LSU Veterinary School students work with local shelter to care for animals
Members of the Class of 2015 started their formal veterinary education in August 2011. The first year of veterinary school requires long hours of class and lab work. Still, these students decided to take on extra duties—namely working with the Companion Animal Alliance (CAA) at the East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control Center to care for animals following spays and neuters.
Sarah Frances Callahan, first-year veterinary student, volunteered in the clinic at the EBR Parish Animal Control Center for two years before starting veterinary school and sits on the board of directors of Friends of the Animals–Baton Rouge. She came up with the idea for the “Post-Op Partner Program” after noticing a high occurrence of incision infections in dogs that recover from surgery at the shelter in comparison to those that recover in the comfort of a foster home. The Post-Op Partner program ensures that animals that are spayed and neutered can recuperate in a veterinary student’s home rather than EBR’s shelter facility.
The program began in September 2011. When students responded with interest, Friends of the Animals Baton Rouge responded generously by purchasing needed supplies, like crates, leashes and pet food. According to Callahan, “The Post-Op Partner Program is just one example of how Friends of the Animals fulfills its mission to encourage the humane treatment of animals at EBR Animal Control and Rescue by providing volunteers, resources and education while increasing the number of animals adopted through fostering and community partnerships. I started volunteering with the organization because each time the shelter was faced with a roadblock or limitation, they stepped up to help find a solution. I’m amazed with what we’ve been able to accomplish since becoming a non-profit in 2009, and take great pride in representing Friends of the Animals at the School of Veterinary Medicine.”
At the close of the fall semester, Friends of the Animals–Baton Rouge supported another opportunity to connect veterinary students with the local shelter, Companion Animal Alliance at EBR Animal Control & Rescue. In November 2011 volunteers from LSU SVM assisted Friends of the Animals with a goal to spa neuter one hundred animals in thirty days. The group exceeded their goal and completed one hundred and ten (110) surgeries before the Christmas holiday. The following students in the Class of 2015 (and three members of the Class of 2014) logged over 200 hours of volunteer service for this endeavor:
| Meredith Addison | Elise DeSonnier | Kaitlin Kasparek | John Prokup |
| Lisa Anderson | Rachel Edick | Heather Kittrell | Hanna Sibley |
| Kim Annesser | Molly French-Waltman | Katy Lajone | Lauren Stump |
| Carolina Azevedo | Stephanie Garrity | Sam May | Brittany Walraven |
| Bethany Busby | Matthew Griffin | Chelsea Morgan | Donald Zuber |
| Mallory Campbell | Kelsey Hanson | Janet Meeks | |
| Amanda Daniels | Leslie Hopes | Melissa O’Hara |
Photo: From left, first-year veterinary students Elise DeSonnier, Amanda Daniels and Chelsea Morgan getting ready to take home dogs as part of the Post-Op Partner Program.
Photo: Sarah Frances Callahan, first-year veterinary student, and Dr. Marianne Fairchild (LSU SVM 1994), veterinarian for the Companion Animal Alliance.
Media Contact:
Ginger Guttner
Director of Public Relations
LSU School of Veterinary Medicine
225-578-9922 or gguttner@lsu.edu
Mission:
The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is a dynamic community dedicated to saving lives, finding cures, and changing lives through outstanding clinical and community service, educational excellence, and groundbreaking research.