Purdue Veterinary Medicine students visit Pets R Us to examine animals
Apr. 19—Miriah Leibering, a fourth-year doctor of veterinary medicine student at the Purdue University, knew she wanted to be a veterinarian from a very young age.
Her fellow classmates at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Milton Ortiz-Rivera and Julia Motto, both grew up around livestock. For them, being a vet is about the human animal bond and preserving that bond through their pets' health.
On Friday afternoon, these three students demonstrated some of what they have learned from Purdue at Pets R Us, formerly known as Cass County Humane Society, where they performed exams on some of the animals.
Assistant Clinical Professor of Shelter Medicine Ryan Hill, DVM, MPH, accompanied the students. Through a program called Priority 4 Paws, which started in 2012, students in their last year at the veterinary school visit various shelters across Indiana to perform exams. Hill said they visit every three months or so.
"... it originally started as they had a big RV, a big mobile clinic and they would drive around to various shelters in the area and do surgeries on that big mobile unit," Hill said. "And, I believe that Cass County was just part of that initial group, and so I think... we've had a partnership since."
Hill said there is also a course students can take where shelters will bring animals to Purdue for students to examine, spay, neuter or any other procedures that need to be done. After the procedures are done, the animals are sent back to the shelters to be adopted. Pets R Us Executive Director Lisa Terry said they bring animals to Purdue every three weeks.
One of the group's first patients was a small dog named Teddy. They weighed him, checked his eyes and vaccinated him. Afterwards, the group broke for lunch from Pizza Hut, provided by the staff at Pets R Us, but not before telling Teddy what a good patient he was.
The students said they enjoyed helping out with the animals in Logansport Friday. Motto said it was her first experience doing this and was looking forward to it when she was told about it.
"And everybody's been super helpful and it's very rewarding to help you guys out and helping animals out while we're also learning," Motto said. "So, I've really enjoyed it."
City Council Member Dave Morris joined the students and staff for lunch. He said he has become more involved with animal control throughout his nine years on the council, and recently attended a conference about the different issues shelters are dealing with.
"... the common theme is funding. The common theme is overcrowding and it's a situation that all communities are dealing with, it's not just local issues, it's being dealt with in a lot of different communities," And you guys coming to help... it's truly relief for us to have that benefit. And we appreciate you guys coming."
Terry said Pets R Us does the best they can to assess what the animals there need, but they need people like the Purdue students to assist them. She said animal and animal advocacy education is needed in the community, which she said they have done through fundraisers, volunteer board members and a junior board.
"... I think education is one of the most difficult challenges because it's not like there's a curriculum on animal advocacy...," Terry said.
Upcoming fundraisers at Pets R Us include a garage sale next Saturday and Sunday at Security Federal Savings Bank and a car wash at First Farmers Bank in May. To learn more about Pets R Us, visit cchspetsrus.com.
