04/07/2026
🚨 Long post alert - but huge thanks to Goostrey Lane Vets ❤️
This week, we genuinely thought we might lose one of the biggest members of the Holmes Sweet Home family 😢
Many of you will recognise Mylo. You might have spotted him in the cafe every now and again, and some of you may even remember him “project managing” the build of our very first shop (photo at the end!).
He’s nearly 10 years old now and, despite being a little wobbly on his back legs because of a spinal condition, he’s still the happiest little Frenchie you’ll ever meet. Along with Pablo, he’s a huge part of our family.
Since Goostrey Lane Vets opened in early 2022, James and the team have looked after both of our boys. We’ve always trusted them completely, but over the last week they’ve reminded us exactly why.
Mylo went in for what we thought would be a routine senior MOT. During the examination, James noticed something that didn’t feel right. A quick scan revealed a huge mass on Mylo’s spleen, something we had absolutely no idea was there.
Despite being nearly 10 years old and already living with a spinal condition, James felt Mylo was a good candidate for surgery and gave us the confidence to go ahead. We knew it was going to be a major operation, but once James got started, it became clear it was far more complex than anyone had expected. The mass was enormous for such a little dog and incredibly fragile, making the surgery much more challenging than anticipated.
When James showed us afterwards just how large the mass had been compared to Mylo’s body, we genuinely couldn’t believe it. It’s hard to comprehend how something so big could have been hiding inside such a small dog. We’ve included an illustration, based on what was removed, to give an idea of its size without sharing the actual surgical photo. We’re still waiting for the laboratory results, so we don’t yet know exactly what the mass was, but we’re incredibly grateful it was found when it was.
One moment that will stay with us forever was on the morning of surgery. The nurse opened the door and Mylo ran straight over to James, his little bum wagging away. I suspect the piece of chicken he gets every visit might have something to do with it… but the reality is that trust like that isn’t built overnight. It’s built over years and making every visit a positive experience. For a dog to walk so confidently towards the person who’s about to perform major surgery says everything about the relationship James has built with him.
What happened after the operation is something we’ll never forget.
James wasn’t just Mylo’s surgeon. Long after the operation had finished, he was still replying to emails, asking for updates, checking photos, answering questions and reassuring us every step of the way. There were emails late into the evening and early the following morning, making sure Mylo was okay and, just as importantly, keeping me calm when my mind was running away with itself. When you’re terrified of losing your dog, that level of care means more than words can ever explain.
As a small independent business ourselves, we know people don’t always remember the routine days. They remember how you make them feel on the difficult ones.
Over the last week, James and every single member of the team at Goostrey Lane Vets have been nothing short of incredible. We never felt like just another appointment in the diary. We genuinely felt like they cared about Mylo as much as we do.
The best part? Mylo is now recovering brilliantly at home in his little recovery suit and his crate. He’s back eating, back following us around the kitchen to see what’s cooking, and already has far more energy than we’d like him to have! On Monday he’ll be back to see James for his post op check and, knowing Mylo, he’ll probably be just as excited to see James… especially if there’s a piece of chicken waiting for him.
We always say people should support local independent businesses.
This week, we were reminded exactly why.
Thank you, James (photo with one of his pooches included), and thank you to every single member of the team at Goostrey Lane Vets. You looked after not just our dog, but us as well, and we’ll never forget the care, compassion and reassurance you’ve shown over the last week.
From all of us at Holmes Sweet Home… thank you. ❤️🐾
