UMF

Creature Comforts With alumni and community help, the U's Veterinary Teaching Hospital successfully completed the largest fund-raising campaign in its history to update and expand the facility.

Karen Rylander, a 1982 graduate of the Institute of Technology, and her husband Robert Schachter have had the opportunity to use the U of M's Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) a number of times. Over the years, two of their dogs have needed the specialized care available only at the U. With every encounter, "the doctors and students were so caring...providing a great deal of expertise and emotional support at a very difficult time," said Rylander. Their experience can be echoed in the sentiments of the many pet owners who have been referred to the U.

For a critically ill pet, there is no more important place than the U of M's Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Doctors and students work side-by-side in one of the busiest veterinary hospitals in the nation to save the lives of thousands of companion animals each year.

In the spring of 1997, the hospital launched the largest fund-raising campaign in its history to expand the ICU.

Treating almost three times the number of seriously ill patients as it did five years ago, the ICU was a victim of its own success; on many evenings, the ICU is filled to capacity. Kennels line the walls as doctors, technicians, and students carefully navigate the remaining cramped space.

Most patients are referred to the teaching hospital with illnesses that require special expertise, facilities, and staff found nowhere else in the region. The intensive care unit (ICU) is fully staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week--something most clinics would find financially impossible. Therefore, they not only treat regular patients but also function as a round-the-clock emergency room. Finding additional space added to the already challenging task of treating critically ill pets.

More than 765 animal lovers throughout the community, including 200 U of M alumni, contributed over $410,000 to the expansion campaign. Many of the donations came from those whose pets had received care at the hospital at one time or another. Karen Rylander's personal experience with the staff and students inspired her to make an $8,000 gift towards the ICU expansion. "We were excited to give to a project that didn't just address our special interests, but that would benefit all animals in general." Another hospital client, who owns a St. Bernard, gave a donation to allow additional kennel space for large-breed dogs.

Last February, a local foundation saw a WCCO-TV story covering the proposed expansion. They called the station to find out how much was yet to be raised. At the time, the hospital was at 50 percent of their $350,000 fund-raising goal. The following week, an anonymous check for $175,000 was received.

Most people don't expect their pets to need the ICU, but the facility is vital in a time of crisis. John and Ruth Huss, longtime supporters of the teaching hospital, know that firsthand. Several years ago, they had two West Highland Terriers, Stanley and Livingstone. When the dogs were older, one of them developed severe breathing problems late one night. "We were out of town at our summer place and the dog was failing," said John Huss. "At that time of night, no one in the area had the facilities to treat the dog." They drove the dog back to the teaching hospital where he was treated and placed in an oxygen cage. The prognosis was not good and Livingstone didn't make it. But what the Huss' remember of the experience was the professional and compassionate care that they and their pet received. When the ICU expansion campaign was announced, it touched a hot spot for John and Ruth. "While we haven't been back to the ICU for more than 10 years, the $35,000 gift is our way of helping to maintain the excellent care and service at the hospital."

The new unit is scheduled to open in late February with additional state-of-the-art equipment and enough space to grow with the ICU's expanding case load. The expansion will be three times the size of the current unit, including 39 permanent kennels. The world-class facility will contain cutting-edge technology including breathing support equipment, state-of-the-art cardiac monitoring devices, and advanced diagnostic facilities.

With community and alumni support, the expanded ICU will continue to be a valuable resource for teaching the next generation of veterinary specialists as well as serving the needs of pet owners and veterinarians throughout the region.