04/11/2025
With tears in our eyes and a big hole in each of our hearts, we share the passing of our sweet Ollie. In 2011 he became part of the PVVH family at 7 years old. He was very shy and it took him a long time to gain the confidence to join us out in the front office. Ollie has been loved by all of our current team members, and anyone who has ever worked here that knew him. He has been loved and cared for more than any cat could ever ask for, and all who knew him were blessed to have him in their life. He celebrated his 21st birthday last month. We all miss him dearly and he will remain in the hearts of all of us here at PVVH forever.
If you have been a longtime follower of our page, you may recall Ollie used to write a weekly blog of the ongoings in the hospital and out in our day camp yard. Below is Ollie’s blog from April 2019, where he discusses the “lessons” he has learned from our campers and suggests we all live our lives “like a dog”. So here is one final message from our dear Ollie:
"There’s this old theory that cats and dogs are not supposed to get along well, and in some cases that may be true, but some of the greatest life lessons that I have learned came from dogs. Dogs have been practicing mindfulness long before it became a popular therapeutic technique. They have this uncanny ability to just live wholeheartedly in the present moment and not just experience things, but actually relish them. They don’t dwell upon being yelled at by their owners yesterday for chasing the mailman down the street while barking and nipping at his biscuits. They also don’t dread the next day when Dr. Underwood will stick a sharp needle in their backside at their annual exam. Their only concern is the here and now.
Dogs teach us how to love unconditionally. They show us how to appreciate the simple joys that life brings. For Lulu there is nothing more satisfying than lying in the sun and letting its warmth put her to sleep. For Ava and Willie it’s listening to the rain fall on the top of an old homemade doghouse. For Lido and Pepper it’s sharing a cuddle on a windy day. For Re*****on it’s watching his aunt and Finn move heavy gravel from shovel to wheelbarrow to the other side of the play yard and back again. For Jasmine and Funny McGee it’s whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ear. For Piper and Leesha it’s playing so hard that they look like they’re about to chew one another’s face off. For Murphy it’s enjoying a new toy.
On April 11 we celebrated National Pet Day and although there are many other wonderful pets out there that offer us love and support on a daily basis that are not canines, I wanted to take the time to show gratitude to the campers who have enriched Louie and my life. Part of loving someone is driving them nuts from time to time, but it’s also just being there to make you laugh, to comfort you during scary times and to sit quietly beside you during sad times. Now, for the most important lesson I learned from them – the only thing that you need to be in your life is YOU. Everyone is important and everyone has something special to contribute to the group. So even though the holiday is technically over, extend it through the weekend and take some time to “live like a dog” and honor the special pet who enriches your life.
-Ollie"
Ollie touched the hearts of so many of our wonderful clients, please feel free to share a memory of him, or just send us some love and prayers. ❤❤❤