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When I went to UC Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, I lived in North Hall, which was a living quarters for veterinary students and those studying for their PHD’s in related subjects.
At the time, I had a wonderful white lipped marmoset I called Paula. She was a wonderful small creature that I loved dearly. When I came back from classes, Paula was always there to greet me. As I would study at night, she would watch me and sleep on my lap. She was my family and little friend in my dorm room.
Often she would wait and watch for me to come home at night. One day, she heard footsteps in the dorm hallway and began to whistle as she always did when I was about to open the door and enter the room.
Unfortunately, these footsteps were from the dorm maintenance man, Malcolm. When he heard Paula whistle, he was sure a student was razing him. He entered my room, saw Paula and immediately called the campus police, to let them know that there was an “ape” in North Hall.
I came home from my last class, to find out what had happened. Thankfully no one tried to remove Paula from my room. After all she was a dangerous ape of 12 ounces.
The next morning I was called into the Dean of Men’s office to explain myself.
I stated that I was a veterinary student studying primate and primate behavior, which I thought was an important part of my training. At this time, nothing like this was not offered in this school of veterinary medicine.
The Dean of Men told me that Paula could no longer live with me. The entire event was so wrong, but I could not “buck” the system at that time, as I can and will do so now.
I was told that I had Christmas vacation to place Paula. I did so with some very supportive people, but in spite of their care, Paula missed me as I missed her. I was the only home that she really knew. I wanted to see her on spring break, in order to see how my little companion and let her know that soon she could come home. When I went to surprise her, I was told that she had died and had never recovered from leaving me. You can imagine how I felt, hoping, that once I had graduated from vet school, I could again provide the home that she knew.
The people, who were the temporary caretakers of Paula, never called me to let me know, that she had given up on life. They meant well, but obviously it was not enough.
Yes, I went back to my classes in vet school, with a little different perspective.
The maintenance man, Malcolm continued his job, with no mention of what he had caused. He could have cared less. Weekly, he would pass out clean sheets and towels to all of us for our rooms. Yes, we paid money for his wonderful service. It was not free. Several of my friends were very upset about Paula and vowed they would get even with Malcolm. Apparently, he worked during the week and not on the weekend.
What occurred was really something. My friends placed a calf, with diarrhea, with food, in Malcolm’s closet, with all the linens and towels for the weekend. They checked routinely on the calf, to make sure the calf was alright.
Sunday night my friends removed the calf from Malcolm’s linen room, and returned the calf back to the campus meadow.
You can imagine what Malcolm’s closet and linens looked like Monday morning. I thank my friends for the “don’t get mad, get even”, but my heart was still very heavy for the loss of Paula.
She definitely is one reason why I care so much, and why I will do anything I can do, to help all my animals even though I could not help Paula.
Paula was named after my Grandmother Paula, who acted as my real mother.
Yours in Health
Dr. Al Plechner DVM
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