Winter/Spring 2011 Aesculapian magazine - University of Georgia ...

UGA College of Veterinary Medicine’s ‘Vets for Pets
and People’ project recognized for service to Athens
By Kat Yancey Gilmore
A student-led and faculty-supported volunteer outreach project,
from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, was
recently recognized for its efforts to heighten awareness about the link
between animal abuse and domestic violence, and to provide help to
victims who own companion animals.
“Vets for Pets and People” was named “Advocate of the Year” for
2010 by the Domestic Violence Task Force of Athens-Clarke and
Oconee Counties.
“We are honored to be recognized by the Domestic Violence Task
Force of Athens,” said Dr. Kate Creevy, an assistant professor of small
animal medicine and co-founder of the group. “Our students, staff
and faculty recognize the significant community impact of domestic
violence. We are committed to increasing awareness within our profession
about the link between animal abuse and domestic violence, and to
providing support for the pets of individuals seeking refuge from their
abusers.”
Vets for Pets and People was launched in 2009 by Drs. Creevy and
Karen Cornell with the help of a $5,000 Scholarship of Engagement
Grant from UGA.
Creevy and Cornell said they first learned of the link, and the problem
on a national scale, from a friend who is a social worker. About that
same time, another friend was participating in the “Dancing with Athens
Stars” competition, an annual fundraiser benefitting Project Safe, a local
non-profit organization providing services to victims of domestic
violence.
“These two events sparked our interest to investigate what we could
do as veterinarians to help,” said Creevy.
The grant money provided funding to develop and print two brochures
that students are distributing to veterinarians throughout Georgia.
One brochure is designed to help veterinarians identify animals that
may be experiencing abuse, as well as to increase awareness that clients
who are victims of domestic violence may turn to veterinarians with
questions about safety for their pets if they seek refuge for themselves.
The second brochure targets both clients who may be involved in an
abusive relationship and the general public. Both brochures contain
information on where to seek help, as well as facts on the links between
the two types of abuse.
To help promote their mission and encourage Georgia’s veterinarians
to utilize the brochures, Cornell, Creevy and veterinary students are
reaching out to the College’s alumni, to local practitioners, and, through
the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, to practitioners statewide.
In early November, Cornell and Jennifer Trzcinski (DVM ’13) gave
the keynote address to veterinary professionals at the 2010 GVMA Fall
Veterinary Conference.
“This project has provided our students with a unique service-learning
opportunity,” noted Cornell, a professor of small animal medicine
and surgery. “In addition to having raised the awareness of our profession
and the general public regarding this important problem, students like
Jennifer have increased their own knowledge base surrounding this topic
and practiced the skills needed to convey this information to colleagues.”
To help boost awareness among veterinarians on a national level,
Creevy gave an address on the project, its goals and objectives to the
fall meeting of the North American Veterinary College Administrators,
which represents all 31 veterinary colleges in North America. Creevy
and Cornell hope the talk will encourage sister institutions to participate
in similar programs.
“Our long-term goal is to create a self-sustaining program, through
the support of fundraising and partnership with our colleagues in industry,”
said Creevy. “Students recently sponsored a fundraiser called
‘No Shave November,’ a 30-day period during which participants did
As part of the “Vets for Pets and People” initiative, pets of victims of domestic violence have been put into foster care in the homes of UGA College
of Veterinary Medicine faculty, staff and students. Pictured above are veterinary student Michelle Morrison (DVM ’11), (left), and resident Dr.
Andrea Wang (right), who are caring for a 1-year-old yellow lab while he is awaiting a foster home. Right: Brianna Galbreath, an anesthesia orderly at
the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital, is fostering this 1-year-old boxer.
6 The University of Georgia • College of Veterinary Medicine