By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine has an enviable track record of seeking and obtaining financial support for programs that promote the humane care and treatment of animals. It was no surprise that the College “doggedly” pursued the offer of a $100,000 grant by the American Kennel Club to assist with emergency response in times of civil or natural disaster.

Impressed with the College's philosophy, dedication and program design, the Companion Animal Recovery affiliate of AKC announced the award during the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association's annual meeting held at MSU.

“We are in awe of the dedication shown by the medical staff at the College and the facilities that are already in place here,” said Gregory Beck, sales manager for AKC Companion Animal Recovery headquarters in Raleigh, N.C. “We feel that CVM was very deserving of the grant and had very clear plans on what it planned to do with the money to benefit companion animal recovery and welfare.”

AKC Companion Animal Recovery was founded in 1995 to help owners recover lost pets. It provides 24-hour recovery services for companion animals registered in its database. Animals can be identified by an implanted microchip, a tattoo or an AKC CAR collar tag.

Approximately 3 million animals, including dogs, cats, horses, birds and a two-toed sloth, are in the database. The service has already reunited more than 300,000 companion animals with their families.

The College developed a good working relationship with Companion Animal Recovery after Hurricane Katrina displaced hundreds of animals, leaving them hungry, dehydrated, injured, sick, lost and without shelter. Some presented overpopulation problems because they had not been spayed or neutered and were left to roam.

“Our response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster apparently demonstrated that we have the capability to act in a positive way to help our four-legged friends and teach our veterinary students the proper response and good citizenship,” said Dr. Kent Hoblet, dean of the veterinary college. “This grant will allow us to increase our response should another unfortunate event happen.”

The College applied the grant to purchase a state-of-the-art veterinary mobile response unit. The unit housed in a 32-foot trailer contains a surgical suite, treatment table and holding cages for small animals awaiting or recovering from treatment. Medical staff and students working inside have digital radiology and hematology diagnostic and laboratory capabilities at their disposal. If electrical power is not available, the unit can be powered by diesel fuel.

Dr. Philip Bushby, the Marcia Lane Endowed Professor in Humane Ethics and Animal Welfare at the College, said the mobile unit won't remain idle waiting for the next disaster. It will be used to assist animal shelters with pre-adoption spay/neuter programs. Only four shelters in the state have surgical suites to perform these operations in areas where there is no local veterinary assistance or when local shelter veterinarians request help.

“We have a wonderful vehicle with a wonderful plan for the future,” Bushby said. “We can't express enough gratitude to the American Kennel Club and Companion Animal Rescue for their help.”

CAR is the nation's largest non-profit animal recovery service provider. AKC maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and is a leader in the welfare of animals across the globe.

Contact: Dr. Kent Hoblet, (662) 325-1418