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All Sedona Creatures Great and Small

Harley McGuire, SedonaEye.com Star Paws Up Columnist, sends heartfelt condolences to all his shelter pals during this sad time.

Harley McGuire, SedonaEye.com Star Paws Up Columnist, sends heartfelt condolences to all his shelter pals during this sad time.

Sedona AZ (December 20, 2012) – From the very beginning Birgitte “B” Skielvig, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Sedona, had a vision of what the animal shelter could and would become. B’s vision and guidance for HSS came to an unexpected end on Tuesday, December 18, 2012, when she died at home.

B moved to Sedona from Phoenix in 1989 with hopes of joining HSS as the shelter manager but, upon arrival, discovered that position filled. Undeterred, she took a lower paid position in order to help the animals about which she cared so deeply. Twenty three years later, because of B’s vision and collaboration with staff, volunteers, sponsors, residents and businesses of the community, HSS has grown to offer services to the entire Verde Valley benefiting homeless and community pets.

Understanding the best way to reduce the number of homeless pets is through spay and neuter, B founded the soon-to-be available HSS Spay and Neuter Clinic with future plans for a vaccination clinic and low cost dental clinic. She believed that the people of Northern Arizona wanted the best for pets but needed resources, especially with the economic downturn.

To ensure help for all animals, under B’s direction, HSS became an open shelter. The shelter strives to keep all adoptable animals and provides extra attention to those that need to become adoptable – such as behavior training, medical care and or fostering. There are times when hard decisions must be made, when it is more respectful and humane to euthanize. B never wavered in her intention and belief that she was doing the best for each and every animal that came through the shelter doors.

B loved animals, the shelter, family, staff, volunteers, Sedona and, most of all, husband John and “girls” Cricket and Lizzy. Many grieve her untimely passing and its loss to the animal welfare world after two decades of her selfless devotion.

As someone who always loved a great party, B will be honored by HSS with a Celebration of Life at the Poco Diablo Resort on January 12, 2013. All are welcome. There will be an opportunity during the celebration for those wanting to share stories of B.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Humane Society of Sedona in Birgitte “B” Skielvig’s name. If you are interested in being involved with the celebration in some manner, contact Betsy Klein at 928-282-4679 or development@humanesocietyofsedona.com.

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