Newsletter Archives
Fall 2001

Boarding Geriatric Patients

Most older pets require special care while boarding. Our hospital places special emphasis on caring for these pets. First, our geriatric boarders reside in our treatment room instead of the normal boarding area. This allows us to closely monitor their well-being. We provide special exercise sessions for them. Otherwise many older pets get so stiff that they have difficulty getting around. For older, incontinent pets, we provide soft rubber mats. These keep them clean and dry even in case of accidents. Furthermore, the mats provide traction for those pets with difficulty getting up. Many older pets also have complicated medication schedules that we track very carefully. Their appetite and attitude are also closely monitored. This extra level of care is provided at no additional cost.

Several of our senior citizens who frequently board with us are featured here. Corkey Payant (15½) and Skittle Carter (16) often board with us at the same time. They take their exercise sessions together, exploring the treatment room, but studiously ignoring each other. Brandy Hazzard (16) does not let failing eyesight dampen her enthusiasm for investigating every corner of the treatment room.

Although our geriatric boarders require extra time and effort, our staff enjoys working with them. Corkey, Skittle, and Brandy know that they are not only entitled to the best care, but that at our hospital they will receive it.

Some of our older guests are Corkey (above), Skittle (left top), and Brandy (left bottom).

Community Spotlight
Pet Assistance League

Our hospital works with a number of pet and wildlife rescue organizations in the community. In support of their efforts, our care and treatment is provided at a significant discount. We would like to highlight some of these organizations, beginning with the Pet Assistance League.

The Pet Assistance League (P.A.L.) is a nonprofit animal rescue and adoption service that has been helping homeless animals in Prince William, Stafford and Spotsylvania counties since 1986. They rescue animals from a variety of sources, including local animal shelters where they may be scheduled for euthanasia. Many of the animals have been lost, neglected, abandoned, or abused. Some are older animals with special needs.

P.A.L. provides safe and caring foster homes for animals until they are adopted. Last year they placed approximately 300 animals. They work with area veterinarians, like ours, to provide spaying/neutering, vaccinations, and general medical care for these animals.

They hold adoption sessions every Saturday at the Potomac Mills Petsmart from 12-5 and at the Spotsylvania Petsmart from 12-4 (cats only). They also have a program to educate the public about the importance of spaying and neutering pets.

P.A.L. is staffed by volunteers who provide their time, and often money, because of their love for animals. Jane Froelich and Wendy Lackey are the primary contacts for the organization. If you have other questions about P.A.L., please contact Jane Froelich (703- 221-8937) or Wendy Lackey (703-441-9310). Their website is currently in transition. However, in the interim, they can be reached at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FRIENDSofPAL.

If you would like to help P.A.L., you can do so in several ways. You can volunteer to foster animals. You can make a monetary donation via the Combined Federal Campaign (agency #7075) or mail it directly to P.A.L., P.O. Box 1076, Stafford, Virginia. You can also donate a variety of items from their wish list including: food, blankets, towels, crates, kennels, collars, leashes, newspaper, kitty litter, toys, catnip, and chain link fencing.

This quarter we would like you to meet Kim Moses, our senior veterinary technician. Although originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kim has lived in the Dale City area since 1985. During most of that time she has worked with animals in one capacity or another. She spent her first 10 years working as a groomer.

Over the next few years, while attending Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), she also worked as a kennel assistant and veterinary assistant at our hospital. She graduated as a veterinary technician from NOVA in 1997 and has worked here in that position ever since. She is particularly interested in veterinary dentistry and cytology. If your pet is getting its teeth cleaned at our hospital, Kim is probably the one doing it. As the senior veterinary technician, she also coordinates the repair and maintenance of our hospital equipment. She frequently attends conferences (like the North American Veterinary Conferences), seminars, and other training as part of a continuing education program.

Kim lives in the Dale City area with her husband, Paul, and three dogs and a cat. Two of her dogs were "parvo puppies" that she rescued and nursed back to health. One of Kim’s favorite pastimes is taking her dogs for long walks in the woods.

We are happy to have Kim as a valued member of our staff.

Have a Heart Fund

The Have a Heart fund continues to make a difference in the lives of stray pets in our area. During this quarter, our fund has supported a mother cat and her 5 kittens, three dogs, and approximately 10 adult cats. Two of the adult cats, pictured here, are in need of homes. They are females, approximately 1 year old. They have been spayed and vaccinated. They are both a little skittish and need someone with patience and TLC. Our fund also contributed to the initial evaluation and treatment of 10 adult cats that were seized by the county animal warden as a result of neglect.

Our thanks to our contributors for this period:

• Judy Gallagher
• David Cummings
• Peggy Bercher
• Rachel Gilbert
• Paul and Linda Boland
• Sterling and Margarette
• Johnsen (In memory of Bootsie)
• The Scott Werner Family (In memory of Leibchen)
• Melinda Whitman (In memory of Nancy Crawford)