Cider, Eastern Plumas Health Care’s beloved therapy dog for their Loyalton skilled nursing facility passed away on March 2, 2016. The Loyalton community and beyond had just raised the funds for her to have a necessary surgery on her knee. She had complications, including major seizures. In the end, her friends at the Loyalton SNF had to make the painful decision to have her euthanized rather than watch her suffer further.
She came to live with the staff and residents at EPHC-Loyalton Campus on on December 3, 2005 at the age of 5 months old. She was a High Sierra Animal rescue pet. She had to go through some extensive training to be able to live at the skilled nursing facility. Denise Langston, kennel manager at High Sierra trained her at the SNF, and then she trained Debbie Gilmer, Activities Director, to work with her there. “Cider was one in a million rescue dog that was a perfect match for the skilled nursing facility,” said Denise. “She touched so many hearts on a daily basis.” Debbie and Cider were friends and companions for over ten years. It was Debbie who arranged for Cider’s surgery and who took such good care of her for all these years.
Cider’s birthday was going to be on April 24; she would have been 11 years old. According to Debbie, “Cider became a very important part of our family. She knew her job and performed it very efficiently. If a resident was enjoying the outside, she felt it was her responsibility to stay with them until they came back indoors. She had the biggest family that loved her. When the delivery men would come in they all knew her by name and visited with her. Everyone that would come to visit a family member was a friend to her. We would like to thank Dr. Martin Shaffer of Plumas Veterinary Service for taking care of her for so many years. We would also like to thank Dr. Dean Morgan at Advanced Pet Care for helping out with her surgery. She received the best care from both of these men. She will be missed greatly by all.”