Honey Bear was so ill that a local veterinarian wanted to
humanely euthanize her. That was not an option. Sweet Pea told Ronnie in his dream that Honey Bear could be helped. She ended up living another 10 years with Ronnie and
Linda, traveling all over the country with them. She had her own personal dermatologist, Dr. Nadine Znajda in Tampa. Honey Bear became a fixture at Prosthetics conferences where Ronnie was often a guest speaker. Everyone in the industry knew Ronnie’s dog had a bed under the podium at the confer- ences where he was speaking. If you saw Ronnie, Honey was close by. She became the inspiration behind Ronnie wanting to help all animals, no matter the cost. “I understand the use and need for humane euthanasia. I don’t ever want to see an animal suffer in pain. But don’t put an animal down, who could be oth- erwise helped, because of the lack of money.” Ronnie still cries every time he thinks of Honey Bear not
being by his side or waiting for his return home. He has a tat- tooed likeness of her. “She’s in my heart and on my arm. I take her everywhere with me. Every day.”
Rescue Team) since the 1998 fires in Florida, when almost every county was on fire. The Humane Society of the United States held one of the first ever DART training classes in Florida. Because of Ronnie’s equipment, the Sumter County DART, largely with the help of the Humane Society/SPCA of Sumter County volunteers, was one of the largest, more formidable teams ever put together. Ronnie hired Connie Brooks, a former SPCA Tampa Bay employee, to be part of the administrative team. After the earthquake in Japan, Connie went there repre- senting the United States to help set up animal friendly shelters. Ronnie ended up selling two of his rigs, retrofitted as transport vehicles, to the ASPCA. Of his Orthotics and Prosthetics career with animals,
Ronnie said, “We have to recognize that while we can tell a human client what to expect, we can’t convey that to an animal. Even though it may look comfortable and happy, you have to limit an animal’s daily dose of wearing the device if you want to be successful. Ronnie is a firm believer that animals talk to us. “They can’t
(Left): Ronnie and Honey Bear, inseparable; his heart dog and inspiration to keep helping animals. (Right): DART would eventually change its name to Florida SART (State Agricultural Response Team). “Best team ever assembled,” said Ronnie of the group photo.
Postscript Seven years after the accident that would claim Ronnie’s leg, he met Linda on the dance floor of an Orlando nightclub. They were married within six months. She worked two jobs and he worked three so they could buy their first home. In December they will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. Ronnie took Linda camping, once. She thought, “This isn’t going to go over well at all. I need a bathroom. Inside. I’m not going out with flashlights anymore.” So they began RVing. First, in a truck camper, then a small fifth-wheel and eventual- ly a luxurious motorhome. “I like it because we can take our dogs,” said Linda. The Graves have four dogs now. A four-year-old
Beagle/Terrier mix named Paulie (a recent foster failure for them); Moonpie, a rough coated Terrier who is now blind; Hanna Banana, a Jack Russell Terrier mix; and, Gabriel, who is 100% Beagle. “Well, maybe he has a little Basset Hound in him,” said Ronnie. Ronnie has been involved with DART (Disaster Animal
www.TheNewBarker.com
speak to us with words, but they do talk to us, if we choose to listen. If you walk into the barn thinking that your experience providing O&P care to humans is going to make you qualified to treat animals, you will be in for a rude awakening. It helps, but you will need to learn so much more.” Many veterinarians still do not believe in what Ronnie is
doing. It’s not taught in any veterinary schools yet, but he is working on that. He recently had a veterinarian from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine extern with him for two weeks. Ronnie and Linda continue to be very active volun- teers with the Humane Society/SPCA of Sumter County.
U Y
VIP - Veterinary Inclusive Prosthetics & Orthotics. 352.603.4249 -
My-VIP.com Humane Society/SPCA Sumter County Post Office Box 67 994 CR 529a, Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 352.793.9117 -
HSSPCA.org
Spring 2017 THE NEW BARKER 33
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