Dexter the Dachshund Inducted into TVMA Texas Animal Hall of Fame
Dexter Darling, a 14-year-old long-haired dachshund, was inducted into the Texas Veterinary Medical Association’s (TVMA) 2015 Texas Animal Hall of Fame in the companion animal category at a gathering on Jan. 11. The event was held in the Academic Mall outside of the Critical Care Café and celebrated Dexter’s long-time work as a therapy animal. At the gathering, Dexter received a medal and a plaque to honor his service.
Dexter was one of the first animals to join Aggieland Pets with a Purpose (APWAP), a local non-profit that provides animal-assisted therapy for rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, elementary schools, and other organizations. Until Dexter’s retirement in 2015, the dachshund was an active and beloved member of the organization for 13 years, providing comfort to many through services, such as weekly visits to the College Station Medical Center.
“It’s been a pleasure to work with Dexter,” said owner Kit Darling, the infection prevention coordinator at the CVM. “I appreciate everyone’s support of Dexter and his work.”
Darling, who is also the president of APWAP, fostered children in the early 2000s. It was then that she recognized Dexter’s special skills and his ability to comfort the children as they transitioned into the new environment.
According to TVMA, the Texas Animal Hall of Fame was created by the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation in 1984 to “share the joy of the human-animal bond by recognizing exceptional animals.”
