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Gimme Shelter - School of Veterinary Medicine - Louisiana State ...

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<strong>Gimme</strong> <strong>Shelter</strong>Thousands <strong>of</strong> animals enter <strong>Louisiana</strong> shelterseach year. In response to the needs <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong>these shelters and to expose veterinary studentsto a different aspect <strong>of</strong> veterinary medicine, theLSU <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Veterinary</strong> <strong>Medicine</strong> created aservice learning course, whereby an instructorand students visit shelters in south <strong>Louisiana</strong> tohelp with their medical needs. To help kick-startthe course, the SVM accepted a grant from theHumane Society <strong>of</strong> the United <strong>State</strong>s (HSUS).HSUS DonationIn December 2006, the Humane Society <strong>of</strong> theUnited <strong>State</strong>s pledged $800,000 to the LSU SVMto launch a community-based companion animalhealth program, including an active spay andneuter component, which gives students valuablemedical and surgical experience while providingassistance for animals in underserved communitiesin southern <strong>Louisiana</strong>. <strong>Shelter</strong>s participating inthe program are the <strong>Louisiana</strong> Society for thePrevention <strong>of</strong> Cruelty to Animals (Orleans Parish),the Jefferson Animal <strong>Shelter</strong> (Jefferson Parish, eastbank), the St. Bernard Parish Animal <strong>Shelter</strong>, PAWS(Plaquemines Parish), ARNO (Jefferson Parish), theDenham Springs Animal <strong>Shelter</strong> (Livingston Parish),and East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control.The program began in July 2007, and somestudents began participating in the rotation in thesummer while they were technically on vacation.Official enrollment for credit began with the Fall2007 semester. Twenty-six students in the Class <strong>of</strong>2008 are enrolled in the fall and spring semesters.Thirty students in the Class <strong>of</strong> 2009 are currentlyscheduled to take the rotation during their senioryear. The students who took the rotation duringthe summer are Dr. Lacy Davis (intern), LaurenEsposito (Class <strong>of</strong> 2008), who took the rotationtwice; Verna Serra (Class <strong>of</strong> 2009), Jessica LetoSwanford (Class <strong>of</strong> 2008), Andrea Barros (Class<strong>of</strong> 2009), Kelly Minor (Ross student ), JaimeRodriguez (Ross student), Evan Sones (Class <strong>of</strong>2008), Tracy Millhouse (Class <strong>of</strong> 2008), HollyBrown (Class <strong>of</strong> 2010), and Layne Holland (Class <strong>of</strong>2008). From July through November 12, 2007, thenew shelter veterinarian, along with the studentsassisting, has done 818 health and wellness checks,164 spays, and 157 neuters.Jessica Enes (Class <strong>of</strong> 2008, right) and Dr. WendyWolfson (center) discuss a patient with Paula Neames,shelter manager, at the Denham Springs Animal <strong>Shelter</strong>.Service Learning CourseDr. Wendy Wolfson joined the faculty <strong>of</strong> theLSU SVM on May 1, 2007, as the new shelterveterinarian and as an instructor <strong>of</strong> veterinarysurgery. A 1986 graduate <strong>of</strong> the LSU SVM,Dr. Wolfson worked in shelter medicine for 218 La Veterinaire Jan/Feb 2008

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