Southern California's First Veterinary College Extends a Helping Paw to Homeless Pets
Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Veterinary Medicine
will be lending aid to a different breed of the homeless on Wednesday,
August 15, as it plays a role in the 2nd Annual Health and Job Fair for
the Homeless at the First Baptist Church, 601 N. Garey Ave.
Catering to the 25 percent of the homeless people in Southern California
who care for pets, the University’s veterinary faculty will provide animal
wellness care and distribute vouchers that can be redeemed at the Inland
Valley Humane Society for free spaying or neutering.
College of Veterinary Medicine Assistant Professor Lara Rasmussen, DVM,
DAVCS, feels that Western University’s presence is a needed addition to
the services at the health and job fair.
“”Taking proper care of one’s pets can incur tremendous expenses for
someone who has little-to-no income,”” Rasmussen said. “”However, these pets
often provide irreplaceable and long-lasting companionship. If we can help
these people maintain healthier pets, then I think we are providing the
best humanitarian contribution we can to this event.””
Replicating last year’s fair, members of the homeless community will
attend the event to receive free services from an array of more than 20
local community groups, including the Homeless Outreach Task Force, the
Department of Public Social Services, Pomona Valley Hospital, The American
Recovery Center, The Pomona Inland Valley Council of Churches and Tri-City
Mental Health Center, which coordinated the event.
The College of Veterinary Medicine also will be accompanied by Happy Tails
To You Mobile Pet Grooming and two professional pet groomers, who will
provide their services free of charge.
The veterinary faculty, along with the other services, will be available
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the hope of exceeding last year’s attendance of
more than 120 members of the homeless community.
For more information regarding the College of Veterinary Medicine or its
involvement in the health fair, call Dr. Rasmussen, at (909) 469-5668.
