A partnership that has resulted in better health care for 150 rescued animals over the past five years was recognized Friday. The Black Hawk College Veterinary Technology program presented its second annual Award for Excellence in Advancing Veterinary Medicine to the Henry County Humane Society-Kewanee Chapter.
The award was accepted by Louise Harrison, president of the Kewanee chapter board and directors Christine Gustafson and Jill Kelman during the graduation pinning ceremony in the Veterinary Sciences Center at the East Campus.
Dr. Colleen Lewis, DVM, Lead Veterinarian for the Veterinary Technology program, who made the presentation, said the Kewanee Animal Shelter has had a “collective impact” on the college program.
“Together we have created a network of our institution, our vet tech and vet assisting programs, and our students alongside the people who strive to help the animals in our community who need help the most,” said Dr. Lewis.
She said the organization has opened its doors to support students with job opportunities and in obtaining essential job skills.
“Our expectations have been exceeded as together we share a common agenda and work side-by-side in community events such as our Teddy Bear Hospital and upcoming microchip clinic.”
Dr. Lewis said the shelter board and staff have made animal procurement “a breeze” providing dogs, cats, puppies and kittens from the shelter to fit into the program’s 16-week calendar every semester. Each of the 150 animals they have seen from the shelter since 2019 is different and teaches students the skills students will need in their careers.
“Our students get to experience some of their first comprehensive physical examinations, vaccinations, bloodwork, administration of anesthesia, surgical assisting with spays and neuters, decals and deworming,” all carried out in the facilities at the East Campus. Students also teach the animals social skills, monitor their caloric intake and weight gain, bathe them “when they’re stinky and love them unconditionally,” she said.
Dr. Lewis said they would not be able to provide such a large scale of medically necessary procedures without Louise and her group. The partnership between the vet tech program and the humane society has provided students with opportunities to fulfill over 300 educational and nursing skills.
Their unofficial motto is “We make each animal that comes to us better.”
