The Animal Hospital of South Milwaukee provides veterinary services for animals and has now planted a seed to animal awareness in southern Wisconsin.
After Dr. Dogra retired from the Animal Hospital, Mr. Isaiah Gray has taken on the new ownership role going above and beyond the typical duties one might expect to see. 2 Wheels for 4 Paws was an idea Isaiah had just recently thought of and has now become an exciting adventure that occurs daily for 52 weeks. The concept is simple; Isaiah hits the streets with his bicycle to advocate animal awareness.
Every day he clocks his miles and can be found riding his bicycle in and around the Milwaukee area. Dressed with a specific shirt of a chosen organization, he hopes to spread the word about animals in regards to the importance of proper medical care and the betterment of animals.
His journey has just begun as he enters week 4 and has already sparked curiosity from the community. He has sported shirts from UW Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, Belle City Hospital and this week he can be seen wearing a Second Hand Purrs t-shirt. On a typical run he will stop anyone he sees, pulls his bike over and simply strikes up a conversation by introducing himself. He explains the shirt, the organization, the cause and even offers a free wristband for support. So far the response is good and has been receptive.
“Even with four paws, they still need a hand” says Isaiah. “People need to demand a higher level of care for their animals”. Knowledge is power and going back to the basics with simple face to face contact with the public could be exactly the wakeup call the community needs to get involved.
His short term goal is to get more people involved. Some days he bikes alone and a couple of times other riders just join right in. You don’t have to be an experienced bicyclist to join in either. Isaiah used to be a serious bicyclist but after witnessing a crash right before his eyes, he ended up taking a 14 month leave of absence from the sport. “I went from 0 hours to this” said Isaiah. His body is still getting used to the drastic change, admitting there have been some aches. He reminds himself “pain is good, it reminds you you’re alive”.
This is not a fundraiser but a mission for awareness. As WI wraps up the special week for animals, it really only is the beginning for Isaiah with a full year of riding ahead. To celebrate this special week his goal of reaching 200 miles is fast approaching. A simple game of where’s Waldo can lead you to find an inspiring man among the community, receive a bracelet for your support and in the end come together for the betterment of animals. The goal of the community should be to find him and get on board!
We will continue to follow Isaiah for the next 48 weeks and share more of his goals and accomplishments. For those interested in more information or want to join him on a ride, please contact him at www.ahosm.com or call 414-762-8888.
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