News & Events

WAGS - The Wisconsin Academy for Graduate Service Dogs

Member, Assistance Dogs International

The WAGS Mission

Since 1987, the Wisconsin Academy for Graduate Service Dogs (WAGS) has helped people with physical disabilities achieve a higher level of independence through partnerships with skilled service dogs. WAGS service dogs assist their partners with daily living tasks such as operating light switches, opening and closing doors, removing articles of clothing and retrieving dropped or out of reach items. In addition to providing love and companionship to their partners, WAGS dogs open doors to a greater sense of freedom, safety and social connectedness.

Wisconsin Academy of Graduate Service Dogs (WAGS)
1338 Dewey Court
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 250-9247
www.wags.net

News

Dogtoberfest

Click here to view a video of this years Dogtoberfest that was held on October 25, 2009 at Capital Brewary in Middleton, Wisconsin.

Pet Safety for the Holidays

Click here to view a video clip of an interview with Dr. David Wirth, DVM from Veterinary Emergyacy Services, talk about Pet Safety for the Hoildays on Channel 3 in the morning. This clip was shown on November 25th, 2009.

Pet Blood Donations

Click here to view a clip from Channel 27, as they talk about pet blood donations.

Veterinary Emergency Service Continues to Grow

Since cats and dogs and other pets (like people) don't always have emergencies during the day when it would be more convenient for their owners, veterinarian David Wirth saw and opened an urgent care clinic for pets, open 24/7 in Middleton.

Located at 1612 North High Point Road, just off the Beltline, Veterinary Emergency Service employs 60 people working three shifts each day, including 12 critical care veterinarians and 15 certified veterinary technicians. In addition, Wirth opened a second emergency clinic last fall at 4902 East Broadway to serve Madison's East side.

He is staying ahead of the curve by continually expanding into new arenas, such as recently hiring Tobin Eshelman, a veterinarian who specializes in providing advanced surgeries for cats and dogs. Eshelman performs complicated knee injury surgeries on dogs, neurosurgery and cancer surgery. Eshelman, who has advanced training in small animal surgery, is providing specialties not readily available in the Middleton and Madison area.

Wirth's next move is to add dermatology specialties, making the Middleton urgent care center one of the few in Wisconsin providing care at this higher level.

"More than half the families in Middleton and Madison have pets," Wirth says. "Our goal is to provide same day service for pet owners, when possible. We encourage people to call ahead - even as they are heading to the clinic - so we can anticipate and be prepared for the emergency unfolding."

In addition to pet owners contacting Veterinary Emergency Service directly, many veterinarians refer their "after hours" calls to Veterinary Emergency Service so their clients can be assured of around-the-clock critical care.

Wirth, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, has discovered his interest and passion in dealing with helping pets and owners through difficult times to be very rewarding.

In addition to a patient load of 6,000 cases a year, Veterinarian Emergency Service is active in volunteer efforts for animal-related nonprofits including WAGS, Angels Wish, Dane County Friends of Ferals and Shelter from the Storm. Wirth and his staff also give talks to students about the responsibility of pet ownership. More information is available at 831-1181.