Credentials

Dr. Raymond Polley is a graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. After completing his degree, he spent two years in general practice before founding Garden City Veterinary Care, which grew into a four-doctor, full-service animal hospital. He also established Best in Show Pet Resort in Mineola, one of Long Island’s largest boarding and daycare facilities. Both businesses continue to serve the Long Island pet community with excellence.

Dr. Polley lives on Long Island with his wife and three children and enjoys spending quality time with his family. Their home is shared with two Jack Russell Terriers, Pepper and Casey Jones, and a tuxedo cat named Mr. Poppers.

At Gentle Goodbyes, we believe every pet deserves to leave this world the same way they lived—loved, respected, and surrounded by the people who meant everything to them.

People often ask, “Isn’t this work emotionally difficult?” And while each goodbye carries weight, the truth is—it’s a privilege. To be invited into such a sacred moment is an honor I don’t take lightly. Helping families say goodbye with tenderness and dignity is one of the most meaningful parts of my life.

I’ll never forget a visit with a senior Jack Russell Terrier named Hawthorne. He could no longer walk, and had lost interest in eating. His family welcomed me into their home with quiet strength, sharing stories of Hawthorne’s younger years—his boundless energy, his quirks, and the way he’d made them laugh for over a decade. As they reminisced, the room filled with both tears and laughter. When the time came, Hawthorne passed peacefully in the place he felt safest, surrounded by the people who loved him most.

This is what we’re here for. Not to make a hard day easy—but to make it softer, more meaningful, and full of care. That’s the heart of Gentle Goodbyes. And it’s why I will continue to do this work for as long as I’m able.

How could I not?