Porsche, Beamer, Lexus, and Bentley

We may be biased, but we feel our companion animals are the absolute cutest!  I'm sending a recent photo of each of our cats and dogs:

Porsche (grey & white cat)
Beamer (black cat)
Lexus ("Lexey" - black/white/tan dog)
Bentley (black & tan dog)
 
FYI -- Lexey (the dog sniffing the daffodil) got his 10 seconds of fame with this photo on weatherman Brant Miller's post-weather photos (Ch. 5) a few weeks ago.  The newscasters thought he was adorable--and, of course, we agree!
 
Keep up the great work at Knollwood.  The felines and canines are doing great--thanks to Knollwood keeping them healthy and happy!
 
Lorie & Curt Crouse

Citrus

Our own HA/NA Anney was making a pot of soup for the clinic's monthly staff meeting, and her cat Citrus decided to "help." 

The soup tasted great, Citrus!

Munchkin and Mitch

These Christmas critters are the pets of our very own Nurse Jill!

The kitty is Munchkin, the lizard is Mitch. They were unwilling participants in my Christmas card this year, as you can tell by the look on the cat's face.  :)

~Jill

Charlie

Charlie is a former KPR dog that was adopted by Dr. Mitchell's mom!

Grandma Mitchell and Charlie say 'Happy Holidays!'

Scooter

Scooter was one of KPR's first success stories!  We recently received a note from Scooter that we wanted to share:

Hi Dr. Mitchell,

It's me, Scooter!  I have a lovely home and I'm spoiled rotten and love every minute of it!

Just thinking of you and the staff and I'm sending happy holiday wishes to you.  Take care and thank you for finding me a home.  My owner and I love each other.

Scooter 

Goodbye to Michelle!

Thank you to former Receptionist Michelle for five years of dedicated service.  Many of our clients have met Michelle over the years, but few of you knew that she was driving to work every day from the Rockford area.  Over the years her drive has been getting harder and more time-consuming, so Michelle has made the decision to relocate closer to home.   With the help of former Knollwood Nurse Jenny, who relocated to the same area three years ago, Michelle has found a position at a veterinary hospital nearer to Rockford.  We wish her well in her future endeavors!

Sadie

Princess Sadie would like to wish everyone a Happy Halloween!

Ashley L.

Congratulations to our very own Nurse Assistant, Ashley, on being accepted into the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine's Early College Acceptance Program!
In her second year of college, Ashley has consistently maintained a 4.0 GPA.  She was invited to interview and evidently impressed the interviewers, as she was offered a spot in a future entering class the very same day.

Congratulations Ashley!  Your Knollwood family is very proud of you and wish you nothing but success in the future.

Chinook

Chinook is dressed and ready to Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween from the Mayrs!

Piper

Dr. Tartof's dog, Piper, shows off her 'wonder'ful Halloween costume! 

Happy Trick or Treating, Piper!

Aspen did Binkies!

In the midst of worrying about our bunny, Emmett, and our guinea pig, Olga, Aspen must have known that I needed my spirits lifted!

Aspen is a 12 year and 11 month old bunny who has arthritis that we manage with 3 different medicines prescribed by Dr. Mitchell. Most days you can tell she is still a little stiff. But today, she sped around her room for about 5 minutes doing numerous binkies along the way.

(A binky is a bunny's "happy dance" and is one of the many ways they express "feeling good" and "celebration."  When a rabbit binkies, he or she jumps into the air and twists their head and body in opposite directions (sometimes twice) before falling back to the ground. This can be done while standing in one place, or while running.)

Then she stopped for a moment to be naughty and pull on some of her blankies, then it was right back to binkying around the room.  I just wish I had my camera ready!!  She ended her celebration with a nice long munch of some timothy hay in her litterbox with her husbun, Hayward.

Thank you, Aspen, for starting my day off with laughs and showing me you still have a lot of spunk left in you, despite your age. We love your  enthusiasm for life.

Love,
Mom and Dad

A Great Idea From The Crouses!

The Crouses came up with a fantastic idea to combine crates for dogs that need a little extra space, or for those who would like some company!

Here is what Lorie had to say about the 42" crates that they had put together end to end:

This works out great for the dogs to each have their own space if they choose or cuddle up together on one side--and it works out nicely to have the crates along the wall.  The end result is having two crates together with a door on opposite ends. 
 
Curt had to remove the solid back of one, and we used large metal binder clips to clip the two together, spacing them evenly across the wire slats on top and on the two sides.  Note:  You need to remove the metal parts that open the clips once you have them in place.  The dogs will bite them off and could possibly injure themselves with them!!!  The clips themselves are very tight, and the dogs cannot remove them once in place.

Thank you to the Crouses for their innovation and for sharing it with us!

The Kropp Family

The parents of our very own Nurse, Jill, are chili competition champions!  They are headed to the World's Championship Chili Cookoff at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston, WV, where Jill's mom is competing in Green Chili and Salsa, and Jill's dad is hoping to make it in the last chance round of Red Chili.  The TLC channel is also going to be filming there for a future food show!

UPDATE: The Kropps didn't win for their chili this time, but they DID win for their booth, and they got bragging rights in several news interviews!

To learn more about Jill's parents and their chili competition adventures, visit their website at chilicats.com.

Natascha and Nicky

Natascha’s 9th birthday extravaganza...
A new “Doxie doll” for the birthday girl!

Mmmm. Birthday cake!

Jake's Birthday

Heather, Jake's "mom," shared pictures of Jake celebrating his 6th birthday with a canine cupcake!

Happy Birthday to you, Jake!  We hope it was great!

Ozzy Flaim

Ozzy's "mom," Fern, sent us this adorable picture of Ozzy begging at the table at dinnertime!  How do you say no to this cute face?

Boone

Boone takes a moment to enjoy the arrival of Spring!

Beamish Sanders

The first Bernese Mountain Dog ever to earn APDT's highest title - Rally Champion Extraordinaire - is Beamish Sanders, who accomplished the feat on March 15.

Beamish was also named to APDT's Top Twenty Overall for 2008. This is a national all-breed ranking of points earned during the calendar year for scores of 191 or better. Beamish is the first Bernese with this recognition as well.

I know he would never have done so much without Dr. Mitchell's special touch.

Thanks!

Brenda Sanders - Rockton Illinois and "Beamish" 
ARCH-EX U-CDX U-AG1 Wagontale's Nordic Last Call CD RE NAJ NAP OJP NFP CGC RL3X RL2X2 RL1X CL1 CL2R CL4F

The Chastain Family

Carla and Tim, and furry "brother" Jacob, welcomed Benjamin Daniel to the world on March 19th!  Benjamin weighed in at 7 lbs, 9 oz and was 21 inches long. 

Congratultations to the Chastains on the new addition to their family!

Tina

Our very own Nurse, Tina, has been accepted to both the University of Illinois and University of Minnesota Colleges of Veterinary Medicine!  We at Knollwood are so incredibly proud of Tina and all of her accomplishments!

Update: Tina was just accepted to her THIRD veterinary school!  She now has Western in California to add to her options.  Any of the three schools would be lucky to have her!

Update #2: Tina was just accepted to her FOURTH veterinary school - Colorado State University, for their combination DVM/MPH (Masters in Public Health) program.  This really opens the door for her to many new career opportunities besides those available in private practice.

 When you see Tina at the clinic, be sure to congratulate her on her successes!

Payton Johnson

This February 10th, Payton celebrated his 10th birthday. We had a wonderful celebration and are still celebrating all of the wonderful extra days we've had with Payton thanks to Dr. Mitchell and everyone at Knollwood Hospital for Pets.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The Johnson Family

Toto

As some of you may remember, Toto was one of our most recent KPR babies.  He was relinquished to the clinic in September after his owner passed away.  The Doctors and staff of Knollwood got Toto in tip-top shape, which included major dental work.

In December, Toto moved to his new forever home - in Tennessee!  Thanks to members of our extended Knollwood family via the internet, Julian heard about Toto and had to adopt him.  Toto has made a lot of new friends, and is now living a very charmed life!

Julian had this to say:

He is settling in really well and I am delighted to have him. He traveled to California with me last week and charmed the socks off of many of my relatives.  His manners on the plane were impeccable too.

All in all, he's one of my best Christmas presents ever. Thank you!

To Lizzie

Just a note from your friends Blossom & Luigi Goles, to wish you a Happy Turkey Day and to tell you how happy we are that you are feeling better!

You have an awesome Mom and we just love her for all she does for us...

XOXO

Beamish Sanders

Beamish had an amazing 6 weekends this fall. Between October 11 and November 15 he completed four titles: UKC Companion Dog Excellent and Agility 1, AKC Novice Agility Preferred and APDT Rally Champion Excellent and earned second legs in CPE Agility Level 4 Jumpers and AKC Agility Novice Fast. Oh, and he celebrated his 4th birthday on November 7th! Beamish's official name is now bigger than he is!
 
ARCHX UCDX UAG1 Wagontale's Nordic Last Call CD RE NAJ NAP OJP CGC RL3 RL2X RL1X CL1 CL3F
 
Thanks, Dr. Mitchell for keeping him healthy and speedy!!
 
Brenda Sanders

Ms. Kitty from California

Ms. Kitty vants to vish you a Happy Halloween!

Happy Birthday Nellie! 

Birthday greetings from KC in Sacramento, CA to his teen sister who just left for college in Brenham, TX:

"I miss & love you, Nellie! Happy 18th Birthday & good luck at college!"

We are AAHA-Accredited and Celebrating!

Our hospital was evaluated this month on almost 900 rigorous veterinary standards of excellence.  We are proud to be one of the 15% of AAHA-accredited hospitals in the United States and Canada.

AAHA standards of accreditation cover patient care, pain management, emergency and urgent care and more that are critical to the delivery of high quality veterinary care.  Our Doctors and Staff work very hard to maintain this level of quality that is expected from an AAHA-accredited hospital and are very proud of this status.  We use these AAHA standards to make sure that your pet is getting the care and attention that he or she deserves!

We would also like to acknowledge you - our clients and extended family - for supporting our clinic and allowing us into your pets' lives.  You are the reason that we work as hard as we do, and we're honored that you've chosen us to care for your pets!  Thank you!

Phylicia Bozzi, Future Artist!

Phylicia is not only a very talented artist, but she's also the sister of Michelle, our Office Manager.  Phylicia drew the picture on the right, using the stipple technique, which uses dots rather than lines.

Thanks for sharing your talent with us, Phylicia!

K.C.

King Chocolate Mitchell-Gottlob, Dr. Mitchell's "nephew," is stopping to smell the flowers that are already blooming in Sacramento.  We're jealous, K.C. - send some of that good weather our way!

Our very own Katie!

Congratulations to Katie on being accepted to the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois AND the University of Minnesota!  We're very proud of you and we know you will be a fantastic veterinarian someday, no matter which school you decide to attend!

Our very own Nikki and Chani!

We want to congratulate Nikki and Chani on their acceptance into Roosevelt University!  Chani will be studying to become a math teacher, and Nikki will be studying to become a veterinarian.  Congratulations!  We know you both will do great things and we're all very proud of you!

K.C.

King Chocolate Mitchell-Gottlob of Sacramento sent us this lovely message to sweeten our day:

"Love & licks to the Knollwood staff..."

The Pastor Family

Rosie Pastor and Santa (top left) -- The volunteers serving as Santa's elves at PetSmart made a big fuss over 17-year-old JRT Rosie.  She got more biscuits than she needed, but who doesn't overindulge in December?  Because of the good care she gets from Dr. Mitchell, Rosie is still able to enjoy her favorite holiday. 

The Pastor Family and Santa (middle) -- The volunteers at PetSmart were expecting the Jack Russells and we didn't let them down.  Sue is holding Tucker (age 8), Santa is holding Rosie (age 17) and Mark is holding Chip (age 3).

Tucker Pastor (bottom left) -- JRT Tucker (age 8) poses for his holiday portrait.  His dad, Mark, is a professional pet photographer, so Tucker gets his picture taken all the time.  Tucker is enjoying the holidays thanks to the Chinese herbs prescribed by Dr. Mitchell.

Porkchop Ebeling

Sara dressed up 4 month old Porkchop for Halloween and this is what she had to say about her cute little pup:

"Porkchop was Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean for Halloween. He won a Halloween pet costume contest and was voted “cutest costume.” I had to take this picture with him propped up on the couch because he could barely keep his head up with the hat, as big as it was. Maybe he’ll fit in it a little better next year!"

Roxie

Dr. Mitchell's sister, Becky, sent a great picture of her dog, Roxie, all dolled up for Halloween!  Becky said Roxie was giving her dirty looks while "caught" in her spider web, but she was able to get a picture with doggie treat bribery!

Happy Halloween to Becky and Roxie!

Taffy Hall

Jim and Ronda shared this great picture of their bunny, Taffy, and his hidden talent:

"He invented this game of balancing the vertical blinds from our patio door on his nose.  He pushes them out as far as he can, and bobs-and-weaves to keep them balanced.  Once they slide off, he goes back and gets another one."

Adorable!

Welcome Savannah!

Our Head Nurse Jenny, and her husband Shawn, welcomed their daughter to the world on October 16!  Savannah Eileen was born at 2:42pm, weighing 7 lbs, 4 oz, and measuring 20 inches. 

Congratulations Jenny and Shawn on your beautiful new addition!

Way to go, Altrese! 

Altrese Hawkins, a former employee of Knollwood, was recently featured in the Daily Herald for being a phenomenal volleyball player!  Altrese also plays in the school band - she's a girl of many talents!  She worked with us as a hospital assistant, as a first step on her road to becoming a veterinarian.  Click here to view the Daily Herald article in its entirety. 

Everyone at Knollwood is very proud of you, Altrese!

(Photo taken by Joe Lewnard/Daily Herald)

Welcome Home Spc. Donald Bozzi!

Spc. Donald Bozzi, brother of our Front Desk Supervisor, Michelle, is finally home after serving two years with the U.S. Army in Iraq.  To honor Spc. Bozzi, and thank him for his service, the Village of Schaumburg has asked him to be a parade marshal during the Septemberfest Labor Day Parade.   Click here to view the Schaumburg Review article in its entirety. 

Thank you, Spc. Bozzi, for your service to our country!

(Photo taken by Dan Luedert/Pioneer Local)

The Martin Dogs

Cockers Dacee and Delaney, and Samoyed Dessa enjoy a "dog day" of summer - what's better than a little fun and sun with your family?

The Padron Rats

The Padron family is very proud of their furry friends' lineage - which includes a rat that was named after our very own Dr. Mitchell!

Tessa Sanders

Nine days before her 10th birthday, Tessa (aka The Amazing Miss Tessa) completed her 23rd title by earning her CPE Agility CSL I F. She ran 2 clean courses, 8 and 10 seconds under course time respectively, earning two first places, and jumping at a senior-appropriate 16".   She is now officially:
UACHX UCD Wagontale Heavens to Betty CD RAE OA NAJ AXP OR CGC RL1 CSL1F NDD
Working Dog

But in exchange for cookies and/or butt rubs, you may just call her Tessa.

Katie Meuris

Happy 12th Birthday to our girl, Katie!

Katie turns 12 on May 17th, quite a milestone for a girl who has healed from a torn Achilles tendon and is now battling cancer. For now, she's holding her own thanks to Dr. M.'s TLC and "magic herbs".

Thanks to everyone at Knollwood for such great care!

Thanks,
Mom Sharon & Dad Jim

The Daisies, Brownies, and Girl Scouts of Dooley School

Knollwood Hospital for Pets is giving these girls an A+ for generosity!  They took up a great collection to support the KPR pets.  These giving girls donated canned and dry pet food and treats, kitty litter, many toys, and other wonderful items to keep our KPR pets happy and comfortable.  All of the KPR pets also have their own brand-new food dishes, personally decorated by one of the girls! 

Our KPR pets will feel very special while they wait for a forever home of their own, thanks to these good-hearted girls!

Rosie Pastor

Dad Mark had this to say about his perky "puppy," Rosie:

"This is Rosie, a 16 year old JRT and happy patient at Knollwood.  Thanks for your care and expertise.  Rosie led a healthy athletic life as Frisbee Dog champion but your care as she ages into retirement has really improved her and helped her enjoy the good times.  She follows me everywhere."

Marty and P.J. Siuda

Mom Nancy loves her boys (Marty, in blue, and P.J., in turquoise) - especially when they're adorable in their sweaters and playing in the snow!

Tartan Ronan

Mom Carol said everyone has a case of cabin fever right now, but Tartan seems to have found a great way to spend a cold Saturday afternoon!

Janie Tarico

Mom Susann was busy getting ready while 10 year old Yorkie, Janie, was dramatically and impatiently waiting for her to come out!  And for the record, Mom said she really didn't take that long!!

Teddi, Hooch, and Hannah Kaczmarek

The Kaczmarek dogs (Teddi the Rottweiler, Hooch the Mastiff, and Hannah the Bordeaux) are living the good life - playing, sleeping, and just being pampered pooches!

Cloe, Luigi, and Blossom Goles

To the right are two pictures that proud "mom," Gail, has sent of her babies. 

The top photo shows Cloe, Luigi, and Blossom, with a friendly visitor for the holidays, Lacey.

The bottom photo shows Cloe, Blossom, and Luigi, looking out the window, waiting for Mom to come home!

Cody Young

Pictured to the left is Cody Young and his late "sisters" Middy and Nuggett.  This is not only a celebration of Cody's health, which is remarkable for a 15 year old dog, but a celebration of Cody's "mom," Pam.    

Pam has come up with a remarkable way to track Cody's diet, vitamins, supplements, and even treats in an organized manner that anyone can follow.  Dr. Mitchell was very impressed with this method!  Pam has listed everything that passes through Cody's lips into a Word document - including water, treats, his homemade diet with cooking instructions, and when to give each item.  She has even photocopied the labels of all the foods and treats she uses, as well as the nutritional information for each product, and placed them in a notebook, where everything can be easily found. 

Here is what Pam had to say about her notebook and Cody's diet:

"The diet has evolved over time, based on what I've read and my dogs' health and needs.  I've started using the raw diet (which I now cook) and high-end canned/dry foods about 6-7 years ago.  I've added the other supplements over time and have adjusted the diet as my dog's health and age requirements changed.  Most of the information I read about in the Whole Dog Journal (a monthly publication that is a wonderful source of information.)  As far as benefits, I think my dogs have been healthier for the diet.  Unfortunately, my dogs have also had their share of health problems.    Nuggett passed away at age 10 1/2 of cancer, however, I was told that she would not have lasted as long as she did if I hadn't been so diligent with her diet.  Middy (the little black dog I adopted after Nuggett died,) also got cancer and passed away at the end of October.  Again, Dr. Mitchell told me that she lasted as long as she did because of my care (she was diagnosed at the end of last December, 2005, and was given a month to live - she stayed with me for 10 months.)  Cody just turned 15 and is doing really well for a dog of his age.  Everyone remarks how good he looks for a 15 year old dog.

Other things I want to add to my notebook are where to buy the food and supplements (all the food I get from Animal Feeds and Needs in Arlington Heights, IL; the vitamins and other supplements are obtained from a health food store or anywhere vitamins are sold.)

I also want to list any allergies that the dogs have, a medical record for them, maybe even a training record.  The original intent was so that someone could come into my house and feed my dogs in my absence.  The more I've thought about it, the more information I think would be valuable for anyone that might have to take care of my dogs if I were gone."

We at Knollwood think this is great idea to keep your pets happy and healthy - and it's very helpful to the Doctors when an owner can give them very detailed information about their pet's diets!  Kudos to Pam and Cody!

Tessa Sanders

Tessa and I traveled to Michigan on October 14, where Tessa passed her draft dog test! She earned the title Novice Draft Dog and also Working Dog, for which you must have earned titles in 3 different performance events. At 9 years, 3 months and 18 days of age, Tessa was the oldest entrant. We had to ask the judges if we could pass the younger SLOW dogs on the one mile freight haul. They kindly said yes, so Tessa finished the haul at the head of the pack. These were Tessa's 19th and 20th titles...an amazing accomplishment! (Tessa wants to interrupt here-"Please be aware that my Mom has earned 50 titles on 7 different dogs and 20 of them belong to ME!")

Tessa's official name is now:

UACHX UCD Wagontale Heavens to Betty CD RE OA NAJ AXP OJP CGC NDD Working Dog

The average lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dogs is 7-1/2 years. I know we couldn't have done this without Dr. Mitchell's excellent regimen of diet, chiropractic, acupuncture and herbs keeping Tessa healthy and sound. THANK YOU.

Brenda Sanders

Mikki Howard

Here's what Mikki's parents, Dawn and Tim, had to say about how Mikki became a mascot for the company Dawn works for:

"After a lot of bouncing around over the past 4 years, I have finally found an employer I love - Ambitech Engineering in Downers Grove.  To show my company pride, I made Mikki a little shirt for our annual company picnic."

And don't worry, Mikki isn't sad in his close up - he's just trying to avoid the paparazzi that were trying to snap a shot of this celebrity mascot!

Thanks a "bunch" to Mrs. Livesay!

Have you ever noticed the gorgeous flowers at our front desk each week?  Mrs. Livesay, "mom" to Sabrina, a former KPR kitty, has been bringing us bouquets of fresh flowers from her garden since early spring!  She brings us more than just flowers when she comes in each week, though - she also brings smiles to our faces with her thoughtfulness!

Murphy Rogers

Murphy's taking the time to enjoy the beautiful summer weather - basking in the sun and stopping to smell the flowers!

Welcome Max!

Kelly Ryan, the webmistress, and her husband Neil, welcomed Maxwell Quigley into their family on March 27, 2006.  He weighed in at 10 lbs, 5 oz and was 22 inches long.  Their three furbabies - Cheeto, Charlie, and Obiwan - are getting along swimmingly with their new little "brother!"

Oreo

Happy 2nd birthday to Oreo!  His mom, Theresa, said you can tell from the look on his face that he wishes that was a REAL cake!

Dear Prudence...

Prudence is showing off her highly skilled athletic abilities at the playground!  There's no better feeling than your ears flapping in the wind as you go down a slide!

Welcome Kathryn Margaret!

Congratulations to Annie and Kieran Murphy on the new addition to their family!  Kathryn was born on March 16, weighing 6 pounds, 15 ounces and measuring 20 1/2 inches.  Best wishes to the proud parents for happiness and health!

The Peters Cats

Leia, Bubba, Rainbow, Stimpy, and Gizmo are living the good life with their favorite stuffed bear, Beeno!

Aneeka

Wait a minute!  Dr. Mitchell doesn't have a horse as a patient, does she?!  No, this is another of her "nieces."  Aneeka is a 15.3 hand mare who lives in northern England with Dr. Mitchell's brother, John. 

Roxie

Below is what Ed and Becky Obermark, parents to Roxie (also Dr. Mitchell's "niece"), had to say about their dog who was rescued as a puppy after being left to fend for herself at the Current River:

"Very sick and nearly helpless at rescue, she is now healthy & enjoying the good life in the company of Dr. Mitchell's sister and family who love her very much. She lives with her family of four in Washington, Missouri.  Her hobbies?  She enjoys a good walk in the neighborhood, a quick massage in the morning, playing fetch, giving high fives on command, retrieving the squeaky bulbs out of new dog toys, and sneaking on Molly's bed for a nap.  She's the best and we wouldn't trade her for anything in the world!  There is gold at the Current River!" 

Chinook and Trina Mayr

Below is what Mona Mayr, mom to Chinook (7 years) and Trina (12 years), had to say about her little swimmers:

"Swimming to maintain overall muscle tone has been an incredible gift for my dogs.  Together with good veterinary, chiropractic and acupuncture the swimming is helping to provide a better quality of life for my kids."

Brinks and Toby Mustion

Brinks and Toby, the newest additions to the Mustion family, are Boerboel puppies.  They didn't need any direction when posing for this adorable picture!  They already know that they're stars!

K.C. (King Chocolate)

K.C. is Dr. Mitchell's "nephew;" he's a rescued Chocolate Dalmation who lives with Dr. Mitchell's sister and family in Sacramento, California.  He had his first taste of "Greenies" just a week before Christmas, and here he is, hoping and wishing that some land in his stocking!  K.C. says: "Neener, neener, all my Chicago dog friends--my winter weather is better than yours!"

Sadie and Samme Kuester

Sadie is sitting in a 1950 Buick - Dad swears he heard her say, "Come on, I'm ready to cruise!"

Samme and Mom are cuddling before bed - and Samme is making sure to give Mom a good night kiss.

The Milella Cats

Charlie Skampers, Kitty Farkus, Coco, and Milka all showing their holiday spirit!

Beaux

I didn't drool on anyone today!

Beaux Boudreaux