2007 Oregon Animal Hall of Fame™ Inductees
Each year, the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association and Oregon Animal Health Foundation honor animals who, through unselfish and courageous accomplishments, exemplify the affection, loyalty, security, public service, and value of the human-animal bond.
The Oregon Animal Hall of Fame™ is the second longest running awards program among veterinary organizations in the country. Since the program was started in 1988, the OVMA and the OAHF have recognized 25 dogs, three cats, an animal welfare group, a horse therapy group, one horse, and one llama!
This year, Daniel and Annie were honored with induction into the Oregon Animal Hall of Fame™ during the recent Oregon Veterinary Conference in Corvallis.
Companion: Daniel
Owner: Laura Wilson
Nominated by: Dr. Bianca Shaw, Back on Track Veterinary Rehabilitation Center, Portland
Daniel was rescued along a rural roadside as a puppy in Texas. According to his owner, Laura Wilson, he was aloof and afraid and unable to attach to anyone. Considering that he had been abandoned or left alone to wander, his behavior wasn’t surprising. But with a lot of attention, a lot of love, and plenty of training, Daniel rallied and his true helping nature emerged.
For these past 12 years, Daniel and Laura have walked side-by-side. And since 1997, he has proved himself to be an exceptional companion, accompanying Laura to work in her various pet-oriented businesses as canine greeter.
After Daniel came into Laura’s life, she noticed fairly early on his innate knack for setting people at ease – showering them with comfort and having a calming influence on stressed individuals. But she also recognized in Daniel his ability to also relate well to and calm anxious dogs and cats. On the recommendation of an obedience instructor, Laura enrolled Daniel in the Delta Society’s Pet Partner Program, and in 2001 he began his therapy dog career.
Daniel and Laura visited assisted living centers and nursing homes in Forest Grove for nearly three years. In addition, they have spent valuable time with developmentally delayed children at the ARC of Washington County’s “Parents Night Out.” Together they also have worked at numerous educational fairs through the Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter in Hillsboro, where Daniel was an official ambassador for the “Have Paws Will Travel” therapy program.
Today, Daniel spends most of his time with Laura at work at Back on Track Veterinary Rehabilitation Center in Portland. There he clearly has established a natural therapeutic relationship with the clinic’s staff, clients, and patients. At the Rehabilitation Center, Laura says many of their clients come as a last resort seeking help with a pet who is debilitated due to age, trauma, or disease. And she says that Daniel seeks out these clients with fervor and offers a comforting nuzzle. His presence calms the client, which in turns relaxes the pet.
Daniel quickly enlists the trust of a nervous pet. According to Laura, his friendly and non-threatening demeanor enables him to change an anxious patient into a trusting and curious friend who often will follow him into the therapy rooms voluntarily. Daniel’s trusting ways allows the staff at the center to employ his assistance in demonstrating therapeutic exercises to clients. Laura says the he can demonstrate something scary to another dog; for example, walking up steps or standing on a treadmill, showing that it is not so bad after all. This doesn’t work on all patients, she adds, but it is incredible when it does.
Families who have used the services of Back on Track sometimes have asked them to euthanize their dog. When it is time to say goodbye. Daniel almost always is by their side. Most of these clients are honored to have him there, acting appropriately with the pet and the family with little direction, seeming to know when to step aside and when to initiate contact.
Daniel’s uncanny sense to be a companion to all who need him, whether human or animal, makes him an ideal and exemplary companion animal.
Professional/Service: Annie
Owner: Akin Blitz
Nominated by: Dr. Susan Morgan & Dr. Kimberly Maun, Northwest Neighborhood Veterinary Hospital, Portland
About one year ago, while 13 years old, a veterinary examination indicated a growth on Annie's liver. Her owner, Akin Blitz was greatly worried and wasn’t sure he wanted her to undergo surgery. At the same time, he wanted to do everything he possibly could to help his faithful companion.
Annie’s activity level at the time was good, and she didn’t show any signs of discomfort. However, as the news about her condition spread throughout the corridors of Providence Hospital in Portland, where she and Akin frequently visited hospitalized children, a physician said that a CAT Scan could determine whether the growth, if it were a tumor, could be operable.
The following Saturday, while at Providence, an emergency room physician talked with the on-duty radiologist about possibly performing the CAT Scan at the hospital. Both doctors spoke with the hospital administrator, and it was agreed that they could perform the scan as long as none of their human patient care was delayed. They also concluded that Annie wasn’t different – really – than any other employee of the hospital.
Annie lay perfectly still on the table, moving neither whisker nor paw as the table moved up and down and in and out of the ring. Akin was nearby, and the two didn’t break eye contact as the Scan was performed.
The radiologist reported there was no tumor, but that the Scan did show a cyst on her liver. Throughout this time, the doctors and Akin had also been consulting with Dr. Stuart Helfand, head of the veterinary oncology program at the veterinary school at Oregon State University. Dr. Helfand and other faculty members consulted over Annie’s medical records, and when it came time for surgery, Dr. Bernie Sequin and Dr. Wendy Baltzer worked together to remove a medial liver lobe and a benign cyst.
With a new lease on life, Annie began a certification program through DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital. With her training behind her, and at age 13, she started regularly visiting Oregon Health Sciences University and Doernbecher Hospital for Children.
Before becoming certified for animal assisted therapy and education through DoveLewis, Annie received similar credentials from the Delta Society’s national program. Along with Akin, the Bearded Collie has spent countless hours with children at Providence Child Center for Medically Fragile Children and other hospitals throughout the Portland metropolitan area. She also has been credentialed as a police services canine by several law enforcement agencies in the area, where Annie is available to help comfort women and children who are witnesses or victims of violence.
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