b'Havingspent30yearsasa PetSnip at 1701 East Gary Road, was I never filled her position. I justPathologistatLakelandRegional originally The Waller Groups primary tookoverthepositionsshecovered,Hospital, Sandlak knew she could find office for 49 years. The residential and andwaitedforhertoreturn,saida better solution for Polk County pet commercial construction company is a Sandlak.owners.Throughherresearch,she well-known Lakeland business, found- Although there is plenty of TLCcame across Humane Alliance, based edbyRobertBob Waller.When (tenderlovingcare)giventopets,inAsheville,NorthCarolina(now Sandlakdiscoveredtheemptybuild- humans,rescueanimals,andvolun-ASPCASpay/NeuterAlliance). They ing, she arranged to meet Tom Waller, teerswhocomethroughtheclinicwere holding a SNIP Summit to help Bobs son, at the property. He made it doors, the TLC, in the name, actuallycommunities learn how to reduce shel- clearthatthebuildingstillhelda standsforsomethingelse:Terryteroverpopulationthroughlowcost special place in his heart and that he LaVerne Clinic.spayingandneutering.Sandlak was reluctant to lease it. Mom wasnt able to see me fulfillbelievestherearenocoincidences. After Sandlak described her plans my dream, but, I feel her presence inSummit was the name of her beloved to help the community with a low cost the building every day,said Sandlak.Great Pyrenees, and she took that as a spay/neuter clinic, Waller was clearly Customerserviceisjustassign to attend. important as the high caliber medicalAt the conference, she met people servicesTLCPetSnipprovides.Lowfromalloverthecountrywhowere costdoesnotequatetolowqualityinvolvedinrescueandshelterwork. care and lack of compassion.Theyallfacedthesamedilemma: I did not want TLC PetSnip tohowtomakespay/neutersurgeries be known as a cattle call chop shop. Itaffordable and available for their com- was important to me, from the get-go,munity partners and family pets. to see that each animal was treated asUnplanned litters of puppies and an individual and with kindness, saidkittens contribute to the high intake Sandlak.numbers at shelters. Stray populations WhenEmilyreturnedtoTLCoftendevelopandgrowinnumber PetSnip,shecreatedtheirclientcarewhenleftunmanagedinneighbor- specialist department, operating at allhoods with limited access to affordable Emily Lorenzano (l), executive director of three clinics, today.Continued on next page gspay/neuterservices.Holdingat TLC PetSnip and its founder,numberoneinthestateofFlorida Terry Sandlak.withthehighestnumberofshelter moved, and gave her a three-year lease. animaleuthanasias,PolkCounty Withher501c3approved,aAnimal Control was in need of a sea locationsecured,andrenovationschange, and members of the commu- underway, Sandlak turned to findingnity had to get behind the movement someone who could help her run theto help.clinic.ShehadworkedalongsideNo Regrets EmilyLorenzanoatLakelandTerrySandlaksmother,thelate Regional,andadmiredherorganiza-LaVernePeyton,wasalsoherbest tional skills and steadfast approach tofriend. The two worked alongside each work.Together,theyopenedtheotherrescuing,fostering,andtrans- LakelandclinicjustmonthsafterportingdogsforFloridaGreat Sandlaks mother passed away.PyreneesRescue.Peytonsupported On opening day in 2013, 10 peo-herdaughtersdecisiontomoveon ple scheduled appointments. Throughfrom her healthcare career and follow word-of-mouth,theclinicquicklyher heart.became steadily busy.She pushed me to do it and told Soon though, life took Lorenzanometogiveitahundredandten in another direction and she made the Dr. Campbell and Cuddles, a 15-year-oldpercent, and then Id have no regrets, toughdecisiontopursueacareer Dachshund who had pyometra. Her ownerstraveled for more than an hour to get hersaid Sandlak. change.SandlakknewLorenzano the emergency surgery she needed atTheLakelandlocationofTLC would be back, someday. TLC PetSnip in Lakeland.www.TheNewBarker.com THE NEW BARKER 39'