Beloved veterinarian dies from coronavirus

by BRIAN NADIG

A Niles veterinarian known for donating his time to the care of abused animals died last week from complications due to the coronavirus disease.

Dr. Peter Sakas, age 67, was the owner of the Niles Animal Hospital and Bird Medical Center, 7278 N. Milwaukee Ave.

"(With Dr. Sakas) it was always about the animals, the dogs," said Garrido Stray Rescue Foundation co-founder John Garrido. "We loved him. … He was a relentless worker, (and) I know no one who ever said anything bad about him."

Garrido said that he talked over the phone with Dr. Sakas a few days before his death and that the good doctor was inquiring about the health of an abused dog.

"He sounded great. He was hoping to get out (of the hospital) in a couple of days," Garrido said, adding that Sakas’ condition took a turn for the worse about a day later.

His children posted the following on Facebook, "Our father would often tell us he’s never worked a day in his life because he loved his job so much. He took great pride in being the voice for patients who could no speak and tell him their problems, but we also know that the people he could speak to (you, his clients) meant the world to him."

Garrido said that he met Sakas about 20 years ago when he brought him an injured pigeon.

"That pigeon lived for about 8 years under his care, (and) we started bringing our dogs to him."

Garrido said that Dr. Sakas would come in to work on his days off to treat abandoned and abused dogs that the rescue foundation had brought to his office.

"There wouldn’t be a foundation without him," Garrido said.