Spring Break
Vet students partner with local Humane Society
Students benefit from hands on experience; one lucky dog gets a new lease on life
Rachel Crews
Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: News
Having to perform a surgery without any experience sounds like a nightmare, but it's one that OSU veterinary school graduates don't have to experience.
This two-year-old program has allowed OSU juniors and seniors in the College of Veterinary Medicine to perform more than 500 surgeries through a partnership with local humane societies.
The Heartland Humane Society and the college celebrated their success in Magruder Hall on Tuesday.
"This is to celebrate our 300th surgery this year and our 500th surgery overall," said Kerry Mullin, executive director of Hearrtland Humane Society. "It's huge. It's amazing."
Dr. Scott Gustafson, a board certified orthopedic surgeon and OSU professor, helped start the partnership with the Heartland Humane Society that made the program possible.
"He was very interested, when OSU brought the small animal clinic here, that it was done in the most humane way possible," Mullin said. "He wanted it to benefit the animals the surgeries were performed on."
The program has grown to 100 students and 19 agencies that recommend their clients for the surgeries.
"These are surgeries that are typically not available to shelter animals in most circumstances," said Stephanie Crawford, veterinary technician for the college. "We are able to utilize these patients as a teaching opportunity, allowing our students to gain valuable experiences that, when they graduate, they will have a full suit of skills."
One lucky dog that received help from this program is Ferdinand, a shepherd mix. Ferdinand came to the Heartland Humane Society with hardly any hair and was severely underweight. He also walked on only three legs most of the time because of a painful hip injury.
Humane societies simply can't afford to perform all the necessary surgeries for every stray that comes through their doors. But with the OSU vet school program, Ferdinand was able undergo a major hip surgery and was neutered.
Now, with all necessary surgeries completed and walking on all four legs, Ferdinand is on hold for adoption, as of Tuesday.
"The students are doing so much more than learning how to perform surgeries," said Jamie Fitzpatrick, director of operations for Heartland Humane Society. "They come to realize what a difference they are making to animals and animal lovers throughout the state."
This two-year-old program has allowed OSU juniors and seniors in the College of Veterinary Medicine to perform more than 500 surgeries through a partnership with local humane societies.
The Heartland Humane Society and the college celebrated their success in Magruder Hall on Tuesday.
"This is to celebrate our 300th surgery this year and our 500th surgery overall," said Kerry Mullin, executive director of Hearrtland Humane Society. "It's huge. It's amazing."
Dr. Scott Gustafson, a board certified orthopedic surgeon and OSU professor, helped start the partnership with the Heartland Humane Society that made the program possible.
"He was very interested, when OSU brought the small animal clinic here, that it was done in the most humane way possible," Mullin said. "He wanted it to benefit the animals the surgeries were performed on."
The program has grown to 100 students and 19 agencies that recommend their clients for the surgeries.
"These are surgeries that are typically not available to shelter animals in most circumstances," said Stephanie Crawford, veterinary technician for the college. "We are able to utilize these patients as a teaching opportunity, allowing our students to gain valuable experiences that, when they graduate, they will have a full suit of skills."
One lucky dog that received help from this program is Ferdinand, a shepherd mix. Ferdinand came to the Heartland Humane Society with hardly any hair and was severely underweight. He also walked on only three legs most of the time because of a painful hip injury.
Humane societies simply can't afford to perform all the necessary surgeries for every stray that comes through their doors. But with the OSU vet school program, Ferdinand was able undergo a major hip surgery and was neutered.
Now, with all necessary surgeries completed and walking on all four legs, Ferdinand is on hold for adoption, as of Tuesday.
"The students are doing so much more than learning how to perform surgeries," said Jamie Fitzpatrick, director of operations for Heartland Humane Society. "They come to realize what a difference they are making to animals and animal lovers throughout the state."
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