Penn vet's shelter-animal medicine program shines

Granted, every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday many Penn vet students perform these activities at ACCT anyway, as part of their clinical training.

What blows me away is that many more of them then return on their own time to provide thousands more hours of free care.

"They're incredible," says Sue Cosby, executive director of ACCT, which is paid by the city to manage more than 32,000 stray and unwanted animals collected by ACCT staffers or dropped at the center.

That number includes 30 litters of cats per day, in addition to dogs, birds, tiny animals and the occasional exotic reptile.

"We have three staff veterinarians and a team of veterinary nurses. But the students provide additional hands-on help," says Cosby. "They also bring so much passion and energy. They came in on the Fourth of July! But that's typical of them."

I was at ACCT with the students because, on July 21, I will be emceeing t he "Black and White Ball (With a Touch of Fur)," a fabulous fundraiser at Le Meridien Philadelphia in Center City.

Chock-a-block with live bands, DJs, gourmet grub and a fashion show, its proceeds will benefit Penn's vet school. Specifically, its growing shelter-animal medicine program, which plays out at ACCT, the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and the Pennsylvania SPCA.

Before the big party, though, I wanted to see the program in action.

I'd already met with Penn vet's Dr. Michael Moyer, who established the program in 2006, and with his colleague Dr. Rachael Kreisler, who is expanding its clinical-teaching and academic core.

Source: http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/ronnie_polaneczky/20120712_Penn_vet_s_shelter-animal_medicine_program_shines.html

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