Elmhurst Animal Care Center Signs on to Help Human Clients Fight Cancer [VIDEO]

Bet you didn't know it was raining cats and dogs on Saturday—and not a single person got wet. Except by way of slobbery kisses, that is.

Elmhurst Animal Care Center, at 850 S. Riverside Drive, is celebrating 10 years in business, and on Saturday, the center opened its doors for tours, family activities and pet adoptions.

It also rolled out to the public a unique new partnership designed to help humans stay healthy along with their pets.

Veterinarians across the country have found that when clients bring their pets in for treatment, they often ask the vet about their own health. Peter Weber, executive director of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, said this gives vets a unique opportunity.

"Veterinarians are important to the health of your pet, but they also are very important to public health," he said to the crowd gathered at Elmhurst Animal Care Center. "We anticipate veterinarians will become public health advocates on issues like heart disease, diabetes and other common issues that affect clients."

But a very specific goal of the new partnership is to reduce the number of women who die of ovarian cancer, Weber said. To that end, Elmhurst Animal Care Center is partnering with the Ovarian Cancer Symptom Awareness Organization's Veterinary Outreach Program.

Roots of the Partnership

OCSA was founded by Chicagoans Susan and Rick Roman and their friend, Vallie Szymanski, after Susan was diagnosed with Stage III ovarian cancer in 2009.

"If you catch it early enough, it's a very curable disease," Weber said.

Unfortunately, many people don't catch it early because the symptoms are so vague. Susan succumbed to the disease last year, but Szymanski is bound and determined to expand these partnerships with veterinary clinics so Susan's legacy will live on.

From now on, a brochure on the counter at Elmhurst Animal Care Center will make the information clear and present for clients.

Personal Connections

Elmhurst Animal Care Center owner Sandra Faeh spoke on Saturday about her mother, who is a breast cancer survivor, and her aunt, who has survived uterine cancer.

"This is so important," she said. "Every veterinarian has stories of people coming in and saying, 'What do you think this spot on my arm is?' There's something about our pets that make us more comfortable and willing to talk. We do hear a lot. We've saved and helped so many of our four-legged friends, I hope we can do more with our two-legged friends, as well."

It won't be an assertive or overt conversation, but veterinarians across the state are hoping to make a difference.

"More than 20,000 women will be diagnosed this year, and 14,000 will die. That's just not acceptable," said Dr. Kurt Klepitsch, owner of the first Veterinary Outreach Program member clinic, in St. Charles, and an OCSA Board member. His niece has been battling the disease for the past 15 months. She was diagnosed at just 19 years old.

"This cause became very personal to me," Klepitsch said. I knew I had to get more active, get out of my comfort zone, get out and speak in public. I can't even begin to tell you how difficult the last 15 months have been for my family. I wouldn't wish this (disease) on my worst enemy.

"We have a unique opportunity and ability to inform people about this disease and other diseases. People respect us, trust us with the care of their family members. I think we can help save lives."
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Magnificent Mutts and Cat Vando

Rescue organizations Magnificent Mutts and Cat Vando also are saving lives—of the four-legged kind. Linda Latelle of Mag Mutts said her organization has saved about 600 animals a year over the last 10 years. And, at the open house on Saturday, dozens of Mag Mutts dogs and cats of all ages were successfully adopted.

To adopt, foster or volunteer with Magnificent Mutts, visit the organization's website or email magmuttsrescue@aol.com

Cat Vando also attended the open house, and brought lots of lovable cats for adoption. The organization employs a trap/neuter/return procedure to permanently reduce the feral cat population in the Chicago area. Feral cats are taken off the street, neutered, micro-chipped and returned to their home territory, where colony managers continue to care for them.

For more information, visit www.catvando.org or email catvandotnr@yahoo.com.