2015: YORKSHIRE TERRIER NATIONAL RESCUE ENDS A STELLAR YEAR OF INNOVATION by MARY ELIzAbETh DugMORE, PATRIcIA KuShNIR & JuLIE gEDRO
Y orkshire Terrier National Rescue, Inc., (YTNR) a nonprofit headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, continues to hold fast to its mission of rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming Yorkshire Terriers in need. This year, the organization created several inno- vations that have expanded its capacity to work effectively as an organization, as well as categorize and quantify the effectiveness of its programs. Because YTNR is a national organiza- tion, it has volunteers across the United States. The Board of Directors consists of people who are accomplished in a variety of fields, including healthcare, higher education, and technology. As such, the Board held its first video con- ference that replaced--for this year--the in-person meeting. YTNR is pleased to expand its capacity for intra-orga- nizational interaction, and feels that by implementing video-conference capabilities, the Board will be able to operate with even greater effective- ness. YTNR did not have an in-person “Family and Friends” weekend in 2015; however, plans are currently underway for a 2016 weekend celebration and board meeting in person in Nashville. YTNR’s Board of Directors is pleased to report that an acuity model is under development. Linda Connor and Cor- rine Ellison, both board members, have developed a draft acuity model that pro- vides a framework of health condition, type of treatment indicated, and level of severity of condition. This model allows YTNR to categorize the types of rescues with whom it works and rehabilitates. The organization reports preliminary findings, that the level of severity of health issues of the dogs with whom they work, has become increasingly severe. YTNR plans to use the data acquired through this acuity model, to be able to quantify the impact of the work that it does.
The Smoky AwArdS Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue also honors our rescues by giving out the Smoky Award to the Rescue of the Year. Smoky was a four-pound Yorkie that was found in an abandoned jungle fox- hole in New Guinea in early 1944 by a soldier whose jeep had stalled in the jungle. The next day the Yorkie was sold for two Australian pounds ($6.44) to 20-year-old PFC Bill Wynne. Bill and Smoky flew combat missions and went through many air raids together. She lived on typical rugged army food including at times C and K rations, while serving 18 months straight together in combat. When YTNR was planning its very first Rescue Ball in 1999, the first thing that came to mind was creating a spe- cial award for the Yorkie Rescue of the Year. It seemed logical to name the award after Bill Wynne’s world famous Yorkie. After nominations came in, it quickly became clear that each story was special and touching. Each success- ful rescue is wonderful and heartwarm- ing, just as Smoky was. She started a movement, in rescue, in therapy, in obe- dience that showed people what a four pound dynamo could do. This year, Smoky is awarded the Purple Cross Hero Medal, the world’s highest Animal Hero Award. It is the rarest and Smoky is only the 10th ani- mal hero to receive the Purple Cross since 1854. Smoky will have her 7th memorial at the US Norco, CA Memorial Park that will be dedicated in 2016. There will be two: one for Smoky and Bill Wynne together and one for Smoky in establishing an Animals of War section. In March 2016, Smoky will receive the State of New Jersey Legislature’s K9 Hero’s award. At All Veterans Memorial, a 58-acre park, Smoky will represent the 11,000
WWII War dogs by unanimous decision by the Board. Dedication will be May 30, 2016. Bill Wynne has been asked to speak. It is with great pleasure that York- shire Terrier National Rescue presents to you: yorkIe reSCUe oF The yeAr TUCKER ID #925509. That’s what they called him. Most dogs in shelters get upbeat, happy names, to catch your attention and make you think of the dog you grew up. ID #925509 didn’t get a name like Skippy or Blackie. In fact, if they would
ID #925509
Louisa and Tucker
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