F ALL 2006 • V ol. 41 No. 3 - San Diego Humane Society and SPCA

president’s message
The Ties that Bind
Mark Goldstein, D.V.M.
President of the San Diego
Humane Society and SPCA
with his dog Ren.
I
can always speak on both the human-animal bond and to the affect that animals have had on my own life and the
role they have played in my family. However, I am still constantly in awe and inspired when I hear stories of these
special creatures that form bonds with us and how they can change our lives.
Such was the case when I met Teri Simas and her daughter Lizzy.
The Simas’ story starts when nine-year-old Lizzy, who has multiple
health issues, had to enter the hospital in 2001 to undergo a series
of hip surgeries. At the time they had a Bassett Hound named
Samantha who had been Lizzy’s constant companion and who was
adopted from the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA.
During her stay in the hospital, Lizzy was also visited by another
Lizzy: a West Highland White Terrier therapy dog. According to Teri,
this little dog was the highlight of Lizzy’s stay and was in fact so
instrumental in her hospital recovery that at one point when Lizzy
had to be resuscitated, Lizzy the dog was immediately put into her bed to encourage her to fight on. Teri fully
believes that it was this dog that helped to keep her daughter alive.
When Lizzy returned home, in a full-body cast, she was
enthusiastically greeted by Samantha. In the living room,
turned hospital suite, Samantha jumped up onto Lizzy’s bed,
and continued to snuggle with her during the difficult weeks
of her recuperation.
Though Samantha the Bassett passed away last year, the
Simas family has welcomed several new dogs into their home
including two that have a very special bond with their youngest
daughter – Suzy Q, a Westie, who was brought home in honor
of the dog that made such an impact on Lizzy, and Mallery, a
Golden Retriever who is a certified seizure response dog and who
accompanies Lizzy wherever she goes since she was diagnosed
with epilepsy.
As you’ll see in this issue’s cover story on Pet-Assisted Therapy, Lizzy is one of many people who have come to
depend on the love and bond that these wonderful animals provide us with everyday. Thank you for your support
and for helping us to continue to make programs like these available.
Mark Goldstein, D.V.M.
President of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA
www.sdhumane.org
AnimalFare • Fall 2006
Photo: Melisa Codgell