Pet protector

Jessica Berkeridge is a Blue Hen with a big heart. The University of Delaware Class of 2006 alumna was a veterinary student in Athens, Georgia, when a police officer knocked on her door.

The officer asked if Berkeridge could foster one of the dozens of dogs recovered from a pit bull fighting facility. What happened next changed her life.

Today, Berkeridge is a veterinarian. The native Delawarean owns Summit Bridge Veterinary Hospital and founded Cheyla's Rescue Foundation, both located in Bear, Delaware.

Cheyla was the pit bull Berkeridge rehabilitated and ultimately adopted from police custody. Police deemed the dog too aggressive to foster, but Berkeridge could see that Cheyla was gravely ill. She decided to intervene.

"By the time I got to her, she was barely able to growl and show her teeth, she was so weak," Berkeridge said. "I took her straight to the community practice at school for evaluation. We sedated her and found numerous medical problems."

A deep cut through the muscles between Cheyla's shoulder blades was close to gangrenous. The dog had an advanced case of both pneumonia and mange mites. Cheyla looked ancient, but was just six months old.

"I wouldn't let them deny her treatment that I was willing to do at my expense," Berkeridge said.

It took 18 months of gentle persuasion and heartache before the dog allowed Berkeridge to pet her. From that moment on, Cheyla became Berkeridge's constant companion and guiding light.

"I always wanted to have my own practice," Berkeridge said. "Actually, I wanted to have a rescue, but rescues don't make money. I figured if I could get a practice up and running, it could have a rescue side."