Veterinary Student/Animal Shelter Partnerships

Contributed by:
Nebraska Humane Society
8929 Fort Street
Omaha, NE 68134
http://www.nehumanesociety.org

Nebraska Humane Society is attracting Veterinary students from Iowa State University and Kansas State University to spend a two-week rotation at their shelter. The students from each of the Veterinary Medical Schools spend two weeks at the shelter assisting with surgeries, doing rounds, administering medication and, in general, learning about shelter medicine.

Cost

When the new shelter was built, administrative portions of the old building were converted into apartments to house the veterinary students during their stay in Omaha. Rather than paying a stipend to the students for them to stay in a hotel, the students are housed on site with very little expense to the shelter. A minor amount of remodeling was needed and donations of furniture and kitchen items were easily obtained, which kept the cost of the conversion very reasonable.

What You'll Want to Know

Primarily because of the large number of surgeries, including juvenile spay/neuters, and the home-like accommodations, the shelter is receiving letters from past students, raving about the program.

Idea Number 41 from 101 Great Shelter Ideas compiled by the ASPCA and American Humane Association, ©2000