Shon
04-23-2004, 12:03 PM
Mary the pit bull educates without saying a word
Genesee County -- Mary Margaret Ann Vaughn wore her best scarf, light blue with a daisy print, to receive her Animal of the Year award.
But Mary didn't express much surprise, her owner said, when she was picked for the honor by The Humane Society of Genesee County.
Mary, a 57-pound, black and white American pit bull terrier, was chosen Wednesday night during the Humane Societies' Real People - Real Connections Annual Recognition Awards. It's an event where people and animals alike are rewarded for community service.
"Mary is the type of person, I mean type of dog, that makes you feel like you are the only person," said her owner, Teresa Vaughn. "There is something about Mary."
Mary was chosen for her education work throughout Genesee County's schools. Vaughn, the Humane Societies' Humane Educator, brings Mary along to teach students how to take care of animals and not to fear them.
Though Mary's work mostly consists of "rolling over on her back and getting belly rubs," Vaughn said Mary still helps teach.
The Humane Society's Stepheni Lazar said the school visits are important since many children have not had good experiences with animals.
"In some areas you should be afraid of your neighborhood dogs," she said. "A lot of kids have never been around a nice dog."
Mary also visits Genesee County's hospices, nursing homes and hospitals to conduct animal therapy with the elderly.
"A lot of these people don't want to socialize with other people when you go to visit them," Lazar said. "They are upset with where they are at, but they will talk to an animal.
"It brings back a lot of good memories; better parts of their lives when they had pets."
Mary's rise to fame wasn't an easy one. Lazar and Vaughn found her on I-475 covered in mange, ears infected and hair missing about three years ago.
They spotted Mary standing on the hood of a police cruiser while they were driving in a van. Vaughn said police were afraid to get out of the cruiser and were waiting for animal control to arrive. But Vaughn wasn't scared. She opened the van doors and Mary jumped right in.
Nowadays, Mary lives her life in the lap of luxury with pink painted toenails and a miniature bed with throw pillows.
Vaughn said she hopes the lessons children learn from Mary will carry on into adulthood when they begin to buy pets. Though Vaughn may be doing the talking, it is Mary who leaves an impression.
"In stores kids come up and hug me because they remember," Vaughn said. "A lot of times they don't remember my name, but they remember hers."
Genesee County -- Mary Margaret Ann Vaughn wore her best scarf, light blue with a daisy print, to receive her Animal of the Year award.
But Mary didn't express much surprise, her owner said, when she was picked for the honor by The Humane Society of Genesee County.
Mary, a 57-pound, black and white American pit bull terrier, was chosen Wednesday night during the Humane Societies' Real People - Real Connections Annual Recognition Awards. It's an event where people and animals alike are rewarded for community service.
"Mary is the type of person, I mean type of dog, that makes you feel like you are the only person," said her owner, Teresa Vaughn. "There is something about Mary."
Mary was chosen for her education work throughout Genesee County's schools. Vaughn, the Humane Societies' Humane Educator, brings Mary along to teach students how to take care of animals and not to fear them.
Though Mary's work mostly consists of "rolling over on her back and getting belly rubs," Vaughn said Mary still helps teach.
The Humane Society's Stepheni Lazar said the school visits are important since many children have not had good experiences with animals.
"In some areas you should be afraid of your neighborhood dogs," she said. "A lot of kids have never been around a nice dog."
Mary also visits Genesee County's hospices, nursing homes and hospitals to conduct animal therapy with the elderly.
"A lot of these people don't want to socialize with other people when you go to visit them," Lazar said. "They are upset with where they are at, but they will talk to an animal.
"It brings back a lot of good memories; better parts of their lives when they had pets."
Mary's rise to fame wasn't an easy one. Lazar and Vaughn found her on I-475 covered in mange, ears infected and hair missing about three years ago.
They spotted Mary standing on the hood of a police cruiser while they were driving in a van. Vaughn said police were afraid to get out of the cruiser and were waiting for animal control to arrive. But Vaughn wasn't scared. She opened the van doors and Mary jumped right in.
Nowadays, Mary lives her life in the lap of luxury with pink painted toenails and a miniature bed with throw pillows.
Vaughn said she hopes the lessons children learn from Mary will carry on into adulthood when they begin to buy pets. Though Vaughn may be doing the talking, it is Mary who leaves an impression.
"In stores kids come up and hug me because they remember," Vaughn said. "A lot of times they don't remember my name, but they remember hers."