Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Last week, Dr. Michelle Gerhard Jasny gave out her annual Labor Day awards: gold, silver, bronze. I would like to hand out a big, shiny gold medal to her — my veterinarian.

I don’t like changes, and when I moved back to the Vineyard after having been away for 15 years, wow, what changes! But, Michelle was still here, and in the same office. Relief.

Her expertise is the same, her acute concentration on my pet’s condition, her gentle touch and the long lessons on flea and tick care — all the same.

And again, as with my dog Marley, my Labrador presented with inexplicable symptoms. Dr. Jasny always gives options: we could go off-Island and get an extensive workup to help diagnose the illness exactly, or stay here and give the best (and less expensive) care we could under the circumstances. We chose the second option.

Prudy is happy and hanging in there, thanks to a combination of medications that keep her going. We cherish her every new day. Michelle is still here, and I know my pets are in the best possible hands.

Genevieve H. Abbot

Oak Bluffs