A doggone good deed

A pair of Yorkies belonging to Cyrus Bonakchi are quite the celebrities around Cyrus Persian Rugs on Perkins Road in South Baton Rouge. After all, their pictures have been smiling down at motorists from his rented Lamar billboard for five years.

But these days, Bonakchi is more than proud of Miki, 15, and Mocha, 8—he’s thankful as well. In May, their long-time veterinarian, Dr. Donna Kleinpeter, rescued Miki from the brink of death from renal failure. What happened next was a complete surprise to Kleinpeter: a very public thank you on Miki and Mocha’s billboard.

“Cyrus came into my clinic with a small version of the billboard on a stand and told me, ‘You have to be on the billboard—you saved Miki’s life,’” Kleinpeter recalls. After practicing for 25 years, Kleinpeter admits, “It brought a tear to my eye.”

The photos and message continue to twinkle larger-than-life on the billboard. Thanks to vet Dr. Kleinpeter, who has cared for the dogs their whole lives, they will be local stars even longer. And now, so will she.