On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, The Stephen & Christine Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC) honored a Chihuahua mix who suffered a violent attack, a stray Domestic Shorthair kitten with various fractures and epilepsy, a Domestic Shorthair cat with metastatic mast cell cancer, and a Pembroke Welsh Corgi with a life-threatening gastrointestinal condition

Press Release

New York, NY – May 21, 2025 – The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC), the world’s largest veterinary teaching hospital and NYC’s only Level 1 Veterinary Trauma Center, hosted its 17^th Annual Living Legends Luncheon in New York City yesterday. This year’s honorees included Cooper, a Chihuahua mix who was attacked and immediately triaged; Emmalein, a Domestic Shorthair stray kitten with a chest wound, fractured sternum and epilepsy; Fred, an 11-year-old Domestic Shorthair cat with metastatic mast cell cancer; and Archie, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi with severe protein-losing enteropathy.

The Living Legends Event co-chairs include Donna Acquavella, Vanessa B. Eastman, Tina Pendergrast Santi Flaherty, Laura Garner, Nancy M. Kissinger, Sharon Amsterdam Koplin, Emilia Saint-Amand Krimendahl, Elaine Langone, Bobby Liberman, Marianne Mebane, Kane Nussbaum, Mrs. Katharine J. Rayner, Elizabeth Gore Ross, Lisa Schiff, Nicole Seligman, Ann R. Tisch, and Janet York.

“From our Emergency Room to Surgical Institute to Internal Medicine, our team of world-class veterinarians save lives every single day,” said Helen M. Irving, RN, MBA, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center. “In 2024, we’ve facilitated over 56,000 patient visits throughout the year – ranging from a routine checkup to more complicated urgent cases that often require cross collaboration among our various departments. Living Legends is our opportunity to honor some of the most remarkable stories from the year and truly showcase the lifesaving work done by our dedicated veterinary teams.”

AMC Board Co-Chair Nicole Seligman welcomed guests to the luncheon, opening the event with remarks about the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center’s charitable programs. She highlighted how these Community Funds are a lifeline to pets whose families would otherwise be unable to afford it and encouraged continued support “to ensure that the ability to pay is never the deciding factor when it comes to saving a beloved companion.”

The four Living Legends awards went to Cooper, treated by Senior Veterinarian Chanel Berns, DVM, DACVS-SA, and Veterinarian in Surgery Ashley Hadala, DVM; Emmalein, treated by Senior Veterinarian & Service Head of Surgical Oncology Jonathan Ferrari, DVM, DACVS-SA; Fred, treated by Senior Veterinarian & Director of AMC’s Cancer Institute Nicole Leibman, DVM, MS, DACVIM; and Archie, treated by Senior Veterinarian Elizabeth Appleman, VMD, DACVIM (SAIM), and Shana Coffey, DVM, Second-Year Resident Veterinarian in Surgery.

Their stories are included below:

• Cooper, a Chihuahua Mix – After being attacked while out for a walk, a bystander rushed Cooper and his owner to AMC’s Emergency Room, where he was immediately triaged. Cooper sustained severe, life-threatening injuries, including multiple wounds, a jaw fracture, and injuries to his left arm. He underwent emergency overnight surgery to repair penetrating abdominal wounds that were causing a body wall hernia and threatening his internal organs. Once stable, AMC’s Cardiology team performed an echocardiogram to ensure he could withstand a second anesthesia before amputating his damaged forearm. While under anesthesia, the Dentistry team also extracted several teeth to address Cooper’s jaw fracture. Despite the immense pain and challenges, Cooper never lost his fighting spirit. After his surgical recovery, he continued care with AMC’s Rehab team and now walks comfortably and proudly on three legs.

• Emmalein, a Domestic Shorthair Stray Kitten – Emmalein was found as a stray kitten with a chest wound and fractured sternum, outside her family’s home. Before coming to AMC, she underwent three surgeries, but the wound remained open and infected. At AMC, she received various treatments including fish skin application (a medical dressing made from actual fish skin used to improve healing of large wounds), vacuum-assisted closure therapy, and surgery involving skin flaps and grafts. She also developed epilepsy and her seizures caused the wound to reopen and the infection to emerge from beneath her skin. AMC neurologists treated her seizures, and a CT scan revealed the underlying cause of the persistent infection—her fractured sternum had lost its blood supply and became necrotic bone. To address this, AMC surgeons removed the infected bone and reconstructed the diaphragm. With the infection gone, the wound finally healed and Emmalein has been able to resume a healthy and active life.

• Fred, an 11-year-old Domestic Shorthair Cat – Fred was diagnosed with metastatic mast cell cancer in 2019, which ultimately affects the immune system, causing mast cells—normally a vital part of immune function—to accumulate abnormally in organs and the bloodstream. Fred’s spleen was infiltrated with mast cells, requiring a splenectomy. Shortly after his surgery, Fred came to AMC and was evaluated by the Medical Oncology Service, where further signs of mast cell disease were detected in his liver and abdominal lymph nodes. The team initiated treatment with the first oral chemotherapy drug developed specifically for animals. Fred’s condition stabilized quickly with the medication, and he tolerated it well over the next six years. Afterwards, however, Fred’s disease progressed rapidly, and he was hospitalized under the care of the Oncology Service in February 2025. The team acted swiftly to stabilize him and adjusted his treatment with a higher dose of the medication. Once again, Fred responded well to the intervention, and he continues to thrive with this ongoing care.

• Archie, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi – Archie arrived at AMC in January 2024 and was diagnosed with severe protein losing enteropathy (PLE). He was hospitalized for four days with the Internal Medicine team, requiring intensive care, a gastrointestinal endoscopy, and a feeding tube. Despite steroid therapy, Archie’s condition worsened, leading to abdominal fluid buildup, high pressure in the liver, and severe paw pad ulcerations on three paws, prompting wound repair and skin grafts. In March, a CT scan and liver biopsy were performed to further investigate Archie’s liver dysfunction. At the height of his treatment, Archie was on 12 medications, multiple tube feedings daily, and frequent bathroom breaks to manage his steroid side-effects. For eight months, Archie visited AMC weekly for abdominal fluid drainage and bandage changes. With ongoing medication adjustments, Archie’s PLE was controlled, his liver function stabilized, and his paw ulcerations fully healed by August 2024.

All proceeds from the Living Legends Luncheon support AMC’s mission to provide cutting-edge care to animals and to lead the advancement of veterinary medicine through innovative clinical research and education.

Most recently in April 2025, the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center officially opened its new state-of-the-art Intensive Care Unit, Medical-Surgical Unit, Avian & Exotics Unit, and Education and Conference Center—ultimately doubling the capacity to accommodate more pet patients and provide world-class medical care to pet families 24/7.

Later this year, AMC will complete its wider 83,000 square-foot, $125 million transformational expansion with the opening of the newly expanded Emergency Room, Cardiology, Radiology, Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Internal Medical Services.

Download high resolution photos of AMC’s 2025 Living Legends here.

Photo credit goes to Joy Glenn

Click on the images below to view full screen.

About the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center Hospital of New York City

We are the world’s largest veterinary teaching hospital with NYC’s only level 1 trauma center. Our team of 140+ veterinarians work across over 20 specialties to provide world-class medical care, and we are here for pets and their families 24/7. We are proud to have served the people and pets of New York, and beyond, for 115 years. More at: www.amcny.org. Follow on Instagram @amcny, on X @amcny, Facebook at The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, LinkedIn, and YouTube @TheAnimalMedicalCenter.

AMC Media Contacts:

Shin-Jung Hong, ShinJung@nicholaslence.com | Cell: 617-413-7880

Pia Fischetti, Pia@nicholaslence.com | Cell: 516-287-5815