Oregon Animal Hall of Fame™: 2012 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 dogs, cats, an animal welfare group, a horse therapy group, horses, and one llama! Animals are inducted into the Oregon Animal Hall of Fame™ during the Oregon Veterinary Conference in Corvallis. See below for a list of past inductees.
Dottie
Dottie2012 Inductee: Companion
Owned by Christina Lewis
Nominated by Dr. Danielle Huff
Cinder Rock Veterinary Clinic
2012 Inductee: Companion
The Companion award recognizes animals who have provided a benefit to their human companions or their community.
There is no way around it: Dottie, a lovely 10-year-old black and white Papillon, is a social butterfly. In fact, Dr. Danielle Huff with Cinder Rock Veterinary Clinic in Redmond said “Papillon” is French for butterfly – so it is a perfect fit!
Dottie is a sweet girl who spends her days and nights at the Eagle Inn Adult Home, an adult living home. She is known by the residents and employees at the facility as a “food mooch,” soliciting treats from those residents with dementia … again, and again, and again. Of course, this leads to recurrent diarrhea and frequent trips to the veterinary clinic – but all in the name of love.
In addition to never passing on a treat, Dottie finds an open lap fair game and relishes curling up on a resident or even sharing chairs.
When a resident nears death, Dottie seems to know that something is amiss, often becoming very close and clingy to that resident. She showers the resident with attention and displays her outgoing demeanor with family members as well.
Dottie is the primary ambassador for the facility. She willingly greets each new resident with affection – a doggie “welcome wagon,” if you will. She is a quiet, gentle dog, who exemplifies the calming benefits of how the simple act of petting and cuddling with a dog provides both medical and emotional benefits to people.
Ever loving, always cuddling, and longing to nap with the residents at the facility, Dottie is a prime example of the mysterious and wonderful connection that is shared between animals and people.
Nelson
Nelson2012 Inductee: Service/Professional
Owned by Janet Voorhies
Nominated by Dr. Brad Frank
Jacksonville Veterinary Hospital
2012 Inductee: Service/Professional
This award recognizes animals specifically trained for service or assistance.
Nelson, a two-year-old black Labrador retriever, was in training to become a service dog with Guide Dogs for the Blind when he was removed from the program because of a sensitive trachea.
Although he no longer was a candidate to be a guide dog, his easygoing and steady disposition was impossible to dismiss. With some connections and some phone calls, Nelson was on his way to Southern Oregon, where he was professionally trained by Dogs for the Deaf to be a Program Assistance Dog.
After Nelson completed his training, he was placed with Janet Voorhies of Ashland. Janet is a middle school teacher of students with special needs, and Nelson accompanies her to her classroom every day.
As you can imagine, this lovable dog is wonderful with the children. According to Janet, when one of the students appears to be upset or distracted, Nelson ambles over and touches the student with his nose, helping to comfort and refocus the child, enabling the student to continue with the assignment.
Nelson regularly assists Janet with reading and science lessons and much more. He is a great listener during reading lessons and is an immense benefit for those students who are just learning to read.
Nelson is also an able communicator. When a student is upset or has an unresolved issue, Janet often asks if the student would like to have Nelson there while she and the student discuss the concern. Nelson’s presence is very comforting for students, and helps them to better communicate with their teacher what is going on.
Nelson’s charm and engaging presence has also had a positive impact on all of the students at Ashland Middle School. Students in other classes are interacting much more positively and more frequently with the special needs students. Janet attributes this to the calm demeanor and steady, lovable influence of Nelson – a special canine companion who is enhancing many lives.
Jakob
Jakob Dylan2012 Inductee: Hero
Owned by Sharyn Arthur
Nominated by Dr. Michael Motschenbacher
Animal Clinic of Rogue River
2012 Inductee: Hero
The Hero award recognizes animals who have saved or preserved a life.
To hear Sharyn Arthur tell the story, the puppy was cute but didn’t seem to be anything special at all. But he was unmistakenly big – with adorably large feet, long spindly legs and invitingly warm eyes.
After all, what Irish Wolfhound isn’t?
The evening of July 30, 2011, Sharyn took a spin on her ATV on the 20-acre parcel of land where she lives in the hills south of the Rogue River. Trotting behind her was Jakob, then just a little more than eight months old.
Sharyn doesn’t recall what exactly happened next – it happened in a flash. She does remember the steering on the ATV locked up and she panicked. Instead of hitting the brakes, she raced the throttle. The next memory she has is being in excruciating pain some 65 feet down an embankment in a ravine.
Her injuries were life threatening. A stick had ruptured an artery in her arm and she had fractured her scapula and several ribs. One of her lungs had collapsed, and she was going in and out of consciousness.
Alone at the top of the ridge was Jakob, undoubtedly nervous as to the serious circumstances. Jake, as he is known, galloped back to the house where he awakened Sharyn’s boyfriend, Dave Paxson. He had been working in the yard and was taking a nap, until he was nudged and licked repeatedly by Jake. The dog also began barking and running back and forth to the door as if to alert Dave to what had happened. When Dave didn’t see the ATV in the yard, he knew something had gone wrong. Once outside, Jake led Dave to the ridge some 300 yards from the house and where Sharyn had tumbled over and the embankment and was lying in the canyon nearly motionless.
Dave immediately called the Rogue River Fire Department, and paramedics soon arrived on the scene, scrambled down the embankment and tended to the seriously injured woman. Sharyn spent one week in the hospital, recovering from her wounds. Had it not been for Jake, Sharyn most likely would not be alive today.
Past Inductees
Hero
Recognizes animals who have saved or preserved a life.
- 1988 Big Red (dog), Sam (cat)
- 1989 Hadji (dog), Morgan (dog)
- 1991 Max (dog)
- 1992 Missy (dog)
- 1993 Gunner (dog)
- 1997 Helga & Tad (dogs)
- 2000 Sheba (dog)
- 2002 Ceasar (dog)
- 2003 Pillsbury (dog)
- 2004 Sunny (dog)
- 2005 Chassa (dog)
- 2009 Zar (dog)
- 2011 Brodie (dog)
- 2012 Jakob (dog)
Companion
Recognizes animals who have provided a benefit to their human companions or their community.
- 1994 Solo (cat)
- 1999 Project Pooch
- 2002 Howard (dog)
- 2003 Jesse (dog)
- 2005 “Ginger” (dog)
- 2006 Cassidy (cat)
- 2007 Daniel (dog)
- 2008 Gracie (dog)
- 2009 Ace (dog)
- 2010 Rusty (dog)
- 2011 Bosa (dog)
- 2012 Dottie (dog)
Professional/Service
Recognizes animals specifically trained for service or assistance.
- 1990 Sparkle (dog)
- 1994 Ranger (dog)
- 1998 Horses for the Physically Challenged
- 2001 Cajun (dog)
- 2002 Kate (dog)
- 2003 Camas (llama)
- 2004 Rikki (horse)
- 2005 Gleason (dog)
- 2006 Snert & Jake (dogs)
- 2007 Annie (dog)
- 2008 Butterscotch (horse)
- 2011 Doc (dog)
- 2012 Nelson (dog)
