned, medicated, reassured and, at times, gently guided us through the decisions no one ever wants to face. He has celebrated recoveries and carried the weight of heartbreak alongside us. That kind of care leaves a mark.

For my curly girls (And Stan!) a trip to the vets was never a fearful march into the unknown. It was a visit to see their Uncle Duncan. A familiar voice. A steady pair of hands. Someone to stroke their faces, tell them they were clever and beautiful. They'd drag me through the door, and when it was our turn to be seen, I'd let go of their lead and they'd trot off happily to see him in his room and jump on his examination table, as if they didn't need me with them at all.

What has always stood out most is Duncan's generosity. With time. With knowledge. With patience. Duncan is a teacher and really has taught me so much, often without fanfare, simply by explaining the why as well as the what. That gift of understanding is something I will always value.

It is the end of an era for us. Practices change, people move on, and life keeps turning its pages. I am genuinely happy for him as he steps into his next chapter. But I would be lying if I said we are not deeply sad for ourselves.

Vets like Duncan are rare. The kind who combine science and instinct, skill and empathy, professionalism and friendship. The kind who become woven into the story of your dogs’ lives.

Fifteen years of trust is no small thing. It is built appointment by appointment, concern by concern, tail wag by tail wag.

We have been incredibly lucky.

Thank you, Duncan, for being our rock, our teacher, and our friend. Whatever comes next, you will always be part of our story and we hope to stay in touch.

Enjoy your semi-retirement in South Africa. You truly do deserve it!