University of Pennsylvania receives donation to New Bolton Center

PHILADELPHIA - 06/12/06 - For the first time, public money was used to improve the New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

The university received a $13.5 million grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the George D. Widener-Hospital for Large Animals.

The money will help facilitate new medical facilities on campus, including a new isolation building, a colic barn and a chemical digestion facility.

The isolation building will provide added biosecurity for the treatment of infectious disease, authorities say.

The colic barn will be used for the specialized treatment of horses with high-risk abdominal conditions. The new chemical digestion facility will provide a safe and efficient means to dispose of infectious waste.

Gov. Edward Rendell says the investment in the school is good news for the state's agriculture industry, which is currently on the hunt for large animal practitioners.