2000

Buffalo, NY, December 19, 1999 -- Santa is replacing the reindeer with a dozen dogs with names including Bailey and Jason when gifts are delivered to the pediatric skilled nursing unit at The Deaconess Center on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. The canines will visit with the children after delivering hundreds of gifts collected by the Niagara Frontier Veterinary Society (NFVS.)

For the past month, veterinarians in Erie and Niagara Counties have been collecting new toys, clothing and money for other items from their clients and staff to make this a brighter holiday for the youngsters at Deaconess. The children are long-term care patients aged 20 months to 17 years, many of whom do not speak and/or have a tracheotomy tube. Several are blind and have limited physical ability.

"This is a special group of children who are sometimse overlooked at holidays," said NFVS president Jim Brown. "We wanted to do more than just give gifts to the children, which is why we are delivering them personally and bringing along some animals to add a different kind of holiday cheer."

The Niagara Frontier Veterinary Society is comprised of more than 65 small animal hospitals and more than 135 practitioners in Erie and Niagara Counties. It exists to advance public awareness and understanding of proper pet health care, veterinary services and the veterinary profession.

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