101-year-old Lombard woman still helping rescue dogs

Thrive of Lisle recently welcomed back one of their most memorable guests. Dorothy Pszotka returned a couple of weeks before her 101st birthday.

Dorothy made her mark last year when she successfully graduated from physical rehab and returned home to Lombard. Unfortunately, a brief illness sent her back to the Elmhurst hospital in late August and she needed Thrive of Lisle to help get her strength back.

“She must really want to celebrate her birthday again at Thrive!,” her son Mike Pszotka joked upon readmission. Knowing that her next birthday was just around the corner Director of Hospitality Sue Keenan got to work on this year’s theme.

Instead of “101 Dalmatians,” she decided it would be perfect to collect “101 Donations” to give to Westie Rescue — a dog rescue Dorothy worked closely with.

Donations started to pour in from as far away as the Laketown Animal Hospital in Springfield, from closer vendors in Naperville, and the guests and staff at Thrive.

The drive achieved double the goal and presented Dorothy with 208 items at her 101st birthday party.

The Westie Rescue brought in some dogs to surprise Dorothy at her party and was very appreciative to take home the doggie donations. Dorothy had been involved with them before retiring in her 90s and she took in 137 dogs, usually four at a time.

“I had a special run for them. My yard went to the dogs!” As far as future plans, Dorothy does not have a goal to reach for age. She is just taking it one day at a time.