At my age, 81, and living with an assortment of creatures from childhood, I have been part of the changing veterinary world. In my youth and young adulthood, our vet was the do-it-all man, whose office was part of his house. He was always available when we had a crisis. My current vets belong to a speciality animal clinic with 24-hour ER service, a service that requires signing up online and waiting at home until you are notified to start driving. Yes, the waits for appointments and the ER are long, but the quality of care and compassion of the staff are worth the wait to me.