Page 22 - Outlook - Volume 17 Issue 3
P. 22
WAVE Always In Our Hearts
Abby
By Judy Levitow
I’m so pleased to be able to share with WesternU’s vet students something about my
dog Abby’s life. While I’m glad her body will be useful in death, I am very happy to tell
you a bit about how wonderful she was in life.
I found Abby at a local ASPCA. She and her two brothers were just eight weeks-old
when they arrived at the shelter, so I had to wait a while before I could take her home.
My husband and I finally had a house with a back yard.
She was my first dog as an adult and I was excited, but nervous about caring for her.
All we knew was that she was a shepherd mix.
Abby was always happy, energetic, and loved to run and play—just the perfect dog.
She was very smart and became well trained. We went on many hikes and on the back
trails. She was often off-leash, trained by voice command. She loved all people and
dogs and she even loved my neighbor’s kids so much that sometimes she would jump
the fence in our yard to go visit them. A trainer and a new fence helped with that.
When Abby was about five, we got a second dog, Lilah. My husband died of cancer
when Abby was nine years old, so the two dogs have been my comfort and joy these
past years. Abby always followed me from room to room — even when I went to the
bathroom or took a shower. I dreaded the thought of losing her. When she stopped
eating and drinking at age 16, I had to put her down. I will always miss her very
much—to me, she was simply incomparable.
About the WAVE Program:
The College of Veterinary Medicine’s Reverence for Life Commitment
promises that animals will not be harmed in our teaching programs. A key
element of this commitment is the WAVE (Willed deceased Animals for
Veterinary Education) Program, which reaches out to animal owners to ask
that they consider donating their beloved pets’ remains to anatomy and
clinical skills education at the college (WAVE Program is modeled after the
Human Willed Body Program at WesternU). More than 500 deceased
animals have been donated to the college in the last two years. These
special animals are providing a greater quality of education to future Establishing a Pet Trust
generations of veterinarians.
Those concerned about what will happen to their
All donations to WAVE must be deceased due to age, serious illness or animals should their human caregivers become
injury. An animal that has no owner to approve the donation of its remains incapacitated or die might consider including provisions
will not be accepted. When you know that the death of your beloved pet in an estate plan. One means of doing so is to establish
might be imminent, and you live within 40 miles of the college, please ask a charitable remainder unitrust to ensure their care in
your veterinarian about donating to WAVE. Your veterinarian may contact the event disaster strikes. This can be easily
Ms.Tami Miller at (909) 469-5597 to make all arrangements. accomplished, and WesternU’s Planned Giving Office is
available to assist in this process. For more information,
Always in Our Hearts: Stories from WAVE appears as a regular feature in contact Tim McPheron, Director of Development at
each issue of the Veterinary Outlook Magazine. (909) 706-3762 or tmcpheron@westernu.edu.
20 College of Veterinary Medicine
Abby
By Judy Levitow
I’m so pleased to be able to share with WesternU’s vet students something about my
dog Abby’s life. While I’m glad her body will be useful in death, I am very happy to tell
you a bit about how wonderful she was in life.
I found Abby at a local ASPCA. She and her two brothers were just eight weeks-old
when they arrived at the shelter, so I had to wait a while before I could take her home.
My husband and I finally had a house with a back yard.
She was my first dog as an adult and I was excited, but nervous about caring for her.
All we knew was that she was a shepherd mix.
Abby was always happy, energetic, and loved to run and play—just the perfect dog.
She was very smart and became well trained. We went on many hikes and on the back
trails. She was often off-leash, trained by voice command. She loved all people and
dogs and she even loved my neighbor’s kids so much that sometimes she would jump
the fence in our yard to go visit them. A trainer and a new fence helped with that.
When Abby was about five, we got a second dog, Lilah. My husband died of cancer
when Abby was nine years old, so the two dogs have been my comfort and joy these
past years. Abby always followed me from room to room — even when I went to the
bathroom or took a shower. I dreaded the thought of losing her. When she stopped
eating and drinking at age 16, I had to put her down. I will always miss her very
much—to me, she was simply incomparable.
About the WAVE Program:
The College of Veterinary Medicine’s Reverence for Life Commitment
promises that animals will not be harmed in our teaching programs. A key
element of this commitment is the WAVE (Willed deceased Animals for
Veterinary Education) Program, which reaches out to animal owners to ask
that they consider donating their beloved pets’ remains to anatomy and
clinical skills education at the college (WAVE Program is modeled after the
Human Willed Body Program at WesternU). More than 500 deceased
animals have been donated to the college in the last two years. These
special animals are providing a greater quality of education to future Establishing a Pet Trust
generations of veterinarians.
Those concerned about what will happen to their
All donations to WAVE must be deceased due to age, serious illness or animals should their human caregivers become
injury. An animal that has no owner to approve the donation of its remains incapacitated or die might consider including provisions
will not be accepted. When you know that the death of your beloved pet in an estate plan. One means of doing so is to establish
might be imminent, and you live within 40 miles of the college, please ask a charitable remainder unitrust to ensure their care in
your veterinarian about donating to WAVE. Your veterinarian may contact the event disaster strikes. This can be easily
Ms.Tami Miller at (909) 469-5597 to make all arrangements. accomplished, and WesternU’s Planned Giving Office is
available to assist in this process. For more information,
Always in Our Hearts: Stories from WAVE appears as a regular feature in contact Tim McPheron, Director of Development at
each issue of the Veterinary Outlook Magazine. (909) 706-3762 or tmcpheron@westernu.edu.
20 College of Veterinary Medicine
