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ESSENTIAL DESTINATIONS

MONTH: March 2007

Obituaries

 

Tamara Monti, 37, from Lake Como, Italy, employed as a dolphin keeper at Oltremare Park in Riccone, was fatally stabbed on February 4, 2007 by neighbor Alessandro Doto, 35, who lived with his parents in the flat above Monti's. Doto, arrested at the scene with the knife in his hand, claimed he was driven mad by the barking of Monti's two dogs while she was at work. Monti had worked exceptionally long hours since September 2005, raising a grampus dolphin named Mary G who was rescued with her mother from a June 2005 stranding. The mother died, but Mary G survived. Mary G refused to eat after Monti's death, however, and was in dire condition as of February 20.

Mark Loren Morris Jr., DVM, 72, died on January 14, 2007 in Topeka, Kansas. The son of Science Diet brand pet food company and Morris Animal Foundation founder Mark L. Morris, "The junior Morris followed in his father's footsteps," recalled Barbara Hallingsworth of the Topeka Capital-Journal, "leading a business that conducted research and development and did other services for Hill's. Morris developed the Science Diet line of pet foods," by adding many new varieties, "and worked with former Topeka Zoo director Gary Clarke to develop ZuPreem products for zoo animals." His son David Morris now heads ZuPreem.

Martha McPhee, 51, died suddenly of unknown causes on February 6, 2007, only five weeks after presiding over the merger of the Animal Humane Society of Golden Valley, Humane Society for Companion Animals, and Great West Humane Society, the three largest humane organizations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. McPhee had headed the Animal Humane Society since 2005. Involved in many other nonprofit organizations, in multiple fields, McPhee was also treasure of Pets Across America, and a past board member for the Medina Horse Association.

Anna Nicole Smith, 39, died suddenly of unknown causes on February 8, 2007, in Hollywood, Florida. A former Playboy model who inherited the fortune of Texas oil billionaire J. Howard Marshall II in 1995, after a 14-month marriage, Smith "was a great friend to animals and used every opportunity to speak out against senseless cruelty," eulogized PETA in a prepared statement. "A long-time vegetarian, Anna Nicole posed as Marilyn Monroe in one of PETA's most striking ad campaigns, 'Gentlemen Prefer Fur-Free Blondes.'"

Nour Nadi, 17, of Fayyum, Egypt, on February 5, 2007 became the 12th Egyptian to die from the H5N1 avian influenza, after trying to conceal her symptoms in order to save her chickens from massacre. H5N1 has killed 167 of 270 people known to have been infected, worldwide.

Robyn Alexandra Schuttais, 70, known as Sister Ambrose-Martin de Porres Claret, died in a January 8, 2007 single-car accident near her home in Glendale, Oregon. "She was a member of the Order of St. Dominic, and founded St. Martin's World Mission for Animals in 1988," wrote Jeff Duewel of the Grants Pass Daily Courier. Volunteers from several other local organizations recovered 15 dogs, 20 cats, and several birds from her home, Douglas County Animal Control officer Gloria Free told Duewel.

Dorothy "Dotsie" Palouze Keith, 71, died from complications of lung cancer on December 23, 2006 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. "A native of Richmond, Virginia, Mrs. Keith adopted a stray Dalmatian when she was 12 and had her first champion Dalmatian as a teenager," recalled Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer Sally A. Downey. Keith later raised championship Bichons, but fought breeders and the pet store industry when as vice president and legislative chair of the Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs, she won legislation that in 1982 strengthened the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, and in 1997 allowed puppy purchasers to return sick pups to the sellers for either a full refund or payment of veterinary bills.

Bessie D. Sanders, 65, of Washington D.C., known to neighbors as "The Cat Lady" because she kept many cats and fed strays, died in a January 17, 2007 housefire started by one of the candles she used for light after her utilities were shut off due to nonpayment.

Betsy DeWallace, 67, died on January 11, 2007, after a long illness. DeWallace served 35 years as animal control officer for Sudbury, Massachusetts, also serving the nearby town of Maynard for 26 years, and serving Acton and Hudson for briefer intervals.

Mary Lou Henry, 78, of Texas City, Texas, died in a February 1, 2007 housefire while trying to carry one of her cats to safety. That cat and another cat died with her. "Two other cats were given oxygen by paramedics, two were unharmed, and another is missing," reported Armondo Villafranca of the Houston Chronicle.

Karen Aerts, 37, of Antwerp, Belgium, was fatally mauled on February 11, 2007 after hiding in the Olmense Zoo until after closing hours, finding the key to the cheetah cage, and letting herself into it. Aerts, a frequent zoo visitor, sponsored the feeding of one of the cheetahs, named Bongo, and apparently wanted to pet him.