Janiya Brown/DIGEST
Students pictured at the Vet on Wheels event hosted by the Animal Science Pre-Vet Club on November 12 in partnership with the Companion Animal Alliance.
For most pet owners, health and safety are a priority when it comes to taking care of their furry loved ones. Unfortunately, maintaining health for an animal can often be just as expensive as maintaining your own health, which can be quite inconvenient, especially as a college student who may have limited funds.
Wednesday, November 12, The Animal Science Pre-Vet Club partnered with one of Baton Rouge’s most frequented shelters, Companion Animal Alliance, for their annual Vet on Wheels event, hosted on Fisher Hall lawn. The Vet on Wheels event is a mobile veterinary clinic that provides essential pet services including yearly vaccinations for both cats and dogs, as well as rabies shots, and pet tags containing owner information.
The event is not only beneficial as an educational opportunity for Southern’s pre-vet and animal science students, but is also a convenient, no-cost opportunity to maintain the health of pets for both students and members of the community. Faculty advisor Jodie Morton spoke with pride about the occasion, “It’s such a great opportunity because when you have a companion animal, it’s usually a part of the family… but not everyone can afford the vet bills, so having a pre-vaccination clinic is important.”
Since the introduction of Southern into Baton Rouge, a big portion of the school’s mission has been community service, which is embodied thoroughly by this event. The president of the Pre-Vet Club, Jadyn Allement, has a personal connection to the affair, “My favorite part about participating in this event is helping and giving back to the community, especially a community that raised me; it feels good to give back.” Her words exemplified the mission of the event, giving back to the community while also helping students to prepare for a career in animal care.
As a student in the medical field, class can only provide so much information, but when events like this come to campus, it helps students by bringing the knowledge to them and allowing them to gain involvement beyond class curriculum. Ikira Butler, a member of the Pre-Vet Club, attended the event with her energetic young puppy, Zeus. “As both a pre-vet student and pet owner, I most enjoy coming to this event and getting hands-on experience with the animals and learning different behaviors.”
The continued success and participation from events like these reflect the bond between our university and the community we serve. The Vet on Wheels clinic serves as a bridge that connects education and real-world experience and will hopefully remain a key part of Southern’s support of animal welfare and student development.