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Julie's Corner
Injured and Confined to a Wheelchair, Betty, The
San Antonio Dog Becomes National Symbol of Courage for Skeeter
Foundation
Betty is a hero and a fantastic pet with a huge heart.
Betty is capable of an active and good life even with some of her
challenges. This is the.jpg)
message Betty will give to others, especially children with physical
disabilities.
San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) August 11, 2006 -- Back in November of 2005, a
two and half year old pregnant Miniature Pincher dog named Betty was a
stray running the streets of San Antonio with another dog. Both dogs
were hit by a car on the corner of Blanco Road & West Avenue, as the car
sped away, one dog was dead at the scene and Betty was alone and
critically injured in the middle of the street. Betty pulled herself
from the roadway to the curb with a crushed and separated pelvis and no
use of her rear legs. She lay on the curb in incredible pain and near
death. An unknown caring woman stopped and rushed her into Churchill
Veterinary Hospital & Dental Clinic located very near the accident site.
Emergency treatment took place. At the time there was little hope that
Betty would survive. After a long night of treatment and recovery, the
next day, a miracle! Betty was up and around and making friends with the
team of veterinarians and caregivers at the hospital in spite of obvious
pain. The hospital team tried unsuccessfully to locate Betty’s family by
placing ads in newspapers and checking all the local animal shelters.
The team provided all needed care for Betty including on-going therapy
and other significant veterinary needs. The team then undertook the
difficult task of trying to find Betty a suitable home. Betty must use a
specially designed (doggy) wheel chair to get around. While her
long-term prognosis is good, still she needs special assistance to clear
her bladder and bowls, several times a day. It has been a difficult
search but after eight months of trying, Betty has a new home and also a
new and special mission for her life.
Today, Vicki Stephens, Executive Director of the Skeeter Foundation will
spend her day on airplanes flying from Twin Falls Idaho to San Antonio
and back that will take over sixteen hours and cover over 3,000 miles
with multiple lay-overs in Salt Lake City and Denver before arriving in
San Antonio to adopt Betty.
According to Vicki Stephens, “Betty is a hero and a fantastic pet with a
huge heart. She, like all pets is deserving of continued love, long-term
care and support that will enhance the balance of her life. Betty will
become a member of my family as well as becoming an important member of
the Skeeter Foundation, Pets Not Pills team. In her new role, as a
therapy pet she will visit nursing homes, hospice centers, hospitals and
schools. Betty is so bright and smart and loving and we know that a
loving visit by Betty will help folks in need. Betty is capable of an
active and good life even with some of her challenges. This is the
message Betty will give to others, especially children with physical
disabilities.”
According to Lisa White, the primary care giver for Betty at Churchill
Veterinary Hospital, “Betty has become a wonderful pet for our hospital
team and also the families that visit us for care. We are going to miss
Betty very much but we are delighted that The Skeeter Foundation has
come through to assure the best possible life for this special dog. The
bond and the value we all share with our pets is great and the work of
The Skeeter Foundation is really important. Betty really has a special
way about her that will make her a wonderful part of their therapy pet
teams. This special adoption is such a great relief because we are
assured of a great and meaningful life for Betty. All of us truly love
her!”
About The Skeeter Foundation: The primary goal of the Skeeter Foundation
is to educate people and support programs that endorse the “Prescribe
Pets, Not Pills” philosophy. Named in honor of one of the founder’s, Dr.
Jack Stephens’ pet companions, the Skeeter Foundation was formed to
perpetuate the scientifically proven positive effects that pets have on
human health.
One of the Skeeter Foundation’s principle activities is to develop and
support volunteer therapy teams comprising a variety of pets that bring
joy and relieve stress in people’s lives. Pets are mostly certified dogs
that have passed rigorous training. Others include cats, rabbits,
miniature horses and even a llama. Pets eligible for the Rx teams must
have a gentle disposition, and be patient with and tolerant of
strangers. The Foundation provides consultative and administrative
support to the Rx teams, as well as liability insurance, which is
required by visited institutions.
Visit The Skeeter Foundation website at http://www.skeeterfoundation.org
email protected from spam bots
The Mailing address is:
The Skeeter Foundation
P.O. Box 5862
Twin Falls, ID 83303
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