The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Canine Club held its annual Canine Spay Day on January 26, 2008. Junior veterinary students performed the surgeries on 24 dogs from the local Madison-Oglethorpe Animal Shelter (MOAS), with sophomore and freshmen students providing anesthetic services. The Canine Club provides this spay/neuter service free of charge to a local animal shelter each spring.

“Our entire club budget goes to Spay Day each year,” says secretary Shirin Modaresi. “All of our fundraisers pay for making these animals ready for new homes.”

Once the dogs are spayed or neutered, they are prepared for adoption at the animal shelter.

“The service they provide makes such a difference,” says Cat Lindsey, director of MOAS. “We normally pay a veterinarian to perform the spay and neuter surgeries. By not having to pay for these 24 animals allows us to save money for other medical treatments, supplies and general upkeep of the shelter.”

“We are proud to have our veterinary students taking an active role in helping control pet overpopulation in our area,” says UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Sheila W. Allen. “The Canine Club has sponsored Spay Day for the last several years. Their participation has not only helped them gain valuable experience to become better prepared as veterinarians after graduation, but it also has generated a positive relationship with local shelters and the community.”

“The students did an excellent job,” Lindsey adds. “We were expecting a couple of the females to have a longer recovery time, but they all hopped out of the trailer when they got back to the shelter, ready to go!”

According to Lindsey, two of the dogs have been adopted within a week after the Canine Club’s Spay Day.

This article was posted on Monday, February 4th, 2008 at 1:05 pm and is filed under News, Students.