This month, we wanted to share a special pet story. Marsha Keily is a researcher in our Curating department, and has been with us since 1992. During this time, Marsha started bringing her loyal puppy, Bud, to work with her. Marsha actually rescued Bud from the parking lot of the local pound. She was visiting the pound one day looking for a new pet, when she happened upon a gentleman in the parking lot who was bringing in four dogs. Bud happened to be one of them. Marsha immediately fell in love with Bud and brought him home that day! The new puppy was an instant hit with Marsha’s family. Marsha recounted how she and her family would often take Bud with them when they went boating. Bud loved the water and would often jump right off the boat and into the lake for a swim!

Soon after Marsha adopted Bud, he was diagnosed with epilepsy. His veterinary bills and prescriptions became so expensive that Marsha sold her mother’s wedding china and her own Queen's Fancy flatware collection to pay for his treatments. Since Bud’s condition necessitated his being brought to work each day, many employees at Replacements, Ltd. came to know Bud, and fell in love with him. Bud passed away on March 28, 2003. He will always be remembered as a part of the Replacements, Ltd. family.

The story does not end here though. After Bud’s passing, Marsha adopted a new dachshund, “Max”, who is now Marsha's second rescue puppy. When Marsha adopted Max, he was very malnourished and was missing most of his hair. His former owner would leave Max with another dog in a cat carrier, to be let out once daily. As a result of the mistreatment Max endured, Max was in very poor shape, but now is being steadily nursed into good health by a very determined Marsha. As he recovers, Max keeps busy most days greeting employees and visitors to our Research department. Marsha has reported that all of the love Max receives from her fellow coworkers, and his socializing with other pets at Replacements, Ltd., has helped Max tremendously in his recovery, and made both of them very happy.