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When Amanda Reck’s beloved cat, Pinecone, was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, she took her to the Advanced Veterinary Care Specialty Center in the Town of Newburgh. Similarly, when five-year-old Gabriel Cherniss’ dog, Columbus, was diagnosed with cancer, he and his parents took their companion animal to the same center.
It was Amanda and Gabe’s personal experiences that inspired them to give back to the center, and to help other pet owners that might be faced with the challenges associated with a very sick pet.
Amanda, a 17-year old Girl Scout from Ridgefield, Connecticut, decided to plant an all-season meditation garden at the center; a peaceful and tranquil place pet owners could utilize when faced with making difficult decisions or while waiting for their pets to complete treatment. Amanda designed and planted the garden herself, receiving generous donations from nurseries and garden stores in both Newburgh and Connecticut.
“She designed, measured, dug, planted, watered and mulched, sometimes in the pouring rain, through tornado warnings, even after dark by car headlight, including the day before her senior prom. She was extremely dedicated to this project from start to finish, and we are very grateful to her for the tremendous job she has done,” said Darcy Binder, President of the Tails for Hope Foundation Inc.
Tails for Hope is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing veterinary medicine and eradicating life-threatening diseases in companion animals. The organization, along with Citizens Bank of Newburgh, host the garden’s dedication ceremony.
During the garden’s dedication ceremony, Amanda was awarded the Girl Scout’s Gold Award, one of the highest ranking awards, for her project.
After his dog, Columbus, was successfully treated for cancer, Gabe Cherniss decided that for his fifth birthday, instead of presents, he wanted his friends and family members to donate money to Tails for Hope’s cause. The little boy ended up raising $464, making him the youngest contributor to the foundation.
Amanda and Gabe both received awards for their generous acts from Citizens Bank.
Anna Lillian Moser
The Mid Hudson Times
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
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