Last fall at a general membership meeting we discussed several ways the BCCGW could make a difference with research, rescue and helping others.  We have worked very hard to raise funds to host our shows over the years and have been very successful in doing so.  Now it was time to give some back to the canine community. 

Past President, Ruth Colavecchio, brought a very timely donation idea to our attention.  The new Center for Companion Animal Health at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine was having an equipment drive to complete their new $14.1 million state of the art facility that is scheduled to open this month.  After reviewing the information on the CCAH we voted to donate a new Ultrasound Imagine unit that will cost $2,500.  Your President, Lisa Voss, contacted Kristine Reveles, Associate Director of Development who invited us up to make the donation in person. 

On Monday, December 8, 2003, several BCCGW beardies and board members including Sharon Baker, Carol Colavecchio, Ruth Colavecchio, Lisa Voss and Linda Weeks  delivered the donation to CCAH Director, Niels C. Pedersen, DVM, PhD and were given a hard hat tour of the entire new facility.  We learned that the new 36,000 square foot CCAH was funded entirely by private donations and will contain the most sophisticated clinical facilities available in veterinary medicine. 

Occupying the entire first floor, the Cancer Clinic will be the first veterinary cancer center of its type in the world.  The Cancer Clinic will be divided into two units; the Petersen radiation Oncology Unit and the Maddy's Medical Oncology Unit.  Both Canine and Feline patients and their families will have separate areas for treatments and waiting which are architecturally interesting and state of the art for healing.

The second floor of the CCAH will house the Koret Comparative Genomics Laboratory and Feline Health Unit.  These premier facilities will support humane studies relating to the genetics of animal

health and emerging infectious diseases. 

In addition the new CCAH will include a Physical Therapy Unit with two AquaPaws hydrotherapy treadmills to aid in rehabilitation, massage/treatment rooms and muscle stimulation apparatus. 

Outside we viewed the beginnings of the Memorial Gardens which is meant to memorialize the special bond that has existed between humans and animals since the earliest time.  The ancient human-dog bond is especially strong (as we beardie folks know) and goes back as far as 40,000 years.

According to Ms. Reveles and Dr.Pedersen, the Bearded Collie Club of the Golden West is the first dog breed club to make a private donation to the CCAH and a very generous one at that.  Included in this newsletter is a personal thank you from Dr. Pedersen on behalf of US Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Companion Animal Health.  For more information on the center please contact Kristine Reveles at (530) 752-7024 or refer to their web site at www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/CCAH

CONGRATULATIONS BCCGW... YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE!!!