Alan Eidelberg: A vet who loved pit bulls

By coincidence, Dan Rodricks' column on the ruling by the Maryland Court of Appeals labeling pit bulls as "inherently dangerous" coincided with the untimely death of Alan Jay Eidelberg, a longtime Baltimore veterinarian in the Govans community. Mr. Eidelberg was the one-man operation also known as the York Road Animal Hospital. He died in hospice care April 30 at the age of 59 after a short battle with brain cancer.

In a beautiful tribute prepared by his family and friends that appeared in The Sun, Mr. Eidelberg was praised for the compassionate, first-rate care he gave his patients, for his expert skills as a diagnostician and for his generosity in treating pets whose owners had difficulty paying their bills.

We lost not only a stellar vet but a family friend of more than two decades. We trusted his judgment, respected his knowledge and enjoyed talking politics, community and pets with him.

We don't know how the pit bull controversy will turn out, but we do know that this wonderful man with a hugely generous heart knew that pit bulls could make good pets, given responsible owners.

The last line in his death notice noted that "a contribution in Dr. Eidelberg's memory to an animal rescue center of your choice, most especially those seeking homes for pit bulls, will be most appropriate and appreciated."

Our check is in the mail.

Dan and Charlotte Gerczak, Baltimore