| ABOUT HEART TO HEART PET-A-RAMA |
How far would you be willing to go if someone you loved deeply was diagnosed with a heart condition that could only be resolved through a pioneering surgery 1000 miles away? Most people would probably do whatever they could to save their loved one – and that’s exactly what Lois did. But what makes her story unique is that her loved-one, that someone she couldn’t live without, was her dog, Carmel. Heart disease claims tens of thousands of dog’s lives each year. It is the second largest killer of dogs, with cancer topping the list. Dog owners struggle as they watch their loyal companions lose their battle with heart disease each year. Some canine cardiac conditions can be managed successfully with medication, diet and the occasional surgery. But some cases require more. Carmel was diagnosed with mitral valve degenerative disease. Today she is healthy and happy because she underwent a revolutionary open-heart bypass surgery in 2001. Lois Arnold, author of “What Do You Mean She’s Just a Dog?” and Carmel’s devoted owner, sought out Dr. Chris Orton from Colorado State University after her research confirmed that he was the only veterinary surgeon in the world to perform this operation successfully. Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is ranked second in the nation. It is aggressively addressing cutting-edge complex and sophisticated procedures on animals with a cardiology unit at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital and is the only veterinary school in North America successfully performing open heart surgery. In addition to wanting to honor their commitment to advancing animal wellness, Lois learned that C.S.U. is the Southwest’s “regional veterinary school.” This means that C.S.U. has a reciprocity agreement with the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah whereby a student in any of these states who chooses to pursue a career in Veterinary Medicine, and meets the entrance criteria, is granted “in-state” tuition with the balance being paid by their home state. After graduation, that student then owes their home state three years of service. In this way, Arizona, along with the other states mentioned above, has been able to provide their residents with a top-notch Veterinary Medicine education without having to develop their own Veterinary Medicine College. Not only is Dr. Orton a skilled surgeon, he also recognizes the undeniable human-animal bond. In the foreword of Lois’ book, “What do You Mean, She’s Just a Dog?” Dr. Orton says “…As a veterinary surgeon, I am often witness to the power of the human-animal bond, a bond that can be deeply felt from both sides of the species barrier. An often expressed frustration from those who have made such a bond is that others do not always fully understand its importance to those who feel it. The answer to this frustration is that unconditional love and devotion, witnessed and understood or not, will always be its own reward…” In order to educate and raise the level of awareness about this terrible killer and to save lives, we have put together a fundraiser, The Heart to Heart Pet-a-Rama, designed to: 1) Benefit research and treatment of animal heart disease at Colorado State University and 2) Partner up with PACC 911, to provide a venue for a spectacular adoption event in the hopes of sending hundreds of animals home with loving families. PACC 911 will provide the animals from all the humane shelters and rescue groups in the Greater Phoenix area. We need the support of pet owners and pet lovers in Arizona and beyond. Corporate sponsors are needed to assist in underwriting the event, participants in the walk are encouraged to register, and volunteers are needed on event day. Lois and Carmel will be at The Heart to Heart Pet-a-Rama to autograph books. Heart to Heart Pet-a-Rama
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In
2001 a beloved member of the Arnold family was diagnosed with end-stage
congestive heart failure. The prognosis: medication could help in the
short term but the life expectancy was less than six months. Lois Arnold
was told nothing could be done to help her much-loved 8-year-old baby.
Known for her tenacity, Lois turned to the Internet and found the open-heart
surgery program at Colorado State University – the only successful
program in the world that would be able to help her loved-one. Click here to become a sponsor.
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