October 6, 2008

Veterinary School to dedicate pet tribute garden

The Dolores McCall Pet Tribute Garden is located adjacent to the entrance to the school's small animal hospital. The dedication, which will be held at 4 p.m. at the Lynn Hall of Veterinary Medicine, is free and open to the public. 

The garden is a quiet area of bushes, trees and flowers surrounding a monument that will hold plaques with text and images of pets. The School of Veterinary Medicine Class of 1972 raised funds for the garden as a gift to the school, and Dolores McCall, a longtime supporter of the school and its veterinary teaching hospital, named the facility.

"The Dolores McCall Pet Tribute Garden provides an opportunity for people to honor the human-animal bond and pay tribute to animal companions with a permanent legacy," said Willie M. Reed, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. "This facility will play a vital role in our efforts to promote understanding of the human-animal bond, while also supporting owners experiencing the grief associated with loss of a pet."

Plaques are available in three sizes for gifts to the school ranging from $250 to $1,500.  A limited number of life-size bronze statues of pets can be created for gifts of $15,000.

More information is available at https://www.vet.purdue.edu/giving/pettributegarden.html  or by calling (765) 494-5032.

Writer: Judith Barra Austin, (765) 494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu

Source: Willie M. Reed, (765) 494-7608, wreed@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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