3-10-2023 4:26am

Pets On Wheels Therapy

2023 Skyler Sacks Award Winner - Woodrow & Donald Giblin

The Skyler Sacks Service Award is an award given annually to the therapy pet team that gives the greatest number of hours the previous calendar year in service to Pets on Wheels’ mission. The award is given in honor of Skyler, a much loved Pomeranian who along with her human, Heather Sacks, was simply synonymous with Pets on Wheels for many years, logging more than 500 volunteer hours in many years.

We are delighted to announce that this year's winner is Donald Giblin, who volunteers with his Rhodesian Ridgeback, Woodrow. In 2022 they volunteered more than 374 hours with Pets on Wheels.

Donald worked 43 years in the Baltimore City State's Attorney's office as the Chief of Homicide. Retiring from his very stressful job let him focus on helping others through Pets on Wheels, but he and Woodrow get much more than they give:

"The reaction you get makes it impossible not to go visit," Donald explains. "Woodrow just loves it - in every location we go Woodrow is so comfortable. He's a super hero.

There are a lot of magical moments in there. It's great knowing how important he is to so many people."

The award is given in honor of Skyler, a team member who for many people was simply synonymous with Pets on Wheels for many years. We lost Skyler, the amazing Pomeranian who worked alongside her human, Heather Sacks, in 2020. Skyler and Heather twice won the Gold President’s Service Award for volunteering more than 500 hours in one year. Her passing left a huge hole in our program, and in our hearts.

Donald and Woodrow truly embody how much our therapy teams are true heroes. You can help support them, and help us meet our $7500 Petco Love Helping Heroes match, too. Just CLICK HERE to donate today.

In honor of Heather & Skyler, and now Donald & Woodrow, thank you for helping us share love every day.