Reducing Pet Overpopulation at MSB-Shakopee

The Fabulous Spay and Neuter Clinic, led by Stacie Seymour, resident veterinarian at MSB-Shakopee and instructor at MSB-Lakeville, has once again, made a huge impact on animal rescue organizations and student learning. Twenty-four dogs and cats from non-profit community partners, Carver-Scott Humane Society and Underdog Rescue, were spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted litters. The project benefitted the various humane societies because, while the students do the initial procedures for practice, trained veterinary staff is present to examine the pets, ensuring they are healthy. The students assisted the veterinary staff with the surgeries to prepare these pets for home adoption. VT105 and VT292 classes learned about various class objectives first hand, which can then be applied in the workplace.

Some of the course objectives are identifying companion animal breeds, colors, genders, and behavior characteristics, obtaining a patient history, reading vital signs and conducting a general physical exam for the patients. Students learn proper restraint techniques, proper documentation in medical records, application of correct kennel management to reduce disease, injury and stress to the patient as well as the use of professional interpersonal and public relations skills among clients and peers.

This program benefits the humane societies by allowing them to redirect expenses that would normally go toward having these pets spayed or neutered which will fund other
pets in need. This project is beneficial to the community in general because, again, we help guarantee a healthy, adoptable pet while also assisting with the control of pet overpopulation, which is a big issue in the United States.

Said student Lori Gravlin, “This experience helped me to pull all of previous class information together and apply it to actual surgery cases.”

By Heidi Keyho.