| 1 |
| Don Vito Segal, CTD |
| Vito wants to thank his friends at The Animal Medical Group of Plainfield, Rawhide Rescue and the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital for all they've done for him. |
| RASHMIKA WITH VITO Most households worry about keeping the dog out of the (peoples') beds; here we have trouble keeping the people out of Vito's bed! |
| VITO, CTD (Certified Therapy Dog) |
Vito is a Bullmastiff. He is a sweet, gentle giant, and seems
to love everybody and everything.
Vito volunteers with Hospice Patients
In 2006 Vito was certified as a Therapy Dog, and he began
as a volunteer for the Visiting Nurses of Central NJ visiting
with patients at the Barbara E. Cheung Memorial Hospice in
Edison, NJ.
He visits at least weekly, and has been selected as the
official Therapy Dog of the Roosevelt Care Center (which
includes the Hospice). Vito always brings a smile to the
faces of the staff and of the patients' families - - and he
sometimes connects with the patients (often they are heavily
medicated).
At somewhere in the 120-140 lb. range, Vito is not what
people typically expect to see in the Hospice. But his sweet
disposition and big brown eyes seems win them over every
time.
Vito was a "rescue"
Vito was born in March, 2000, and spent his first 2 years
in Staten Island . . . and then he was turned in to the NYC
Animal Shelter - he was rescued from the shelter by
Rawhide Rescue, and adopted by Rashmika and Stu in
September 2002.
The reason Vito needed to be rescued from a shelter may
never be known. Regardless of his situation, Vito has never
been anything but a gentle giant who brings smiles to all he
meets.
Bullmastiffs
Bullmastiffs were developed in England over 200 years ago
for the nobility, who needed a breed that could help control
poachers on their estates - a dog that was silent, powerful
and intelligent. Breeders combined the ancestors of todays'
Mastiffs and Bulldogs.
The result is the Bullmastiff - a large dog (between
100-150 lbs) that is very powerful, quiet, and not vicious by
nature. These characteristics, intentionally developed by the
breeders, allowed the dogs to silently approach a poacher,
knock him down, and hold him (without mauling) until the
gameskeepers arrived.
We have found the gentle nature, and "couch potato" pace of
a bullmastiff makes for a wonderful companion.
to love everybody and everything.
Vito volunteers with Hospice Patients
In 2006 Vito was certified as a Therapy Dog, and he began
as a volunteer for the Visiting Nurses of Central NJ visiting
with patients at the Barbara E. Cheung Memorial Hospice in
Edison, NJ.
He visits at least weekly, and has been selected as the
official Therapy Dog of the Roosevelt Care Center (which
includes the Hospice). Vito always brings a smile to the
faces of the staff and of the patients' families - - and he
sometimes connects with the patients (often they are heavily
medicated).
At somewhere in the 120-140 lb. range, Vito is not what
people typically expect to see in the Hospice. But his sweet
disposition and big brown eyes seems win them over every
time.
Vito was a "rescue"
Vito was born in March, 2000, and spent his first 2 years
in Staten Island . . . and then he was turned in to the NYC
Animal Shelter - he was rescued from the shelter by
Rawhide Rescue, and adopted by Rashmika and Stu in
September 2002.
The reason Vito needed to be rescued from a shelter may
never be known. Regardless of his situation, Vito has never
been anything but a gentle giant who brings smiles to all he
meets.
Bullmastiffs
Bullmastiffs were developed in England over 200 years ago
for the nobility, who needed a breed that could help control
poachers on their estates - a dog that was silent, powerful
and intelligent. Breeders combined the ancestors of todays'
Mastiffs and Bulldogs.
The result is the Bullmastiff - a large dog (between
100-150 lbs) that is very powerful, quiet, and not vicious by
nature. These characteristics, intentionally developed by the
breeders, allowed the dogs to silently approach a poacher,
knock him down, and hold him (without mauling) until the
gameskeepers arrived.
We have found the gentle nature, and "couch potato" pace of
a bullmastiff makes for a wonderful companion.
| Every year Rashmika and Stu, and their friends Helen & Tony, sponsor the RIDE FOR RAWHIDE Click here to see the 2008 video |