American Kennel Club Canine Partners (discount for students)

By Penny Leigh

AKC Canine Partners Program Manager

Sherman’s owners just wanted their newly adopted puppy to learn some manners when they enrolled him in obedience class.

At least that was the only goal until the day the instructor rolled out a tunnel.

“Sherman was hooked immediately and wouldn't stop running back and forth through the tunnel,” said Dr. Kara Malone, DVM, who owns Sherman with her husband Michael.

After they caught Sherman, the Malones realized the mixed-breed puppy was a natural prospect for the sport of agility.

“Once he had enough basic obedience learned, we started him in agility training,” Kara said.

Sherman matured into a leggy dog that can clear 26-inch jumps with ease and who, indeed, excelled at agility trials. In agility, dogs run an obstacle course consisting of jumps, tunnels, weave poles, see-saws and more and are judged on accuracy and speed.

 “He loves every minute of class and competition,” Kara said.

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Honduras Trip

By: Kimby Lo

UC Davis, Class of 2012

Last June I embarked on a 10-day trip to Honduras with a missionary organization called VetMerge.  The town of La Villa de San Antonio was small, and definitely a place of great need.  The closest veterinarian lives about 15 miles away in a city called Comayagua.  Although this doesn’t sound too far, it is an unrealistic option for many, and most families can not afford trips to the vet.  The trip was a mix of many animals.  We made numerous ranch calls to deworm and give selenium injections to sheep, goats, and cattle.  A lot of the farmers we met encountered many of the same issues with their livestock, including abortions, retained placentas, decreased milk production, and mastitis.  On one of the last days, we held an educational seminar for them addressing these issues and ways to prevent them. 

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Native American Project HSVMA Stipend

By: Amy Vlazny

Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2011

Through the windows of the car winding through the mountains north of Elko, Nevada, the landscape grew increasingly desolate.  Without a tree or building to give it form the valley seemed starkly flat, and the mountains, tipped with snow, jutted up suddenly in the distance.  The sandy ground was dusted with light snow and sparsely covered with drab sagebrush – the Nevada state flower.  The setting seemed as exotic as the high páramo of the Andes, the dry, frosty grasslands found at altitudes higher than trees can grow.  But, no; I was only in my country's very own snowy mountain desert.

            I was taking this adventure into an area of the U.S. formerly unknown to me in order to participate in an HSVMA Field Services spay/neuter clinic at the Duck Valley Indian Reservation.  I was one of 25 veterinary students who, along with eight veterinarians and ten technicians, volunteers and staff, were now rolling into the town of Owyhee in a ten-car caravan behind a truck and trailer full of veterinary equipment, intending to spay, neuter, and vaccinate just about any dog or cat that would come through the gymnasium doors over the next four days.  They were four hectic and exhausting days, but the enthusiasm of the volunteers and the appreciation of our clients made for a rich learning experience and countless enjoyable interactions.   

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A New Direction

By: Elizabeth Wormley

Iowa State University, Class of 2011

My name is Elizabeth, and I am now addicted to shelter medicine…

No joke; I couldn't have asked for a better start to clinics. My two week externship at the Nebraska Humane Society was unparalleled on many levels - knowledge gained, hands-on practice, and working with a great team. I've always been fond of population medicine - I enjoy laboratory animal medicine, and I was the president of the ISU Feral Cat Alliance program this last year. Working with a wide variety of species has always been of great importance to me, and I found that shelter medicine allows me to do just that. Many think shelter medicine = mass spays and neuters. Perhaps at some smaller shelters, this is the case. But at many shelter facilities (including NHS), there is FAR more going on, and great medicine is being practiced. Just a few of the things I experienced:

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My trip to Hoopa

By: Kate Parent

University of Illinois, Class of 2011

Last summer, Kate participated in a RAVS trip where she got some great new experiences, but she also earned herself some cash to help with the costs by applying for the SAVMA Native American Project externship stipend. To learn more about the stipend, visit the committee's site on the SAVMA Website at: http://www.avma.org/noah/members/savma/committees/napinfo.asp

Over spring break during my second year, I decided to live a little and go on a RAVS trip. It was a fabulous experience – during no other week of my life did I sleep so little or learn so much.

            My trip was to serve the Hupa people of the Hoopa Valley Tribe living in northwestern California. According to Hupa tradition, these people have been living in the Hoopa Valley for 4,000 years. Based on my readings before the trip, I hoped to see beautifully twined baskets made by the women, homes built of cedar slabs set on end, and yew bows strengthened with sinew fastened to the back with sturgeon glue. However, I did not get to explore the culture and crafts of the Hupa people during my stay there, mostly due to the duties we had at the RAVS shed that kept us busy from 6 am to 11 or 12 every night, but I did meet some wonderful people that were grateful for the service we were providing for their animals.

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