We go to a Jungle Boogie...and Dr. Plantz wins an award!

On Sunday, October 7, Cedar Pet Clinic Lake Elmo was well-represented at the annual Jungle Boogie, a fundraising party for the Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone.  Dr. Baillie is the volunteer medical director for the Sanctuary, in charge of the health of  120 rescued wild cats from Bengals to bobcats, from servals to cougars, and tigers and lions as well.  He sits on the board of directors and our whole staff is involved in caring for the big cats (see wildcatsanctuary.org for some amazing stories about this wonderful organization.)  The clinic always takes a table at the fundraiser, and Dr. Baillie shows another side of his personality, serving as the live auctioneer.   

Our Dr. Noemi Plantz was honored at this year's event with the Lion Pride Award, for her volunteer work at the Sanctuary.  Director Tammy Thies named the award for a "pride" of lions, noting that it takes a group of individuals to keep the Sanctuary going.   Dr. Plantz started helping out  even before she went to veterinary school, and now works with Dr. Baillie in primary medical care for the Sanctuary residents.   (See an earlier story in this blog about our doctors' work when tiger Titan received four simultaneous root canals!)   "I enjoy working on the big cats", Dr. Plantz said, "many of whom arrive at the Sanctuary with significant medical problems."  

Dr. Baillie is a previous recipient of a Lion Pride Award. 

Long-time Vet Tech Sara

Sara--One of the first employees in
 at Cedar Pet Clinic, Lake Elmo

Long-time vet tech Sara is leaving Cedar Pet to help train the next generation of veterinary technicians, a job that is critical to veterinary medicine and the proper care of our patients.  Sara was one of our first employees in Lake Elmo, starting with us when still a student;  she has been a critical part of the vet tech staff, and will be much missed.  Her new job is as Program Chair for the Veterinary Technology Program at the Minnesota School of Business/Globe University, supervising instructors and students, particularly by coordinating and recruiting externships.   We'll still see her -- she will continue as a volunteer with our work at the Wildcat Sanctuary -- and we wish her all the best in her new position.   Sara is shown in the accompanying photo, with Dr. Noemi Plantz, monitoring a tiger during dental work at the Sanctuary earlier this year.

Amazing youtube video on Dr. Baillie and the Wildcats

We thank The Wildcat Sanctuary for making and posting a youtube video about our work caring for their rescued cats. We are the doctors for the lions, tigers, cougars, bobcats, and many other cats who have found a forever home at the Sanctuary; Dr. Baillie is the volunteer Medical Director, and time, goods, and services are donated by the clinic, by Dr. Plantz, and by our staff.

"These creatures, many of them, have had hard lives and have now landed in a safe and caring place. We care about keeping them healthy...all of them," said Dr. Baillie.

 And follow this blog for an upcoming behind-the-scenes story as Dr. Baillie visits the sanctuary in May for veterinary work on the big cats.