Veterinarian honored in Indy after assisting Sandy Hook Elementary School
A veterinarian who assisted the grieving Sandy Hook Elementary School community in Connecticut was honored by the American Veterinary Medical Association on Friday in Indianapolis.
Jody Sandler offered service dogs from his seeing-eye dog program to spend three days in Newtown, Conn., after the 2012 massacre.
On Dec. 14, 2012, Adam Lanza, 20, killed his mother at their home and then gunned down 20 children and six staff members at his former school before killing himself.
"I wanted to help the community heal," Sandler said.
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For 27 years, Sandler has been devoted to what he describes as the healing bond that humans and animals can create together.
He was a longtime director of veterinary services for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a guide-dog school that expanded its mission to assisting autistic children.
This year he founded BluePath Service Dogs in response to the "overwhelming demand" for service dogs for children with autism, according to the AVMA.
In 2012, he and about 10 staff members took several service dogs to Newtown to spend several days with the survivors.
He said he met with many children who were in the classrooms during the shooting.
"We met all types of children, some of whom were not able to speak from the trauma they experienced," Sandler said.
"I think it allowed me to rededicate to what I was doing," Sandler said. "It gives you the ability to refocus on why you're really doing what you're doing."
Sandler, who lives in New York, visited the Indiana Convention Center for the AMVA's annual panel discussions, lectures, networking and training sessions. More than 4,000 veterinarians and members of the veterinary community will attend this weekend.
"You talk to any veterinarian, and they will tell you that 'animals' is the primary role and reason they enjoy what they do," Sandler said in an interview with IndyStar.
"For me ... there is an added component working with these families and individuals who are in desperate need of the support of a service dog," he added.
Since the 2012 school shooting, Sandler said he has gained a new outlook on the impact service dogs can make on one person or an entire community.
"It has followed me since that day," he said.
Jessica Hice is an IndyStar reporter. Tips or comments? Call (317) 444-7437 or email: jessica.hice@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @Jess_Hice.