Winners of CVMA 2008 Awards

The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association is pleased to announce its Award Winners for 2008. Congratulations to the following individuals for who have made a difference to the veterinary profession and animals of Connecticut.


Veterinarian of the Year
Dr. Arnold Goldman
Canton Animal Hospital

Veterinary Health Care Team Member of the Year
Mr. Ronald Ruzicka
VCA Shoreline Veterinary Emergency & Referral Center

Pet of the Year
“Doug”
Georgetown Veterinary Hospital

Distinguished Service Awards
Lt. William Kerr, Hartford Fire Department
State Rep. Kevin Witkos (Avon and Canton)

Dr. Arnold Goldman, a past president of CVMA and currently Executive Director for the Connecticut State Animal Rescue Team (CTSART) has worked hard to plan for the evacuation and safety of animals in times of disaster. He also was responsible for founding the Veterinary Health Care Team of Connecticut (VHCT2), which allows for all animal hospital employees to get involved in planning their own continuing education and community service projects. He has been president of Hartford County VMA, is on the board of the New England Veterinary Medical Association, and has worked to develop HAVEN, with other medical professionals in the state. In addition, Dr. Goldman serves as a volunteer fireman in Canton, and is the owner of Canton Animal Hospital.

Mr. Ron Rucizka, CVT, is the recipient of the Veterinary Health Care Team Member of the Year Award. Mr. Ruzika has been a technical supervisor at VCA Shoreline Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center for the past 10 years. His competency and leadership has placed him in a position to provide support for new veterinary graduates in a nationally recognized internship program, and has led him to become involved in training other members of the veterinary health care team.

Our Pet of the Year, “Doug,” is the resident cat at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital where he has performed the life-saving service of donating blood. This greeter and occasional consoler was a stray from Queens, New York, who is named after the lead character in the TV series “King of Queens.”

Two Distinguished Service Awards were presented this year at the CVMA’s “Evening of Music and Celebration on February 6, 2008. The first went to Hartford Fire Department Lt. William Kerr, who saw a need for the city to obtain pet oxygen masks after resuscitating a cat caught in a house fire on Vine Street in Hartford. Lt. Kerr was able to save the cat, but contacted the CVMA to request 20 pet oxygen masks for the city of Hartford’s fire department. His request was the first for one of the four major cities in the state.

Rep. Kevin Witkos, who was re-elected to his third term in the Connecticut General Assembly in November, 2006, received a Distinguished Service Award for introducing legislation requiring the inclusion of pets and service animals in local emergency evacuation plans. The legislation was signed into law (PA 07-11) by Governor Jodi Rell so that now no town or city in Connecticut will be eligible for any state or federal benefits without having submitted an emergency evacuation plan that includes the evacuation of pets and service animals.