When veterinarian Dr. Oliver Reeve first laid eyes on Toby, a tiny 7-week-old poodle mix, he immediately saw something special — something worth fighting for.
Toby had been brought to Onewa Road Veterinary Hospital with a painful congenital condition called entropion, which caused his lower eyelids to roll inward, making his eyelashes scrape against his sensitive corneas. The discomfort was constant and intense, and his original family believed euthanasia was the only option.
But Dr. Reeve saw things differently.
“Even though he was clearly uncomfortable, Toby was still incredibly friendly and confident,” Dr. Reeve told The Dodo. “He just radiated joy. I knew we could help him and give him a good life.”
Unable to afford the needed treatment, Toby’s family ultimately surrendered him to the clinic. That’s when Dr. Reeve stepped in — not only to treat him, but to adopt him.
The first step was surgery to correct the position of Toby’s eyelids. For very young dogs, vets often start with a temporary fix until their facial structure matures.
But in Toby’s case, the initial procedure worked so well that the follow-up surgery wasn't necessary.
“He was comfortable almost immediately,” Dr. Reeve said. “The healing went beautifully. He didn’t end up needing the second operation I had expected.”
Toby thrived under the care of Dr. Reeve and his wife, but his journey wasn’t over. In the weeks that followed, the young pup battled several additional, difficult-to-diagnose illnesses. Through it all, Dr. Reeve stayed by his side.
“It was a humbling experience — to be on the other side of the vet-client relationship,” he said. “It helped me truly understand what my clients go through.”
Eventually, Toby pulled through. As his health improved, his personality blossomed. He began accompanying Dr. Reeve to the clinic each day and spending his evenings at the park, chasing and playing with dogs of all shapes and sizes.
“His absolute favorite thing is playing with other dogs,” Dr. Reeve said. “Big or small, young or old — he just loves the interaction. His second favorite thing? Nibbling my earlobes. I still don’t know why.”
At the clinic, Toby quickly earned a reputation as the unofficial morale booster. His playful energy and joyful spirit lifted the staff’s mood and brought comfort to patients and visitors alike.
“Toby’s a vet’s dog now,” Reeve said. “He’s part of our team, and the staff are like his extended family.”
Six months ago, Toby was a fragile pup facing a grim future. Today, he’s a thriving, happy dog with a zest for life and a loving home.
“What I love most about Toby is his pure joy,” Dr. Reeve said. “He’ll stand in the yard, nose to the wind, eyes closed, just soaking it all in. He reminds me how beautiful life can be. I’m not religious, but sometimes he feels like a little angel in dog form.”
You can follow Toby’s joyful adventures with Dr. Reeve on X.
