The partnership will provide students in the veterinary technology program with hands-on clinical experience working with rescued animals.
Morehead State University’s Veterinary Technology program has partnered with Saving the Animals of Rowan, a non-profit dog rescue in Rowan County, Kentucky. The partnership will provide students in the program with hands-on clinical experiences in caring for rescued dogs under the supervision of veterinarians and credentialed veterinary technician faculty members.
According to an article on Morehead State University’s website, Associate Professor of Veterinary Technology Dr. Amy Staton was quoted as saying of the partnership, “The partnership between Morehead State University Veterinary Technology Program and Saving the Animals of Rowan has been instrumental in advancing student success within our program. Students gain invaluable hands-on experience by working with real medical cases, allowing them to apply their knowledge while providing compassionate care. The animals benefit from the exceptional Fear Free practices implemented by faculty and students, receiving medically necessary treatments while becoming more comfortable with human interaction and the veterinary environment.”
Through the partnership, animals stay at the Morehead State University Veterinary Technology facility and receive care from veterinary technology students and faculty members. Students are involved in the entire process from admission to discharge and assist with animals who are receiving wellness care, diagnostic procedures, and medically necessary surgeries. They also provide enrichment activities to the animals, which work to strengthen the bond and trust between the animals and humans. Once the animals complete their stays with the Veterinary Technology program, they often transition into permanent homes.
Students are able to practice taking care of animals in clinical situations while also gaining compassionate care experience and forming bonds with animals. Staton noted that the partnership with Saving the Animals of Rowan is instrumental in forming veterinary technicians who go out into their careers with compassion and experience.
The university’s Coordinator of Service-Learning, Andrew Sexton, added, “The relationship between STAR and MSU was highlighted in our Carnegie Reclassification Application, showcasing how community engagement can be used to impact both people and animals.”
For more information about Morehead State University, visit the school’s website.