Welcome to the Strasburg Veterinary Clinic
56151 East Colfax Avenue Strasburg, CO 80136
303-622-4415
Clinic Hours
Monday 8:00 am-5:30 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am-5:30 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am-8:30 pm
Thursday 8:00 am-8:30 pm
Friday 8:00 am-5:30 pm
Saturday 8:00 am-1:00 pm
Emergency Appointments Available
May is Heartworm Prevention Month
Receive 15% off all Testing and Preventative Medications
*Flu Vaccines are Now Here!**
If your pet spends any time at kennels, agility trials, training classes or pet parks, they should be vaccinated against the flu this season. Please stop by the clinic during regular business hours for you vaccines.
Pet of the Month
This month’s Pet of the Month is a Great Pyrenees named Badger. Badger is owned by the Brady family and has been with them since she was 8 weeks old. Badger, in addition to being the family pet, has served as a service dog for the Brady’s daughter Caitlin for the past 3 ½ years.
Today, Caitlin is an active 11 year old in the 6th grade. However, when she was 7, Caitlin had a critical asthma attack that left her left leg paralyzed. After a long stay in the hospital and hours of physical therapy, Caitlin was able to walk short distances with a cane and utilized her wheelchair for the longer distances. Her weakened leg limited Caitlin’s ability to play outside like she used to. Instead of settling for her limitations, Caitlin began searching for ways that might provide her the freedom she was previously used to. Caitlin came up with the idea of a service dog. After some research, the Brady’s enrolled Badger into a training program with a group called Guild Assistance Dog Partners.
Caitlin and Badger spent the entire summer training together. Caitlin’s father built a small dirt hill in the family’s yard. Caitlin and Badger spent hours over the summer walking up and down this hill. In the beginning, Caitlin found herself crawling up most of the hill. Slowly, with the use of a harness, she and Badger worked their way up to Caitlin being able to use one leg. By the end of the summer, Caitlin was able to walk up the hill on her own. Badger was by her side to help her up if she should fall. She was also able to navigate areas that she previously needed her wheelchair for. Working outside with Badger provided more results over the summer than physical therapy had over the last 6 months.
When Caitlin started the 3rd grade that fall, Badger was allowed to attend with her as a service dog. 3 ½ years later, Badger is still helping Caitlin be the active 11 year old she has grown into. At the age of 6, Badger has completed 136 hours of training. Whether helping her walk with the harness or pulling her wheelchair, Badger is by her side every day.
Caitlin’s mother, Barb, is grateful for the services provided to their family by the Guild Assistance Dog Partners (GAP). When the Brady family first started researching service dogs, they were surprised to learn that the average cost of a trained service dog was between $25,000-$45,000, depending upon the user’s needs. GAP, who operates primarily on donations, provided a low cost option for the Brady’s to be able to train Badger by themselves to specifically cater to Caitlin’s needs. Barb feels that without the assistance of GAP that Caitlin would not be able to enjoy the freedom and activities that she enjoys today.
For more information on the Brady family or the Guild Assistance Dog Partners, please visit www.dominoservicedogs.com or contact Barb at domino_dogs@yahoo.com.
