Category: orphans

Extreme Makeover-Animal Style

As a member of the veterinary community, I have made an effort over the years to support the local animal adoption agencies.  This has ranged from serving on boards of directors to hands on animal care to attending fundraising events.  I recently had an opportunity  to help out a local shelter in a more extreme manner by joining forces with fellow employees from P&G Pet Care to do a shelter makeover.  Now this wasn’t quite like the popular TV show with the handsome Ty Penningtion rather it was Extreme Makeover:  Shelter Edition.  We didn’t tear down the structure and build a new one in 8 hours or send the staff on an all expense paid vaction  but we did make huge positive impact on the facility  with our many efforts.   P&G has sponsored a makeover of an animal adoption facility in Southwest Ohio yearly for the past 4 years.  P&G donates a matching contribution of $25,000 and lots of volunteers who do a one day face lift of the facility.  The volunteers are all employees of the Pet Care division who take time away from their busy day job to improve the lives of the animals coming through the facility, help increase adoptions by making it a pleasant environment for potential adopters and improve the work environment for the staff and volunteers who tirelessly care for the orphans who need lifesaving help.  The  lucky recipient this year was Humane Society of Greater Dayton (HSGD) in Dayton, Ohio.

Paws for a Cause 2011 got underway bright and early on a beautiful September morning.  We lucked out as the weather earlier in the week was cold and rainy and the forecast for the next day was rain.  Overall, there were about 175 P&G Pet Care employees that descended on the scene to offer up their talents and makeover the building of 17 years.  Projects for the day included painting wall murals, landscaping, installation of agility equipment in the dog parks, cleaning around the exterior of the building, and installation of a patio and new cabinetry inside.  It was really amazing to watch the transformation of the site throughout the day.  Everyone was clearly on a personal mission to ensure the work was completed before the day ended.    Of course, there were lots of folks taking breaks to stop and visit the adoptable dogs and cats.  After all, the animals were the reason we were there.
The mission of HSGD is “building loving relationships between people and pets.”  I think this syncs up well with the mission of P&G Pet Care which is “to enhance the health and well-being of more dogs and cats.”  Together we can enhance the lives of both people and animals by joining forces to promote pet adoption through shelters and then maintain their health with exceptional nutrition once they are adopted.  We are a pet passionate group of people.  Events like this bring out that passion and help remind us why we are in the animal business.  We came away with the satisfaction that we contributed to the community and made a difference in the lives of people and the animals.  A day of sweat and sore muscles the next is little price to pay to help the orphans needing homes. 
Adopt from your local shelter or rescue, you will be saving a life.  

The troops are arriving.


  

Before…..



After!

  


The patio project



Take me home!
The new agility course.



One of the many artists.





Hangin’ with the dogs





The Rescuer

I suppose it’s not a big surprise that my life and career has revolved around animals.  I am pretty sure the “animal crazy” gene is embedded deep in our family DNA somewhere.  Although I am the only one who has taken on a career caring for animals, the rest of my family are all long time animal lovers and  have had pets most of their lives.  But there is one family member in particular I would like to pay tribute to here. My Aunt Patty has rescued and cared for orphaned animals needing TLC and often times signficant medical care and expense to keep them going. She goes above and beyond and is selfless when it comes to caring for the creatures in need.  In addition to rescue and care, these lucky animals usually land a forever home with her.   

I know there are countless animals she has saved over the years.  I’m certain  that I don’t hear about most of them but there are a few that are top of mind for me. Her rescues are not limited to dogs and cats; if an animal needs help, she is committed. They all have a story that lead to their resuce.  Living in a rural area, most are stray animals that are hungry needing food and a warm place to sleep while some are babies or have found themselves in harm’s way needing more extensive care.  Fencer is the first animal I remember her saving.  She was a young dog they found hung up in a fence with a severely injured rear leg.  Ultimately, the leg needed amputation due to the severity of the injury.  Patty nursed her back to health and Fencer then lived out the rest of her life as the family pet.  She was a lucky dog who despite her rough beginning, lived a long, happy life well into her teens.  Others rescues of interest are the baby crow “Buzz” that she fed into adulthood who would sit on the back porch with them during the summer, the baby raccoon who’s mother was killed on the road,  and the dairy calf who was born blind with a severe infection and not fit for life on a dairy farm. They are not all happy endings but there is no doubt that during their time with her, they are loved and well cared for. 

When I graduated from vet school, I took a job nearly 3 hours away from my family.  Unfortunately this distance does not allow me to help much with veterinary care for the family pets or the rescued animals that Patty takes on.  I did have the opportunity to visit a couple weeks ago and see her most recent rescues and examine a couple of them.  She has an area in the basement that she calls the “hospital”.  It is a dedicated area where she nurses the sick ones back to health and closely monitors her geriatric pets.  Her most recent cat rescue was a kitten “that blew in with the last storm”.  He showed up starving and flea infested at the back door during a thunder storm.  I’m happy to report he is making a speedy recovery and counting his lucky stars he found her back door.  I don’t want to forget her husband Duane.  Duane is a long time animal lover as well and shares in the care of the creatures great and small that they bring into their lives. 

There are thousands and thousands of selfless people who participate in animal rescue every day.  They are all heroes and should be recognized as such.  This is my way of recognizing a true hero in my family who continues to open her doors to helpless beasts needing  her loving care.