Lancaster County Edition
September 2011
Vol. 17 No. 9
A Voice for Central PA’s Pets Media Personality Devotes Decades to Animal Advocacy By Megan Joyce It’s a safe bet that Bob Rudy is one of those people who doesn’t often leave his house without a little pet hair on his clothing. And he probably doesn’t mind; in fact, he likely wears the strands proudly, each a tiny, individual talisman reminding him always of the animals he’s spent the better part of his 54 years loving and working to protect. And now, he’s not alone in his mission. In 2008, Rudy married his wife, Debra Vredenburg-Rudy, a psychology professor at Millersville University and the founder of Pet Guardians, a Lancaster County-based nonprofit that finds new homes for pets of the elderly or terminally ill. Rudy is now the treasurer and a board member of Pet Guardians. Together, the couple works daily to locate foster homes and, eventually, new permanent homes for animal lovers who are ill or entering assisted living or hospice care—so that, on top of everything else on their minds, they don’t have to worry about who will care for their pets. Although his charitable work on behalf of our furry friends is now at its zenith, Rudy’s dedication to animals began decades ago and has included so much volunteer work that in 2005 he received the Jefferson Award for Public Service in York County and the March of Dimes’ Community Spirit Award in 2007. please see PETS page 20 Bob Rudy with his pack. From left, Maggie the black lab, Taj the Afghan hound, Rudy the human, Rudy the lab/pit bull mix on bench, and Maggie the Irish setter, seated in front.
Inside:
Options for Retirees Headed Back to School page 16
Dumpster or No Dumpster page 26
Landisville, PA Permit No. 3
PAID PRSRT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE