PVMA 2024 Award Recipients

They both work full time at Northwest Neighborhood Veterinary Hospital and when they aren’t spending time taking care of patients at work – they are living and breathing for all the strays under their care, helping them on their path to healing, recovery, and their forever homes.

They volunteer most (if not all) of their free time to give these pets with more intensive medical needs which has in turn helped to take the burden off our own local area shelters and rescue organizations. They get weekly updates from Multnomah County Animal Shelter on pets that may benefit from their help. They also take strays from Clackamas County, Marion County, and they help local area rescues when they are in over their head – to name just a few.

This amazing organization they have created has helped to fill a large gap in stray animal care here in Oregon. They have also been supported by amazing area specialists that have generously discounted and donated their time and efforts for those extra complicated (but not hopeless) medical/surgical cases – as well as a full force of volunteers and fosters that help to make this all possible.

While there are a number of amazing stories of success in Stumptown Strays, one that I just love is the story of Bevis. Bevis came to Dr. Prull and Gowing in October via Fences For Fido. He is a 1-year-old intact male shepherd husky mix that had a broken left humerus and broken left femur – but a fighting spirit. He was completely immobile and slated for euthanasia because no other rescue had the resources to take him. He became a Stumptown Stray because he is a prime example of why they started this rescue – to help dogs (and some cats too) that others just could not. Bevis had both his legs surgically repaired by Dr. Lozier at VCA NW Veterinary Specialists (big shout out to his whole team who stayed late after work to do this case). His femur was plated, and humerus had an external fixator placed. Bevis has been in recovery since then. Near the end of December, he was neutered and had the last of his external pins removed. And then on Christmas Eve – he was taken to emergency surgery by Dr. Prull and Dr. Gowing due to a GI obstruction (while recovering with his foster family he did what many 1-year-old dogs do and ate something that he should not have). He is completely healed and will be posted for adoption soon!

Nick and Becky have amassed an amazing group of people to help support their cause but ultimately none of this would be possible without their own extraordinary efforts – and for that I can think of no one better to nominate for the PVMA Outstanding Service Award this year.”