UF College of Veterinary Medicine
Public Relations Office

Story about dog's open heart surgery
sweeps category in 2006 FPRA Image Awards competition

A story about a dog that received successful surgery to remove a bamboo barbecue skewer from its heart thanks to University of Florida human and animal doctors took top honors in the printed tools category of the 2006 Image Awards competition sponsored by the Gainesville chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association.

The story received a first place Image Award in the news release subcategory and a Grand Image, or grand prize, in the printed tools category. Awards were presented April 26 at the annual FPRA Image Awards banquet.

Written by Sarah Carey, M.A., A.P.R., the college's director of public relations, the story detailed how UF veterinarians collaborated with physicians from the UF Congenital Heart Center to remove the skewer, which had lodged in Yankee's heart several months after the dog scarfed down steak kabobs served at a family dinner.

Yankee became progressively ill and was near death when a heart murmur was detected by UF small animal resident Nikki Hackendahl, D.V.M., in early February.

Subsequent tests conducted by Amara Estrada, D.V.M., a UF veterinary cardiologist, revealed the “linear structure” in Yankee's heart. Yankee's open heart bypass surgery was performed by cardiovascular surgeon Mark Bleiweis, M.D., with assistance from the veterinary team.

Yankee, a 6-year-old yellow Labrador retriever owned by the Stazzone family of Satellite Beach , continues to recuperate well from her ordeal, Hackendahl said.