DES FITZGERALD, FRIEND (OFF-CAMERA):
In a small community like this one  you lose somebody as important as Jim is, it is very, very difficult and gives us all pause.


[On-screen Text]: Jim Laurita, co-founder and elephant manager at Hope Elephants, was reportedly killed by one of the elephants when he was stepped on in the elephant enclosure on September 10, 2014.


DES FITZGERALD, FRIEND:
I think a lot of people know Jim through his vet practice.  And we tend to underestimate what it’s like to lose a pet and when Jim had a hand that end-of-time for a pet, my personal experience twice with him was he did it with incredible sensitivity.  Very heartfelt.  And that compassion was the way Jim lived his life and we all felt that and knew it.

 
KATE HENRY, VETERINARIAN, THE CAMDEN HOSPITAL FOR ANIMALS:
Jim was an old-school veterinarian but his foremost, the thing that he exuded was his love of animals.  He did this because he had a true passion and desire to help animals. 


KATIE CELLANA, VETERINARY ASSISTANT, THE CAMDEN HOSPITAL FOR ANIMALS:
It was really nice to see what he does there.  People think of it like, “Oh, can you ride the elephants?”  Like, no, they’re retired circus animals that are there to relax and enjoy their life. 

One of the elephants, Rosie, her trunk is not really paralyzed but she has a hard time move it.  So, she sways it and he would have something in his hands  and he would watch her sway it and finally get food into her mouth.  It was, it was really interesting to watch.  And how connecting he is  to the elephants and, you know, anyone could see that going there, in watching him being next to them. 

 
JUDITH HAZEN, RECEPTIONIST,  THE CAMDEN HOSPITAL FOR ANIMALS:
Myself, my daughter, my husband and son have gone out there many times.  They [Rosie and Opal] would just watch him.  Just come over to him and, you know, put their trunk near him.  And they just knew that he was their master.


GARY ANDERSON, FRIEND:
I’ve known Jimmy since I moved here 26 years ago.  He was our vet for many years.  Um, he was a nice guy.  Just loved animals more than anybody I know. 

He was just well liked by everybody.  He really was, you know. I mean, the only way I can describe him was as a kind soul.

 
KATE HENRY, VETERINARIAN, THE CAMDEN HOSPITAL FOR ANIMALS:
Jim would be wrong-side out if people thought badly of the elephants. 

I’ve only had once a week with Jim.  Um, it was an honor and a privilege.  That’s really, I mean, he just made you really want to be better at what you did.  You know.  He will be missed.