Texas A&M Veterinary Team Provides Free Rabies Vaccines To Caldwell Pets
Story by Megan Myers, CVMBS Communications
Nearly 150 pets in Caldwell received free examinations and rabies vaccinations from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS) faculty, staff, and students at a drive-through clinic on May 3.
The temporary clinic was run by 12 faculty and staff members of the Texas A&M Small Animal Teaching Hospital’s (SATH) Primary Care Service and 12 fourth-year veterinary students, as well as approximately 12 members of the Caldwell Rotary Club who helped organize the event.
“Every person there that day was a needed member of the team,” said Dr. James Bilof, a CVMBS clinical assistant professor and one of the event’s organizers. “I am so incredibly proud of our students. They really stepped up, took on the role of being a doctor, and gave back to our community.”
Even though the event was only scheduled to run for four hours in the afternoon, Caldwell citizens began lining up three hours early that morning. Many of them would otherwise not have been able to afford rabies vaccinations for their pets.
“Events like this mean the world to me. For so many individuals, outreach events are their only opportunity to provide for their pets,” said Alex Webb, a Ross University veterinary student completing her clinical rotations at Texas A&M. “I have been the person standing in line at similar events with my mom and pets, unable to afford veterinary care. Being able to participate and help others like I was previously helped as a child really touches my heart.”
The clinic was developed as part of the Caldwell Rotary Club’s mission to vaccinate all local dogs and cats against rabies.
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Contact Information: Jennifer Gauntt, Director of VMBS Communications, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, jgauntt@cvm.tamu.edu, 979-862-4216
