Spring/Summer 2012 Aesculapian Magazine - University of Georgia ...
Spring/Summer 2012 Aesculapian Magazine - University of Georgia ...
Spring/Summer 2012 Aesculapian Magazine - University of Georgia ...
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
UGA veterinary students establish<br />
Athens Pet Food Bank<br />
By Alexandra Lanier<br />
27<br />
Students at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong> College<br />
<strong>of</strong> Veterinary Medicine have partnered with<br />
faculty and community organizations to provide<br />
food for dogs and cats in need.<br />
The number <strong>of</strong> pets whose owners are<br />
homeless is growing at an astounding rate. Many<br />
pet owners cannot afford to feed and care for their<br />
pets and end up relinquishing them to shelters.<br />
CVM rising third-year student Alan Power<br />
participated in the Leadership UGA program in<br />
fall 2011, and was shocked to learn just how poor<br />
Athens is — 33.5 percent <strong>of</strong> Athens residents live<br />
below the poverty level. In response, he decided<br />
to create a program to aid the pets <strong>of</strong> the homeless<br />
population and others in the community who<br />
struggle to care for their companion animals.<br />
After working with a mobile veterinarian<br />
who understood the responsibility <strong>of</strong> servicing the<br />
homeless population in Savannah, Ga., Power saw<br />
the need to make a positive change in the Athens<br />
area.<br />
Power says that the rigors <strong>of</strong> the academic<br />
program at the veterinary school <strong>of</strong>ten mean being<br />
The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong> College <strong>of</strong> Veterinary Medicine<br />
Volunteers place dog food<br />
into bags to distribute to<br />
pet owners in need.<br />
Photo by Sue Myers Smith<br />
cut <strong>of</strong>f from the community beyond the campus.<br />
He wanted to have a personal connection with<br />
members <strong>of</strong> the Athens community, so he put out<br />
feelers for the idea <strong>of</strong> providing pet food to pet<br />
owners in need and got a positive response within<br />
the vet college from faculty, staff and students.<br />
Drs. Mary Hondalus and Janet Martin, both CVM<br />
faculty members, approached Power and were<br />
willing to help.<br />
Hondalus, an associate pr<strong>of</strong>essor at the CVM<br />
who also directs the College’s dual DVM/MPH<br />
degree program, wants her students to assist the<br />
public as well as animals. “We serve animals, yes,<br />
but we serve people as well,” says Hondalus.<br />
Hondalus has been in Athens for seven years<br />
and, like Power, realizes the extent <strong>of</strong> poverty in<br />
the area. She wants her students to serve even<br />
those not actively seeking veterinary care; students<br />
in her program are encouraged to work with<br />
underprivileged communities to help individuals<br />
keep their pets healthy.<br />
Janet Martin, adviser for the CVM’s Shelter<br />
Medicine club, was eager to be involved. Martin