Our first story of our "Celebrating 50 Clients for our 50th Anniversary" series is about our dear client Kathi Ortmeier. We love when Kathi comes with any of her own dogs, her sweet old Sassie kitty, a litter of beagle puppies or any other rescued bassets or beagles or mixes! Kathi also leads one of our very favorite rescue groups, Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland.
Wrigley and her littermate Maddux have both overcome distemper.
Here is Kathi's story...
Tell us about your family – humans and pets!
I come from a long line of dog lovers. I got my first beagles at four years of age, and I grew up with lots of dogs and cats. Even though I run Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland, I have no purebred beagles of my own right now! I currently am owned by Sassie Cat at 24 years old, Jack, a schnoodle, Mike Wasowski, a Jack Russell terrier/cairn terrier mix, Nigel, a pug, Honey Bee aka Beatrix, a greyhound/Lab and Wrigley a beagle/Lab. All of my pets are rescues.
Jack the Schnoodle
We love you Mike Wazowski!
Oh Nigel!
Honey Bee
What do you do for a living and for fun?
I work for a computer billing and software management company. For fun I like to garden, read, do stuff with my dogs and pretend I am crafty. I am not crafty, but I enjoy the attempts!
Tell us more about the pets you have now and the pets you have had in the past.
Because I foster for a rescue, Gentle Doctor has seen a lot of dogs come and go from my house. Last year, we lost five dogs, and without the caring staff, I do not think I would have kept going and rescuing.
Toby, you are missed.
Dexter, you are missed too.
I have so many stories of the dogs and my ancient cat I wouldn’t know where to begin! Sassie Cat was adopted from the Nebraska Humane Society at 18 years of age, and she is still going strong!
Sassie Cat, doing well at 24 years of age!
Tell us about when you first met the Gentle Doctor team or a story about the team others may not know.
The first appointment, I brought Riley in to check out the staff and facilities. I met Dr. Bashara, and I don’t know if he knew immediately how special Riley was, but he got down on the ground and cuddled him like he had known him for years. He had me at the first cuddle.
Dr. Finch is currently our go-to vet for Wrigley. Wrigley had parvo and distemper as a puppy, and she has lingering effects from it. Dr. Finch, Kelly, Stephanie and Jen all have been very encouraging as we navigate the waters with a special needs dog. We also love Dr. Ryan and Dr. Stokes!
What have you learned about pets that you did not know as a kid or before you had your own pets?
I have learned that I like old dogs more than puppies. That is why I try to only foster puppies. They are a lot of work, and I am not tempted to keep them!
Oh Trudy Tiger Killer, you are missed too, sweet girl.
Do you have wisdom about any medical conditions that you could share with someone who is perhaps just starting to walk their pet through a similar situation?
What haven’t I seen? I should have said that I still haven’t seen Cushing’s disease or Addison’s disease.
Do you have a favorite breed or type of pet?
I love dogs. All dogs. Although I am partial to beagles, Labs, feisty terriers and pugs.
Is there a shelter or rescue group that is dear to you that you would like us to help spread the word about?
Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland!
Is there a non-pet related cause you would like us to help spread the word about?
Siena/Francis House and Lydia's House!
Is there anything else we should include in your story?
Some people may think of rescues as second-hand pets. Don’t think that. They are just as loving, special and deserving of love as any other animal. If you do buy from a breeder, do your research. Go to the breeder facility. See the parents. And of course many, many purebreds are at your local shelter and rescues!