Advocating for Humane Veterinary Training

Dr. Natalie Isaza, assistant professor of shelter medicine at University of Florida (center), and veterinary students with shelter animals at the school.
HSVMA

Humane veterinary education took a big step forward this fall with the inception of a new surgery program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.

Setting a Good Example

Inspired by a similar program at UC Davis and funded in part by HSVMA, this student surgery program helps animals at shelters in the Gainesville area who are in need of surgery.

Students perform vital procedures such as spays, neuters, mass removals and fracture repairs, and return the animals to the shelters for adoption. These sterilized, healthy animals enjoy greater chances of being adopted and the students gain valuable medical skills and hands-on experience.

Making Progress with Humane Alternatives

At the Morris County College in northern New Jersey, HSVMA is supporting the efforts to use venipuncture models instead of live animals and helping students collaborate with area shelters to place animals no longer needed for teaching purposes.

HSVMA is also working with a student at a veterinary technology school to help her obtain an alternative to the cat, sheep and cow dissections her program requires students to perform.

Continued Support for Ethical Sources

Meanwhile, HSVMA has also been working with, and providing financial support to, students at Colorado State and University of Georgia to develop body donation programs that will replace the need to purchase cadavers from biomedical supply dealers or shelters.

These programs provide "ethical source" cadavers, meaning they are the bodies of animals who died or who were humanely euthanized for medical reasons.

Find out more information about establishing a body donation program here.