VETERINARIAN OF THE YEAR…Karen Tracy’s vet…and more Pazzaz updates

ABOVE: DR KARIN FROM THE CREATURE COMFORTS WEBSITE

Really I don’t need to write much more to you all than to post this letter that Karen Tracy wrote to nominate her vet as VETERINARY OF THE YEAR.

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To whom it may concern:
I would like to nominate Dr. Karin-Susan Breitlauch for Veterinarian of the Year.  At the time of her graduation from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, she was the youngest practicing veterinarian in the USA.  She was 22.
She has been an AAHA Hospital Director since 1992.  She was certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Assoc. in 1999 and is a Lifetime Founding Member.  She is a member of the PVMA.  She owns an emergency clinic called Creature Comforts where they treat small animals and exotics.

At her clinic, when you walk in, she has a very informative bulletin board where she has all kinds of brochures and information on all types of things related to pets.  She also has a website that walks you through a tour of her clinic and what to expect when you take your pet there for a visit.  She lists her staff and tells you about them.  At her clinic, she offers Chiropractic care, Pet Acupuncture, physical rehabilitation, homeopathy, advanced comprehensive dentistry, pain management, reproductive, laser surgery, laser treatments, stem cell procedures,  a blood bank, and an on site lab.

Creature Comforts has received four – year AAHA certification since 1992.  On top of all those impressive credentials, the most important one to me is she is my veterinarian, my friend and a life saver for my dogs.

ABOVE: DR. KARIN GIVING CYRUS A BURN LASER TREATMENT

What Happened ———
On March 6, 2009 there was a propane tank explosion at my kennel.  I have show dogs and I do boarding.  Veterinarians and vet techs came to my kennel that day from all over the area to help with the dogs.  My kennel was completely destroyed, the back of my house was gone and ten of my dogs were killed in the fire along with five boarder dogs.  Several boarder dogs that survived were treated and released that same day by local vets.  But another six of my dogs were severely burned and suffered from smoke inhalation and they needed emergency care.  None of the vets that were here that day to help could undertake such a big task at their clinics.

I called Dr. Karin and explained what happened and asked if she had all the equipment and enough staff necessary to deal with these dogs.  She told me to bring them to her clinic and she would be ready for them.  Some of the vets that were here actually transported the dogs to Dr. Karin’s clinic.  I would like to add that even though I was the breeder of these dogs, I could not identify them, that is how badly they were burned.

When the dogs started arriving at Dr. Karin’s clinic, the entire staff was ready to jump in.  They had to evaluate them, shave dogs down, scan their microchips to identify them, set them up with oxygen, give them IV fluids, medications, do bloodwork,etc.  I was told later by some of the vet techs that they never experienced such a horrible situation as this before and they hoped they never would again.  The dogs had severe
burns on a great part of their bodies, one had the pads burned off of all four feet.

ABOVE: DR. KARIN WORKING WITH KAREN TRACY’S CHOWS

How Dr. Karin helped me——–
Dr. Karin did not hesitate when I told her my situation.  She said get them to her, she would be ready.  She brought in extra staff for the dogs.  She had other vets there that are part of her clinic, ready and waiting for my dogs.  They were working under a great deal of stress and chaos but everyone pulled together and worked like a well oiled machine till all the dogs were taken care of and settled in as patients of the clinic.

ABOVE: CYRUS AFTER SEVERAL LASER TREATMENTS
Reasons I am nominating Dr. Karin for this award—
First of all, I was and still am devastated over the explosion and losing my dogs.  I lost six generations of dogs that day and years and years of work to build a good solid line of show dogs that have been shown all over the country and have been top ranked dogs for many years now.
I lost my very first show dog that day.  She was going on 15 years of age.  I lost her daughter, she was 12 years of age.  I lost her daughter, she was 9 years of age.  I lost two of her daughters.  I could go on but you get the idea.  I did not just place my dogs after they were done showing and breeding.

They were with me for life, they were my life.  When this happened I did not know how to deal with it.  I went to Dr. Karin’s clinic very early the next morning.  When I got there, I was in shock.  I still could not identify my own dogs.

I asked one of the vet techs if they could get Dr. Karin on the phone at 6am and she came right in to talk to me.  I told her that I was devastated, that I didn’t know what to do in this situation.  I have had to make a decision to put a couple of my dogs down before but that was not like this.  That was because of cancer, etc.

ABOVE: CYRUS WEARING HIS BOOTIES TO GO OUTSIDE AT VET

I didn’t know anything about burns or smoke inhalation.
One of the girls passed away that morning.  I cried and Dr. Karin cried right along with me and hugged me.  The rest were in very bad shape.   I asked Dr. Karin to help me with my decisions because I was never in a situation like this and I didn’t want the dogs to suffer but if they had a chance to make it, I wanted them to have that chance.

She took the time to explain the situation with each individual dog and what the prognosis was for each and what was being done for each dog.  I needed her honesty and her advice and she was there for me.

I questioned putting one of the dogs down a couple times because he “looked bad” to me.  She told me that he wants to live, all his organs were functioning properly and he would be fine.  She told me she could fix him and she was right.  She did “fix him”.  On another dog, she told me that she didn’t know, it could go either way as her kidneys were compromised and that she was not as hopeful for that dog.

When that dog took a turn for the worse, I knew she had to be put down but because Dr. Karin went out of her way to explain everything to me everytime I went to see my dogs, the decision was easier on me than had I not been kept informed on every detail.

Dr. Karin allowed me to go visit my dogs any time of the day or night, not just during regular visiting hours.  Dr. Karin talked to me about reporters.  They had approached her about going to her clinic to do stories on the dogs for the television and the newspapers.  She told me it was my decision.  She told me that she would do whatever I wanted her to do.

We talked it over and decided we would allow it as it would bring public awareness to the situation and it might be a good way to bring in donations to help me to pay for the cost of all the medical expenses.  As busy as she was, every time a reporter came to her clinic, she made the time to talk to them and show them different procedures she was using on the dogs.

ABOVE: DR. KARIN ASKED  THE MEDIA TO LIST ADDRESS TO SEND DONATIONS

In conclusion—-
I am just an ordinary person that had a terrible, horrible thing come into my life the day my kennel exploded.  I still smell the smoke every day.  What little is left standing of the kennel has to remain that way till the final inspections take place.  When I mow my yard I have to mow around the dog bowls that are still there that blew out of the kennel because I am not allowed to touch anything yet.  I have the blinds down on the side of my house where the kennel is but I know it is there.  I know what happened there.

I have not even begun to deal with the dogs that died in the fire.  I can’t even go there yet emotionally.  But I do know that Dr. Karin and the staff at Creature Comforts Clinic worked diligently to keep my line going for me.  I know Dr. Karin went easy on me regarding my vet bill and she saved dogs that I would have never imagined would have made it.  If I would be well off financially, I would ask Dr. Karin what piece of equipment she would need for her clinic and I would buy it for her because of everything she has done for me.

But I have no income right now as I have no kennel to do boarding and besides that, equipment wears out.  But , to be Veterinarian of the Year would be an honor that she could cherish forever and I know she would be bursting with pride to receive it and that to me would be priceless and the greatest gift I could give her in return for what she has done for me.

To me, in dealing with this devastation, she was the rock on which I was leaning to hold me up and I would appreciate it with all my heart if you would consider her for Veterinarian of the Year.

Thank you.
Karen Tracy

………………………DRUM ROLL PLEASE……………………….

So to conclude this beautifully written letter by Karen Tracy to the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association…….this was their recent reply back to Karen

“Hi Karen,

Can you tell me the name and location of your kennel please? If I didn‚t already tell you, Dr. Breitlauch was chosen for the Veterinarian of the Year Award, and I am sending her a letter today. Congratulations!”

Karen, thank you for letting me share this story with our Worldchow readers and for sending the articles and photos too!!  I get letters weekly asking how you are doing and I want to also share these 2 photos below with everyone as well (with Karens permission).

Left: Karen Tracy   Center: Dr. Samuel Draper   Right: Desmond Murphy with one of the Miracle Litter puppies

They were taken the end of June when she brought the “miracle litter” to visit with Dr. Sam Draper and Desmond Murphy and introduce them to the newest Liontamer arrivals.  I love these pix Karen. They are something to be treasured forever!!!!

AND ONE MORE THING!!!!….OMG THE PHONE CALLS I GOT FROM KAREN THIS WEEKEND WERE FULL OF NEWS

I can’t conclude this article without extending a huge CONGRATULATIONS on your BACK To BACK BEST in SHOWS this weekend Karen.  To hear the joy in your voice after so many phone conversations in the recent past full of the opposite emotions …………this was absolute music to my ears!!!!   I wish we all could be there with you in person toast the wins and have a party!!!