Every Thanksgiving, when the last appointment is done and the clinic lights go out, I take a few minutes to sit in the quiet. The hum of the machines fades, the smell of disinfectant lingers, and the building feels still — a kind of peaceful that only happens once or twice a year.
And in that silence, I can finally stop long enough to think about what I’m most thankful for.
I’m Grateful for the People Who Trust Me
After 23 years in this profession, I still don’t take it lightly that people trust me with their pets — the ones who share their couches, their car rides, and their hearts.
Every day, clients hand me their greatest companions and say, “Please help.”
That trust is sacred. It’s not something I ever want to get used to.
It’s the reason I still take a deep breath before every surgery and the reason I stay awake some nights running through cases in my head.
To every client who lets me walk beside them — through puppy kisses, senior care, and final goodbyes — thank you.
Your faith in me is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever been given.
I’m Grateful for My Team
If you’ve ever stepped foot in a veterinary hospital, you know it’s not a one-person show. Behind every doctor is an entire team of nurses, assistants, CSRs, and kennel staff who make the impossible look routine.
They are the heartbeat of this place.
They stay late, come in early, and put their hearts into every patient. They’re the ones cleaning kennels, comforting pets, reassuring clients, and still finding the energy to laugh at the end of a long day.
I’m endlessly thankful for every member of our team — past and present — who has made Tawas Animal Hospital not just a clinic, but a family.
I’m Grateful for the Lessons This Job Teaches
Veterinary medicine has a way of humbling you.
It teaches patience when you want answers fast.
It teaches empathy when you’re tired and stretched thin.
It teaches courage when you’re scared to make the wrong call.
And maybe most importantly, it teaches perspective.
Because every day, I’m reminded that life is fragile and precious — that love shows up in the smallest gestures, like an owner whispering to a pet before surgery or a child handing me a hand-drawn “thank you” card for saving their dog.
Those moments are the heartbeat of this profession. They remind me why I started and why I stay.
I’m Grateful for My Family
There’s no version of this life that works without them.
My wife and kids have sacrificed more than most will ever know. They’ve missed dinners, sat through holidays without me, and learned to celebrate around my schedule.
They understand that being a veterinarian isn’t just what I do — it’s part of who I am.
And they love me anyway.
I’m thankful for every late-night dinner they’ve kept warm, every soccer game replayed in stories, and every hug that reminds me that home is where healing really begins.
I’m Grateful for the Pets Who Teach Us All
Every pet who walks through our doors teaches us something.
The fearful ones remind us of patience.
The stubborn ones remind us of humor.
The sick ones remind us of compassion.
And the ones we lose remind us why we have to keep showing up.
They are our teachers, our healers, and our greatest source of joy.
Gratitude in the Quiet Moments
On Thanksgiving morning, before the parade starts and the coffee finishes brewing, I’ll probably sneak one more look at my phone — check that all our patients are stable, that no emergencies have come in overnight, that everyone’s okay.
Then I’ll sit with my family, watch the kids laugh, and feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this life — even with all its chaos, its heartbreak, and its long hours.
Because in the end, I get to spend my life helping others — both people and pets — find a little more time together.
And that’s something truly worth being thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving from my family — and my team — to yours. 🧡🐾
– Dr. Jason Harrison, DVM
Tawas Animal Hospital
