“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ~ Anatole France
What is the Educational Memorial Program?
The Educational Memorial Program at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) offers you a very special way to honor your deceased pet. This veterinary program is similar to human programs that allow individuals to will their bodies to medical education after they pass.
Donating your deceased pet to our program can be a way of letting their spirit live on through the education of future veterinarians and other healthcare professionals. These donations are valuable to the school’s teaching mission to train veterinary and undergraduate students in anatomy and surgery.
Many species of animals—including, but not limited to, dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep, and goats—are eligible for donation to the Educational Memorial Program. If you decide to donate your pet’s body to the program, you can choose to keep your pet’s name confidential or use their first name to recognize their contribution. Owners’ names will always remain confidential.
Why donate?
Saving lives and training future veterinarians and other health care professionals are missions of the VMBS. By honoring your pet in this special way, they will become an integral part of the teaching mission of the school—to train students in the critical skills that lay a foundation to enable them to practice compassionate and competent medicine as they enter their professions.
The passing of your animal companion
We wish you comfort while you are mourning the loss of your beloved pet.
We hope giving you the option to donate to the Educational Memorial Program may help you memorialize your pet and help prepare the next generation of compassionate veterinarians and other healthcare professionals.
If you decide this program is the right option, please contact the Educational Memorial Program at 979.862.2962 or ed-memorial@tamu.edu for more information regarding the process and required paperwork, or visit our FAQ page for additional information.
“The use of pets’ remains in the professional program is highly beneficial to get the necessary hands-on experience.
These donations are treated with respect and not taken for granted.” ~ A Texas A&M Veterinary Student