UA veterinary students learn shelter medicine at Arizona Humane Society

More and more households have pets, but there are aren’t enough veterinarians to take care of them.

But a program is in place to help train future vets. Some veterinary students students are getting a chance to get some hands-one experience at animal shelters, including the Arizona Humane Society (AHS.)

Each month, 8 to 10 students from the University of Arizona come to the AHS for the rotation, often spending up to 40 hours a week at the shelter’s teaching hospital. We spoke to AHS staff vet Dr. Kathleen Croteau and student Santana Nez about the program.

Students doing the rotation also get to help in the Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital, which is like an emergency room for homeless pets. That hospital treats about 11,000 animals every year.

The students can also shadow field crews who go out into the community to save animals in need. Sometimes the animals are suffering in the heat, and sometimes they’re rescued from pet hoarding houses.

The rotation includes:

• AHS’ trauma hospital – an emergency room for homeless pets
• Spay/neuter shelter surgery
• Medical appointments for foster pets
• Intensive care units – Parvo Puppy ICU, Bottle Baby Kittens, Kitten Nursery & Mutternity Suites
• Community medicine & Field Operations which consists of AHS’ rescue efforts

You can learn more about the program at:

University of Arizona Veterinary Students Take On Shelter Medicine

AHS thinks about 100 students will complete the program in the next year.

Transcript:

Some vet students students are getting a chance to get some hands-one experience at animal shelters, including the Arizona Humane Society (AHS.)