The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center’s annual Living Legends highlights some of the incredible work that goes on at our hospital every day while celebrating the unbreakable bond that exists between people and their pets. Each year we honor companion animals who survived seemingly insurmountable health challenges because of their owners’ love and dedication, along with the exceptional care and innovative treatment they received from our specialty veterinarians. We are grateful for your generous support, which enables AMC to continue the work that makes these very stories possible.

2023 Living Legends Honorees

Spice | Presented by Dr. Rachel Lordahl

Spice, a 14-year-old cat, is a familiar face at AMC’s Cancer Institute. She was first treated in 2017 for a malignant tumor on her tail. Our Surgical Oncology team removed the mass, and Spice received radiation and chemotherapy, which put her into remission. Then, in 2019, she developed a new mass on her tail. This time, AMC clinicians amputated the tail and administered another round of chemotherapy, which again put the cancer into remission. However, when Spice returned for a regular checkup the next year, the doctors identified lameness in her back leg, which an MRI revealed to be a second cancer – large cell lymphoma – requiring further radiation and chemotherapy. After an abscess developed, the leg was also amputated. Spice is once again in remission, six years after her initial cancer diagnosis, thanks to the collaboration of our Medical, Radiation, and Surgical Oncology Services, and she is pain-free thanks to acupuncture from our Tina Santi Flaherty Rehabilitation and Fitness Service.

Charley | Presented by Dr. Abbie Lebowitz

Charley, an eight-year-old Papillon, was ringing in the New Year with his family in upstate New York when he was suddenly attacked by another dog. The local veterinary ER found broken bones in his neck, which left him unable to walk, but there were no neurologists available nearby to provide further treatment. So, Charley was transferred to AMC, where our ER team took over Charley’s care; our Diagnostic Imaging staff stayed late to perform a CT scan and an MRI when he arrived. The tests revealed both a spinal luxation and a blood clot on Charley’s spinal cord, requiring emergency surgery. Charley spent several days recovering in the ICU, where our Critical Care team monitored his progress and provided pain management around the clock. Although initially it was uncertain if Charley would ever walk again, he now scampers around happily, thanks to the dedicated and collaborative efforts of the AMC team throughout the holiday weekend.

Polly Rhythm | Presented by Dr. La’Toya Latney

Polly Rhythm, a 58-year-old Amazon parrot, is our oldest Living Legend! This sweet, talkative guy visited the AMC’s Emilia Saint-Amand Krimendahl Institute for Trauma Care after falling awkwardly off his perch. He was triaged and stabilized in the ER before seeing Dr. La’Toya Latney in our Avian & Exotic Pet Medicine Service. Dr. Latney suspected that Polly had suffered a stroke, which is common in older parrots. A CT scan confirmed this diagnosis. Polly responded immediately to treatment and was soon discharged. However, the stroke impacted Polly’s vocal abilities, and he tragically lost the ability to sing. That’s when AMC’s Tina Santi Flaherty Rehabilitation and Fitness Service took over. They designed a full rehabilitation program, including exercises to be done at home, and, within two weeks, Polly had made great progress and started singing again.

Benefit Committee

Mr. and Mrs. William Acquavella, Anonymous, Christine & Joseph Augustine, Susan & Jim Baumann, Brook Berlind, Virginia S. Burke, Lisa Carlton-Wilson, Mrs. Kendall Rundquist Chen, Gus Davis, Maria & Albert DiMeglio, Frederick Eberstadt, Mrs. J. Pepe Fanjul, Laura Garner & Roger Hardon, Karen & Phil Glick, Milly Glimcher, Mrs. Robert G. Goelet, Pam Goldman, Dorothy L. Goldstein, Michael Heaner & David Michaud, Indian Paintbrush Foundation, Elizabeth Kabler, Patricia Kaye, Nancy M. Kissinger, Sharon Amsterdam Koplin, Emilia Saint-Amand Krimendahl, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Langone, Joanne Masyr, Brandon Maxwell, Mr. & Mrs. Neil M. McCarthy, Marianne Mebane, Nancy Meyrich & Richard Krasnow, Jimmy Mindling, Linda & Russell Munson, Kane Nussbaum, Jenny Paulson, David P. Pearson, Katharine Rayner, Michael Reiff & Tatiana Simonova, Elizabeth Gore Ross, Daisy Schimmelpfenneg Sandow & Freckles Hanlon, Lisa & David T Schiff, Cynthia D. Sculco, Warrene Oden Self, Nicole Seligman & Joel Klein, Marc Solomon and Cindy Levine, Daisy M. Soros, Tishman Speyer, Janet York, Newton and Gail Zauder, Roy & Tara Zuckerberg