Animals, humans benefit from charitable donations

By Linda Breazeale 
MSU Ag Communications
Mississippi State - Charitable gifts to Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine offer comfort and hope to those who cherish all kinds of animals.
Susan Kuykendall, an administrative assistant in the CVM’s clinical sciences department, oversees the Fund for CARE, which stands for Companion Animals Require Excellence. The fund was created several years ago to help fill in the gaps between state appropriations and needs at the veterinary college.
“Many people use the CARE fund to memorialize pets or friends who loved animals. It is also common for people to make donations in honor of a veterinarian who is special to them,” Kuykendall said. “Donations come in all sizes, from very small to large, and are used to buy equipment that will help with animal care and educational needs of future veterinarians.  Read More...

To download Fund for Care brochure,  click here.

Animals need protection when temperatures drop

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE –Although many pets and livestock grow heavy winter coats and have thick foot padding, they still need human protection when temperatures drop.
Animal specialists at Mississippi State University have tips that pet owners and livestock producers can follow to keep their animals healthy and comfortable in extremely cold weather.
Dogs and cats, particularly those that live inside but often venture outdoors, are vulnerable when weather turns cold. They often need additional food and fresh water to maintain their body heat. Large dogs bred for cold weather, such as huskies and Samoyeds, can tolerate extremely cold temperatures if already acclimated to outside weather. Smaller-sized pets, such as Chihuahuas, cannot.  Read More...

Enjoy the Holiday With Your Pet

The Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine hopes everyone enjoys this wonderful holiday season. We encourage you to keep your holiday a joyous occasion for everyone by remembering your pets during this time. This is a wonderful time of the year, but it also brings many hazards for our pets. We hope the following tips will help you and your pet have a safe and happy holiday. 
Tips on caring for you pet this holiday season.

Supply Drive for Animal Shelters a Success

In keeping with the theme of "A New Chapter of Service", the College of Veterinary Medicine coordinated a supply drive for area animal shelters. Through October 30th, supplies were donated to the Oktibbeha County Humane Society, Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society and the Aberdeen Animal Shelter. Drop off locations were in the Colvard Student Union, the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Bost Extension Buildiing.  Supplies collected were recently delivered to the various shelters. Thank you for your participation.

Lane endowment creates veterinary career options

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – An outreach program that Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine developed with a special endowment and supplemental gifts is creating new career opportunities in shelter animal medicine and community service for future graduates.
Lowndes County resident Marcia Lane established an endowed chair in Humane Ethics and Animal Welfare in January 2006 to help the college develop supportive relationships with animal sheltering organizations. Her endowment also allowed the college to begin other service activities, such as Homeward Bound dog adoption, Rural Area Veterinary Services, Safe Haven for pets of families escaping domestic violence, disaster response and animal care/welfare education for schoolchildren. Read More

Aberdeen seniors find shelter in saving animals

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Some people believe that 65 is over the hill, but staff and students at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine know this assumption is false because they have interacted with senior citizens who built and now manage Aberdeen’s animal shelter.

Shelter volunteers, who average 72 years old, have given many homeless animals in their area a second chance at finding loving homes. They established a facility after waging a public campaign to replace the city’s old pound. Read More...

Gifts to help animals reflect holiday spirit

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi State University veterinary experts, who agree that pets generally do not make good gifts, suggest people can capture the holiday spirit by donating to an animal health-care group in someone’s name.

Pets are not toys or objects. They are living, breathing organisms that depend on humans for food, shelter and comfort when placed in a home. When pets are neglected, ignored or unwanted, they suffer. Read More...