There’s no way to put a monetary value on the unconditional love of a pet. However, when Kathy and Bill Reed reflected on how much it meant to them to have quality years with their dog Sheldon after his cancer diagnosis, they knew they wanted to give back.
“We wanted to help other pets and their families have that same opportunity,” they said.
It all started when one of their pets developed an illness that required advanced specialty care.
“Our local veterinarian is a graduate of the University of Illinois vet med program,” they said. “She referred us to the college’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital.”
Sheldon Goes to the University of Illinois
The Reeds were impressed by the way they and Sheldon were treated at the hospital. “Every person we met—whether doctor, staff, or student—was very professional, caring, and doing their utmost to help Sheldon,” the couple recalled. “At each visit, their concern and affection for him was obvious.”
As a referral center, the teaching hospital has the most comprehensive veterinary facilities in the state of Illinois. It offers more than 16 areas of veterinary specialization from anesthesiology to zoo medicine.
“We felt very fortunate that we were able to have Sheldon treated at Vet Med,” they said.
Sheldon received treatment by the oncology service for five years. When he passed, the Reeds decided to establish the Sheldon Reed Memorial Fund. Their gift will help other people who may not be able to afford the care their pet needs.
“We had given intermittently over the past few years, but we wanted to memorialize Sheldon,” they said. “His treatment allowed us to have that additional time with him we might not otherwise have had.”
‘Helping Others Always Feels Good’
The advancement professionals at the College of Veterinary Medicine made the process of establishing the fund very easy.
“We discussed a couple of ideas for memorializing our pet. They were able to quickly understand what we wanted to achieve and the best ways to accomplish it.”
After touring the hospital, the Reeds could clearly see how their gift would positively impact the lives of people’s pets.
“The facility, treatment options, and education of future veterinarians are all crucial,” they said. “The people we met across the hospital were very dedicated and giving, trying to provide the best experience for the veterinary students. We are fortunate to live in an area that provides such an environment.”
The process of establishing a fund led the Reeds to think more about their future plans and what they hope to accomplish.
“Helping others always feels good. We are glad we are able to help other people and their pets access veterinary care,” they said. “We get more out of it than do those who are helped—a bit selfish on our part!”
