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This year’s winners include a Collie who saved his owner’s life by alerting his sleeping wife that he was having a diabetic reaction and was unconscious; a Puggle whose owner/best friend is going through cancer treatments; and a Black Lab Seeing dog who continued to work well into his 14th year even though he suffered from epilepsy, hypothyroidism and a severe hind limb weakness thought to be neurologic in nature.
Here are your 2009 Iowa Animal Hall of Fame Winners
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Winner: Sadie, a Collie
Owners: Mr. and Mrs. Dan Sarver of Indianola, Iowa
Nominating Veterinarian:
Dr. Brian Brennan
Indianola Veterinary Clinic
Indianola, Iowa
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Hero Category:
Sadie is considered by her owners, Dan and Sue Sarver of Indianola, to be more than a companion, she is a guardian angel. Sue was nudged awake by her Collie, Sadie, in the middle of the night. Sue told her to go downstairs and have Dan let her out. Sadie continued to try to arouse Sue and she finally followed Sadie downstairs to find her husband, Dan, lying on the floor having a diabetic reaction due to low blood sugar. Sue tried unsuccessfully to get Dan to respond. She called 911 and the EMT’s arrived shortly. Dan came around with glucose and finally some food. Sadie saved Dan’s life and is truly a hero!
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Winner: Zoey, a Puggle
Owners: Ariel Patchin, Des Moines, Iowa
Nominating Veterinarian:
Dr. Bill Williams, Altoona Veterinary Clinic, Altoona, Iowa
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Companion Category:
Zoey’s owner, 12 year old Ariel Patchin, was diagnosed with a type of brain tumor called Astrocytoma in February of 1999. Ariel’s tumor is located in the super-cellular region of her brain, causing her to become completely blind in her right eye and legally blind in her left eye. She also suffers from hypothalamic obesity and has been in precocious puberty since she was four years old. Zoey, her Puggle, has become her best buddy. She is always there for her when she comes home from school, when she comes home from her radiation treatments and doctors’ appointments. Ariel has gone through chemical radiation and chemotherapy which has caused short term memory loss. The tumor has shrunk some but it is not going away. Her tumor has been assessed as inoperable. Zoey has enriched the life of this special little girl and reinforced our strong belief in the human animal bond. Zoey is truly a little girl’s best friend!
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Winner: Shadow, a black Lab-posthumous
Owner: Tom Davis, Des Moines
Nominating Veterinarian:
Dr. Peggy Baber, Carlisle Veterinary Clinic, Carlisle, IA
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Professional Category:
Tom Davis, Shadow’s owner, will always remember Shadow as a true hero. Shadow loved life and he really loved Tom and his wife, Lin (who also has a Seeing Eye dog). He loved to work. Shadow will always have a special place in Tom’s heart. Shadow loved people. He had a favorite waitress at a restaurant and he loved to go to church. Shadow loved to run free in the yard and was very protective of his owner. Shadow developed epilepsy and had thyroid problems. In spite of his health conditions, he continued to work very well. Shadow passed away on September 10, 2008. The last year of his life he had trouble walking caused by a neurological condition.
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The Iowa Animal Hall of Fame, which is co-sponsored by Intervet/Schering-Plough, award pets for their bravery, companionship and professional contributions to people and the community. More than 30 animals, including dogs, cats and horses, from across Iowa have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception a decade ago. The winners are chosen by a panel of three members from the IVMA’s Public Relations Committee.
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2008 IVMA Hall of Fame Winners Honored during Shelter Auction
On April 18, 2009, the Animal Rescue League of Iowa entertained an audience of more than 700 people at their Raise Your Paw charity auction, at the Hy-Vee Conference Center in West Des Moines. A unique part of this event was dedicated to honoring the 2008 IVMA Animal Hall of Fame winners.
Hero Category—HJ, the Weimaraner of FredericksburgOn most days, HJ, a friendly Weimaraner, is the official greeter and everyone’s favorite friend at the Engelbrect’s Farm House B&B in Fredericksburg, but in the early morning hours of Easter Sunday 2007, HJ became a hero. Around midnight, Loren Engelbrecht woke feeling sick. He tried to eat something to alleviate his nausea, but only felt worse. To cool off, he went out to the enclosed porch where HJ sleeps. After leaving the porch, Loren headed for the front parlor of the family’s Victorian farm house to watch television and relax. Suddenly Loren developed an enormous pressure in his chest. The pain was so great he couldn’t move or call for help.
Loren’s wife Dianna woke up to HJ nosing her arm. She wondered what HJ was doing in the bedroom and got out of bed to find Loren in the front parlor in severe pain. HJ never left Loren’s side while the paramedics worked to save his life. The doctor described Loren’s heart attack as a “widow maker.” Only 50 percent of all people who have that kind of heart attack make it to the hospital. The Engelbrechts know without a doubt that Loren would have been found dead the next morning had it not been for HJ.
Professional Category—Sidda, the Golden Retriever from North Liberty
Sidda is a learning dog who received her training at the Kansas-based therapy dog program, Canine Assistance, Rehabilitation, Education and Services (CARES). She is the only full-time learning dog in the Iowa City Community School District and is available to students to read to, talk to, or just hang out with. Her owner, Julie Robinson, is the principal at Penn Elementary. Sidda has been extremely beneficial to the students in many different ways. She helps children to improve their literacy skills and their confidence levels. She also often helps children with behavioral problems. She has been brought to the classroom of a child in the throngs of a temper tantrum and almost immediately the disruptive behavior is over.
Sidda’s ability to improve social behavior, reading skills and communication between the students, parents and staff is truly a special gift. But most important, is her ability to strengthen the human/animal bond by making each child at Penn Elementary feel special and loved.
Hericane, the black Labrador mix from Des Moines
Hericane, a black Labrador mix, was only 10 weeks old when her owner Lynette Krambeer adopted her from the Animal Rescue League of Iowa in 1992. Trinity Center at Luther Park, a long-term care facility in Des Moines, was just initiating their “resident pet” program at the time. Lynette and Hericane immediately began visiting the elders on a regular basis and before her first birthday, Hericane was ‘working’ at the facility full-time.
Hericane spent her days being played with, hugged, brushed and fed. It was said, she was an employee who did not appreciate her days off. Lynette and Hericane lived close to Luther Park. There were several instances on weekends when she jumped her four-foot fence and went to work by herself.
Click here for a submission form for the 2010 Iowa Animal Hall of Fame.
The Iowa Animal Hall of Fame is sponsored annually by the IVMA and Intervet/Schering-Plough.
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