Help and tears follow story on veterinarian

A week ago the Daily Herald reported the generous assistance provided to Roselle fire victim Donna Rozycki and her three dogs by Schaumburg veterinarian Jeffrey Bloomberg.

Dr. Bloomberg indefinitely deferred $700 in bills for medical care to the injured and traumatized dogs while Rozycki and her teenage daughter struggled to get back on their feet financially.

Rozycki was equally grateful that Bloomberg's counsel on if and when to euthanize her oldest dog, 14-year-old Tucker, following the recent loss of his eyesight to age.

Since then, both good news and sadness has fallen on Rozycki's household.

Immediately after the Daily Herald story was posted online last Friday, donations poured into Bloomberg's Schaumburg Veterinary Hospital to pay off Rozycki's outstanding bill.

But the very same day, Tucker took a turn for the worse. The Welsh Pembroke Corgi — the nearly lifelong companion of Rozycki's daughter Katlyn — began having difficulty breathing. Mother and daughter made the heartbreaking decision to see Dr. Bloomberg Monday morning, though they knew full well what the outcome was going to be.

Though they lost their faithful friend — the only male in their dog-friendly household — they felt all the better knowing the decision was theirs to make and not one Bloomberg would ever dictate to them, Rozycki said.