Ian Lindsay & Associates: Ian Lindsay of Lindsay and Associates has played an active role in the local community since 1979. He has been with RE/MAX, Vancouver Island's most advanced real estate business network since 1996, marketing and selling residential, rural, strata, Recreational investment and project development real estate. Ian has received several awards Recognizing his exceptional community commitment locally as well as awards for outstanding performance and achievement from both RE/MAX International and the Vancouver Island real estate board. You'll find true real estate professionals at IanLindsay.ca. 

The Ballad of Peter & Gracie: Peter and his dog raced here and through fields so wid. With dreams in their pockets and stars as their guide. Every day's an adventure under the open sky In their world of stories, time just flies by. 

Peter McCully: Peter woke up early on Saturday morning. The sunshine peeked through his blue curtains, making little dancing spots on his bedroom floor. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and stretched his arms up high toward the ceiling. Today was a very special day. His fluffy white dog, Gracie, needed to visit Dr. Holly, the veterinarian, for her yearly checkup.

"Gracie!" Peter called softly as he slipped out of bed. His feet touched the cool wooden floor and he wiggled his toes. "Where are you, girl?" A moment later, a ball of white fur came bounding into his room. Gracie, Peter's American Eskimo dog, looked like a small white cloud with four legs, a wagging tail, and two bright, curious eyes.

Her fluffy ears perked up as she saw Peter, and she gave a little woof of good morning. Peter knelt down and wrapped his arms around his furry friend. Gracie's tail wagged so fast it was almost a blur, and she licked Peter's cheek, making him giggle.

"Today's your special day, Gracie," Peter explained as he patted her soft head. "We're going to see Dr. Holly for your checkup. She's gonna make sure you're healthy and strong."

Gracie tilted her head to one side as if she was thinking very hard about what Peter had said, and then she gave another little woof and spun around in a happy circle. Peter wasn't sure if Gracie really understood about the veterinarian visit, but that was okay.

At seven years old, Peter knew it was his job to take care of his best friend, even if she didn't always understand why certain things had to happen.

"Peter, are you awake?" his mom's voice called from downstairs. "Breakfast is ready, and we need to leave for Gracie's appointment in one hour."

"Coming, Mom!" Peter called back. He quickly changed out of his rocket ship pajamas and into his favorite blue jeans and a t-shirt with dinosaurs on it. Then he and Gracie raced downstairs, their footsteps and paw steps making happy pitter-patter on the stairs.

In the kitchen, Mom had made pancakes shaped like dog bones. Peter laughed when he saw them.

"Dog bone pancakes for Gracie's special day," Mom said with a smile, placing a plate in front of Peter's chair.

"Can Gracie have one too?" Peter asked hopefully.

Mom shook her head. "Not today. Dr. Holly might need to do some tests, so Gracie shouldn't eat anything special this morning. She already had her breakfast kibble."

Peter nodded seriously. He understood about special tests. Last year when he had to get his tonsils checked, the doctor had asked him not to eat breakfast. So while Peter ate his pancakes, Gracie sat patiently beside his chair, occasionally looking up with her big, hopeful eyes.

"Sorry, girl," Peter whispered, patting her head, "no pancakes today. But maybe after your checkup, we can get you a special treat."

After breakfast, Peter helped Mom get Gracie's things ready. They packed her favorite blue leash, her special blanket for the car ride, and a few of her favorite toys to keep her company at the vet's office.

"Is Gracie going to get shots today?" Peter asked as he zipped up Gracie's bag.

Mom nodded. "Probably. Dr. Holly will give her whatever vaccinations she needs to stay healthy."

Peter's forehead wrinkled with worry. "Will it hurt her?"

Mom knelt down beside him. "Just a little pinch, like when you get your shots, but it's very important to keep Gracie safe from sicknesses that could make her very ill. And Dr. Holly is very gentle."

Peter nodded. He didn't like getting shots either, but he knew they were important. He made a promise to himself to be extra brave for Gracie today.

When it was time to leave, Mom helped Peter secure Gracie's harness and clip on her leash. Gracie wiggled with excitement, thinking they were going for a regular walk or to the park.

"We're going somewhere different today, girl," Peter told her as they walked out to the car, "but I'll be with you the whole time."

Gracie jumped into the car and settled on her special blanket in the backseat next to Peter as Mom drove them to the veterinarian's office. Peter held Gracie's paw and told her stories about brave dogs who saved the day. Maybe the stories would help her feel brave too.

The car turned into a parking lot in front of a friendly-looking building with paw prints painted on the windows. A big sign over the door read "Qualicum Beach Veterinary Clinic."

"We're here," Mom announced, turning off the car.

Peter felt a flutter of nervousness in his tummy, but he took a deep breath. He needed to be brave for Gracie.

"It's okay, Gracie," he whispered to his fluffy friend. "Dr. Holly is very nice, and I'll stay right with you."

As they walked into the Qualicum Beach Veterinary Clinic, Peter held tightly to Gracie's leash. Inside, there were other people waiting with their pets. A lady sat with a cat in a carrier. The cat looked grumpy and meowed loudly. A man held a leash attached to a big brown dog who was sleeping on the floor. There was even a small cage with something furry inside that Peter couldn't quite see.

The waiting room smelled clean and had pictures of happy animals on the walls. Soft music played, and a fish tank bubbled in the corner.

"Good morning," said the lady behind the front desk. She wore a bright shirt with cartoon dogs and cats printed on it. "Who do we have visiting today?"

"This is Gracie," Mom explained. "She has an appointment with Dr. Holly for her yearly checkup."

The receptionist smiled down at Gracie. "Well, hello there, beautiful girl! Dr. Holly will be so happy to see you." She handed Mom some papers to fill out and then looked at Peter. "And who's this handsome young man?"

"I'm Peter," he said, standing up a little straighter. "I'm seven years old, and Gracie's my dog. I'm helping to take care of her today."

"Well, that's wonderful," the receptionist said. "Gracie is lucky to have such a responsible owner."

Peter felt a warm glow of pride. He sat down between Mom and Gracie and gently stroked Gracie's soft fur while they waited for their turn. After a little while, the door opened, and a woman in a white coat appeared. She had curly brown hair and wore glasses with purple frames.

"Gracie?" she called, looking around the waiting room.

Peter stood up. "That's us," he said, his voice coming out a little squeaky with excitement and nerves.

The woman smiled. "Hi there, I'm Dr. Holly. You must be Gracie's family."

Mom nodded. "Yes, and this is my son, Peter. Gracie is his dog."

Dr. Holly knelt down to Peter's level. "Well, Peter, it's very nice to meet you. And this beautiful fluffy cloud must be Gracie."

Gracie wagged her tail and sniffed Dr. Holly's outstretched hand. After a moment, she gave the doctor's hand a little lick.

"She likes you," Peter said, feeling relieved.

Dr. Holly laughed. "I like her too. Why don't you come with me to the exam room, and we can make sure Gracie is healthy and strong?"

Peter, Mom, and Gracie followed Dr. Holly down the hallway. They went into a small room with a big metal table in the center. There were cabinets along one wall and posters showing different kinds of animals on another.

"Can Gracie hop up on the table?" Dr. Holly asked, "or would she prefer if I examine her on the floor?"

Peter looked at Gracie. Sometimes his fluffy friend got nervous about new places.

"Maybe the floor for now," he said.

"Great idea," Dr. Holly said. She sat on a small rolling stool and slid down to Gracie's level. "First, I'd like to say hello properly."

Dr. Holly spent a few minutes just talking softly to Gracie and offering her small treats from her pocket. Gracie's tail started wagging more confidently, and she moved closer to the doctor.

"She really does like you," Peter said, amazed at how quickly Gracie had warmed up to Dr. Holly.

"Animals can tell when someone wants to help them," Dr. Holly explained. "Now, let's start our exam. Would you like to be my special assistant today, Peter?"

Peter's eyes widened. "Me? A vet assistant?"

Dr. Holly nodded seriously. "I could use a helper who knows Gracie well. Someone to keep her calm and help me check different parts of her body."

"I can do that," Peter said, standing up a little straighter.

"Excellent," Dr. Holly said. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small badge that said "Veterinary Assistant" and pinned it to Peter's shirt. "Now you're official."

Peter couldn't stop smiling as he touched the shiny badge. He was going to be the best assistant ever!

"First," Dr. Holly explained, "we need to check Gracie's weight. Can you help guide her onto these scales?"

Peter nodded and gently led Gracie onto the flat digital scale in the corner of the room. Gracie looked a little unsure, but with Peter's encouragement, she stood still while the numbers on the scale settled.

"28 pounds," Dr. Holly noted, writing on her clipboard. "That's perfect for an American Eskimo dog of her size. You're doing a great job of keeping her at a healthy weight."

Next, Dr. Holly showed Peter how to hold Gracie still while she listened to her heart and lungs with a stethoscope.

"Want to hear?" Dr. Holly offered, holding out the stethoscope to Peter.

Peter nodded eagerly, and Dr. Holly placed the earpieces in his ears and held the chest piece against Gracie's side. Peter's eyes widened when he heard the steady thump-thump, thump-thump of Gracie's heart.

"That's what a healthy dog heart sounds like," Dr. Holly said. "Strong and regular."

Throughout the examination, Dr. Holly explained everything she was doing. She checked Gracie's ears and eyes and teeth. She felt along Gracie's body to make sure everything felt normal. She even checked Gracie's paws and between her toes.

"Now comes the part that's not quite as fun," Dr. Holly said gently. "Gracie needs a couple of vaccinations to protect her from getting sick."

Peter's stomach did a little flip. He knew this was coming, but he still felt nervous for his friend.

"Will it hurt her?" he asked.

"Just a tiny pinch," Dr. Holly assured him, "and it will be over very quickly. Would you like to help distract her?"

Peter nodded. Dr. Holly showed him how to stand by Gracie's head and feed her treats while talking soothingly to her. Mom helped hold Gracie still.

"Tell Gracie a story," Dr. Holly said as she prepared the vaccination. "Something happy that she would enjoy."

So Peter began telling Gracie about the time they went to the beach together and how Gracie had barked at the waves and dug holes in the sand. He was so involved in his story that he barely noticed when Dr. Holly quickly gave Gracie her shots.

"All done," Dr. Holly said. "Gracie did wonderfully, and so did you, Assistant Peter."

Peter looked down at Gracie, who was happily eating another treat from Dr. Holly's hand. She didn't seem upset at all.

"She didn't even notice," Peter said.

"That's because you did such a good job of distracting her," said Dr. Holly. "You're a natural veterinarian assistant."

Peter beamed with pride. He had helped Gracie through her checkup.

Dr. Holly sat down and made some notes on her clipboard. "I'm happy to report that Gracie is in excellent health. Her coat is shiny, her weight is perfect, and her teeth look good. All her vaccinations are now up to date."

"So she's okay?" Peter asked, wanting to make absolutely sure.

"She's more than okay," Dr. Holly assured him. "She's very healthy and very happy, and it's clear she's very well loved and cared for."

Peter knelt down and hugged Gracie tightly. "Did you hear that, girl? You passed your checkup!"

Gracie responded by licking Peter's face and wagging her tail so hard her whole backend wiggled.

Before they left, Dr. Holly gave Peter a special certificate that said "Gracie has completed her yearly checkup" with a gold star sticker on it. She also gave him a small bag with a new toy for Gracie and some dental treats to help keep her teeth clean.

"Thank you for being such a wonderful assistant today, Peter," Dr. Holly said. "Maybe someday you'll be a veterinarian too."

Peter hadn't thought about that before, but suddenly it seemed like the best idea ever—helping animals all day. "That would be amazing!"

As they were leaving the exam room, Dr. Holly had one more surprise. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small white stuffed dog that looked just like Gracie.

"This is for you, Peter, to remember your first day as a veterinary assistant."

Peter's eyes widened as he took the soft toy. "Thank you, Dr. Holly. I'll call her Little Gracie."

In the car on the way home, Peter held both Gracie and Little Gracie. His dog seemed tired after all the excitement and snuggled up next to him for a nap.

"You were so brave today," Mom said, looking at Peter in the rearview mirror. "I'm really proud of how you helped Gracie."

"I was scared about the shots," Peter admitted, "but Dr. Holly made it not scary at all."

"Well, that's what good doctors do," Mom replied. "They take care of the whole patient and their families too."

When they got home, Peter hung Gracie's certificate on the refrigerator with a magnet. Then he and Gracie went out in the backyard to play with her new toy. As Gracie pranced around with her toy in her mouth and her white fur shining in the sunlight, Peter thought about the day. He'd been worried about taking Gracie to the vet, but it turned out to be a great adventure. He'd learned so many new things about how to care for his friend, and he'd even helped Dr. Holly with the examination.

That night, as Peter got ready for bed, Gracie jumped up and made herself comfortable on his blue star-covered comforter. Peter snuggled under the covers with Little Gracie in one hand while he petted the real Gracie with the other.

"We did it, Gracie," he whispered. "And next year, we'll go see Dr. Holly again, and I won't be scared at all."

Gracie responded by yawning widely and curling up against Peter's side, and within minutes, both the boy and the dog were fast asleep, dreaming of their next big adventure together.

And somewhere across town, Dr. Holly was locking up the clinic for the night, smiling as she thought about the brave little boy and his fluffy white dog. She had a feeling she'd be seeing them again. Perhaps not just for checkups, but maybe someday Peter might really become a veterinarian after all. For now, though, Peter was simply a 7-year-old boy who loved his dog, and Gracie was a fluffy American Eskimo who loved her boy right back, and that, Dr. Holly knew, was the most important medicine of all.

The Ballad of Peter & Gracie: Peter and his dog raced here and through fields so wide. With dreams in their pockets and stars as their guide. Every day's an adventure under the open sky In their world of stories, time just flies by. 

Ian Lindsay & Associates: Ian Lindsay of Lindsay and Associates has played an active role in the local community since 1979. He has been with RE/MAX, Vancouver Island's most advanced real estate business network since 1996, marketing and selling residential, rural, strata, Recreational investment and project development real estate. Ian has received several awards Recognizing his exceptional community commitment locally as well as awards for outstanding performance and achievement from both RE/MAX International and the Vancouver Island real estate board. You'll find true real estate professionals at IanLindsay.ca.