Here to Help The Best Companion MEET RIANA FULLER! Receptionist Riana Fuller’s love of animals began at an early age. “When I was younger, I had a friend whose mom owned an animal rescue,” she remembers. “She would bring me in to help, and I became a foster parent around the age of 10. It was fun making sure those animals had a place to go before finding their forever home.”
LULU THE PIG IS A HERO! She Saved Her Owner From a Heart Attack
Lulu captured the hearts of the Altsmans when their daughter asked them to pet-sit her overweight pot-bellied pig. The pair quickly fell in love with Lulu, and their bond got stronger each day. This relationship was literally life-saving when the wife suffered a heart attack one August afternoon. Jo Ann Altsman was home alone with Lulu and their dog, Bear, when the incident occurred. Her husband was off on a fishing trip, and the pair didn’t have any neighbors nearby. Bear began to bark to try and get someone’s attention, but Lulu knew she had to do something before it was too late. So, she made her way out of the doggie door, which badly scraped her belly as she exited. Lulu had never left the yard, but today was different. To get some attention, she decided to lie down in the middle of the road and play dead until a car stopped to check on her. After several minutes of lying on the street, several cars passed by but didn’t stop. So, she checked on her owner, then squeezed through the doggie door and lay down on the road again. After 45 minutes, a gentleman on a motorcycle pulled over to check on Lulu. She immediately perked up and began walking toward the house, leaving a trail of blood behind her as she walked. The man followed Lulu and found Altsman unconscious on the ground. He quickly dialed 911 and asked for assistance. When the medics put her owner in the ambulance, Lulu attempted to get in with them. Of course, she couldn’t come, so she began to squeal as she watched the medics take her mom away. Thankfully, Lulu's wounds were attended to, and Altsman received life-saving open-heart surgery at the Beaver Medical Center. Because of her loyalty and creative thinking, this pot-bellied pig became a celebrity overnight! She was a guest on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and the “Late Show With David Letterman.” Everyone fell in love with Lulu and her heroism.
As she got older, she struggled to decide whether she wanted to start a career in animal control or animal day care services. Ultimately, she left her head cashier job a few months ago to become a receptionist at Surface Creek Veterinary Center. “I feel like it’s the best of both worlds,” she says, “because I get to work directly with the animals and help them stay healthy.” Riana now spends her days answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, updating the doctors, preparing vaccinations, and processing payments. “If there’s a problem, I will strive to fix it,” Riana says. “I’m not just here to be here — I want to help as much as I can.” Some of Riana’s favorite times are when she has the opportunity to work with the animals in the back. She loves getting hands-on with the pets and building relationships with their owners. “I enjoy meeting new people and their pets and getting to know their personalities,” she says. She also spends plenty of time with animals at home. Riana lives with her mom, grandfather, and two younger siblings. Together, they have
two huskies, three Chihuahua/poodles, and three cats. “It’s a very lively household!” she says. Riana primarily looks after the huskies and notes, “I play with my dogs a ton. The other night, we spent two hours playing in the water, and it was the best time I’ve had in a while.” Riana loves her new job at Surface Creek and has great things to say about the work environment. “Everyone is super friendly,” she says. “No one is going to think less of you for asking a question, and they’re here to help you when you need help.” She adds that she strives to follow that same ethos. “I love the fact that I’m here helping the doctors as much as I can.”
Thank you, Lulu, for being a loyal and brave pet!
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