Special thanks to Chris Barley, an advisor to the DPH Fund, for ongoing support of UF’s Pet Samaritan Fund. Through Chris, the DPH Fund has provided a total of $200,000 to the Pet Samaritan Fund, which is reserved for special cases.  Thank you, Chris Barley and the DPH Fund, for partnering with the UF Small Animal Hospital! (Photo courtesy of Chris Barley)

Happy 5-year-out anniversary to Tobey, a Golden Retriever that received treatment through the UF Veterinary Hospitals’ cardiology service for a hereditary heart condition known as subaortic stenosis. Tobey’s family brought him all the way from Texas to participate in a research study that was being conducted at UF by then-cardiology resident, Dr. Mandi Schmidt,  supervised by Dr. Amara Estrada, an associate professor of cardiology at the college.  Patients in the study, which explores the technique of ballooning an aortic stenosis, are still being followed to learn more about their long-term outcomes.  “We are hoping that dogs that undergo this procedure will live longer and higher quality lives,” Estrada said. (Photo courtesy of the Bean family, Tobey’s owners)

Dr. Stephanie Janeczko, left, president of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, presents Dr. Brenda Griffin, an adjunct instructor with Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at UF, with ASV’s 2013 Meritorious Achievement Award. The award was given Jan. 23 at the annual meeting of shelter veterinarians. In her letter of nomination, Dr. Julie Levy described Griffin as “one of the pioneers of academic shelter medicine” and said she had “inspired generations of veterinary students and specialists in training to improve the health and welfare of shelter animals.” (Photo courtesy of Dr. Julie Levy)

Dr. Julie Levy and Dr. Cynda Crawford received a plaque from the Hillsborough County Commission on Jan. 23 for their work with the county’s animal services group as part of Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program. (Photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Commission)

UF veterinary oncology team members served dinner to human cancer patients at the Winn Dixie Hope Lodge on Jan. 28. (Photo by Sarah Carey)

Veterinary oncology technicians Sarah Mountain and Blaine Seese perform clean-up duty after helping to cook and serve dinner to human cancer patients at the Winn Dixie Hope Lodge on Jan. 28. (Photo by Sarah Carey)