Chris Jones: Greene Publishing, Inc.
There is a team member at the Madison Veterinary Clinic who has been doing her part to help dogs in Madison County. Her name is Bebe, and she is a nine-year-old greyhound. Greyhounds are universal
Bebe is a kind and gentle Greyhound that donates blood to canine patients in need of transfusions.
blood donors in the canine world, and Bebe has already donated blood at least 17 times. Like humans, dogs can have serious situations where they need blood. Traumatic injuries, such as being hit by a car, cases of extreme anemia (caused by hook worms) and surgeries (such as splenectomies), often require blood transfusions for the canine patients.
Bebe's role at the clinic started in 2010, after her previous owners brought her in for an injury she sustained while training to be a race dog. The owners decided they wanted to retire her from race training and put her up for adoption. Realizing her potential to save other patients, Veterinarian Dr. John Lewis, offered to adopt her, and she's been part of the family ever since.
“Bebe is a very sweet dog, very laid back and likes to hang out up front with us,” said Amanda Oberschlake, the receptionist at the vet clinic.
Employees take turns taking Bebe home for a day or two for a little change of scenery, but the clinic is her home. After Bebe donates blood, often between 200 and 450 milliliters, she receives iron supplements to help her red blood cell count replenish itself.
Had Bebe's owners decided to put her up for adoption, she would have been placed in a loving home by Joey's Friends, Inc., in Cape Coral, Fl., which can be reached at (239) 281-1069. Instead, she stayed in Madison and is diligently doing her job. She proudly dons a coat that rightly reads “Life Saver.”
Madison Veterinary Clinic team member Bebe struts through the office in her suitably titled coat.