Purdue University

Sometimes the bond between people and their pets is more than just a link between dog and owner or person and companion. Sometimes that bond is as strong as one between a parent and child.

Such is the case with Brian and Lisa Yohler of Indianapolis, Ind., and a boisterous minature schnauzer named Sunshine.

Brian & Lisa Yohler with Sunshine

The faculty and staff of the Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine first met Brian and Lisa when Sunshine was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital with cardiac problems that required more advanced care than her local veterinarian
could provide. It didn’t take Sunshine’s team of doctors long to determine that this was a special case.

“The thing that struck me the most was that they noticed from the beginning how much Sunshine meant to us,” says Brian. “They realized she was like our daughter. They showed us a lot of respect, but they treated Sunshine with a lot of
respect too.”

The Yohlers credit the doctors of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital with extending Sunshine’s life. “They cared so much about Sunshine. We told them they gave us three extra years with her; they told us it was our love and care at home that extended her life,” says Brian.

Because they were so impressed with the care Sunshine received at the hospital, the Yohlers have chosen to leave their entire estate to the cardiology program.

“We don’t have a lot to give now, but we want the doctors to have the opportunity to help other animals like they helped Sunshine,” says Lisa.

In addition to the estate gift, Sunshine was one of the first pets honored in the College’s Dolores McCall Pet Tribute Garden, a Gift of the Class of 1972 which opened in 2008. In fact, Sunshine’s memorial plaque is the prototype for other plaques that will be added to the garden.

The Yohlers stand near Sunshine's plaque in the Dolores McCall Pet Tribute Garden with Carol Willoughby.

“We want to give hospital clients a way to honor their pets and the impact they’ve had on their lives,” says Carol Willoughby, director of advancement for the College. “Our pet tribute garden is one way for families to do that.”

Sunshine’s legacy will live on in other ways too. When she died she was wearing a Holtor device to monitor her heart and her veterinarians where able to retrieve data that may give them further insight into her case.

“They learned some things off that monitor that may help them stay two steps ahead so they can help other animals,” says Brian.

The pain of losing Sunshine is still fresh for the Yohlers, who drive half an hour to visit her gravesite every week, but they take some comfort in the fact that her passing is helping others.

“She was always happy,” says Brian. “Even when she was going through what she was going through, she was just phenomenal. We want Sunshine’s legacy to live on forever.”

Gifts to the College of Veterinary Medicine promote animal health and well being and the education of the next generation of veterinary professionals. Through your gift you can recognize someone who impacted your life in some way, remember a person or pet with a gift in memory, or if you just have a desire to further the advancement of animal health issues; a gift to the College of Veterinary Medicine is an especially meaningful way to do so.

There are many opportunities for giving to the College of Veterinary Medicine.