The Humane Society Grants $800,000 to LSU School of Veterinary Medicine

Baton Rouge, LA - 2/8/07 - The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) presented an $800,000 check to the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine to launch a community companion animal health program.

The program, which includes an active spay and neuter component, will give students valuable medical and surgical experience while providing assistance for animals in underserved communities in southern Louisiana. Slated to begin during the spring 2007 semester, Dr. Susan Eddlestone, assistant professor of Small Animal Medicine, will coordinate the program.

“The Humane Society of the United States is honored to present this grant to the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine,” says Dr. Andrew Rowan, HSUS executive vice president of operations. “This grant is funded by donations specifically intended to help communities affected by Hurricane Katrina. The program provides real-world training for students as well as an opportunity to make a lasting, positive impact on the future of animals and the communities they will help.”

Students will gain surgical and medical experience by serving the needs of spay/neuter clinics, animal control facilities and animal shelters, the sheltering operation at the Dixon Correctional Institute and low-income communities in southern Louisiana with a focus on the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas. The curriculum will also include training in animal wellness, pet population dynamics, disaster medicine and animal behavior issues.