Save the strays: how a new mobile veterinary program is helping Michiganders

Photo Courtesy of Tima Miroschnichenko via Pexels

By Lucas Henkel

December 18, 2023

A new mobile veterinary program being developed in Michigan will soon help local animal shelters in underserved communities across the state.

MICHIGAN—Animal shelters across the state are at risk of over-population—which has led some Michiganders to use unique ways to help the state’s furry friends.

Soon, a new collaboration between the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine (MSU CVM) will connect veterinary students to animal welfare organizations and local animal shelters in desperate need of veterinary services.

“The community medicine program is designed to better support communities and their need for animal care while enriching the education of future veterinary professionals and ultimately helping pets find their forever homes,” State Veterinarian Nora Wineland said in a press release.

The community medicine program will expand on MSU CVM’s current curriculum by allowing veterinary and veterinary nursing students to gain experience in routine surgeries while assisting overburdened organizations. Students will also provide support for animals receiving spay/neuter services—which has been proven to help reduce overpopulation problems in animal shelters.

“We’re proud to offer these future leaders the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills, develop an understanding of local communities statewide, and network with potential future colleagues in the field of shelter medicine all while honing their technical abilities by assisting with the surgical care of animals in need,” said Kelley Meyers, who serves as the director of the MSU Veterinary Medical Center, in a press release.

The three-year program is set to launch in the coming months.

To read the full press release and learn more about the program, visit Michigan.gov/MDARD.

Author

Lucas Henkel

Lucas Henkel is a Reporter and Strategic Communications Producer for COURIER based in mid-Michigan, covering community stories and public policies across the country.

View all posts

CATEGORIES: ANIMALS | COMMUNITY

Support Our Cause

Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Michiganders and our future.

Since day one, our goal here at The 'Gander has always been to empower people across the state with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Michigan families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.