Just as a photographer waves a stuffed animal to distract a toddler, Madison College Veterinary Technician students dangle fuzzy toys in front of a petite, black feline. The students are trying to capture photos for the Pet Adoption program’s website, and the frisky kitty who won’t sit still is Pablo, one of many animals now available for adoption through the Madison College Pet Adoption program.
The Pet Adoption program opened its doors on Monday, Oct. 7, and will remain open for the rest of the semester. The Pet Adoption program exists via the Wisconsin Student Association of Veterinary Technicians, which is the Madison College Veterinary Technician program’s student club.
A home for every pet
Pet Adoption Committee co-chairs Natalie Brown and Jennifer Lillie hope to find forever homes for all of the available animals this semester. This is no small feat, considering Veterinary Technician students are currently caring for 20 dogs, 24 cats and numerous “Pocket Pets,” which are small mammals, including gerbils, hamsters, rats, mice and rabbits.
Adoption fees are $60 for dogs, $50 for cats and a donation for pocket pets. Available cats and most of the dogs came from one of three humane societies; Southwood County Humane Society, Green County Humane Society and Watertown Humane Society.
Fees collected from adoptions of those animals directly fund the corresponding humane societies. Adoption fees for the remaining dogs, received from an undisclosed research facility, and pocket pets benefit the Wisconsin Student Association of Veterinary Technicians club.
Hands-on learning
Lillie feels the veterinary technician program at Madison College is one of the best in the Midwest. She attributes the program’s success to the fact that they “Get so much hands-on experience.” Lillie said. “All these animals are used in our program to teach us how to be good nurses and how to properly restrain animals.”
“The animals are here to provide the students with the opportunity for ‘hands-on training’ in the areas of handling and restraint, basic nursing care, radiology, surgical nursing procedures and clinical pathology,” said Laurie Angell, senior laboratory coordinator and animal care supervisor.
The adoption process
Students and residents interested in meeting adoptable animals may come to the Veterinary Technician area at Truax during visiting hours. Weekly visitor hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30-11:20 a.m. and 12:30-3:30 p.m., and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Potential adopters can find appropriate paperwork outside of the Veterinary Technician program entrance, including a release form that must be signed prior to meeting available animals. Applicants should also complete a personality assessment based on which species they are interested in meeting.
Lillie and Brown said in addition to health examinations, all of the cats and dogs underwent personality assessments. Some of the resulting categories include Couch Potato, Constant Companion and Goofball.
“Is designed to match the animals’ personalities with the expectations of the potential adopters to ensure successful placement in forever homes,” Brown said.
After completing the appropriate paperwork, a visitor guide will escort applicants to the adoptable animals and assist in meeting them. Those interested in adopting a specific animal should then complete the application. Once applications are processed, a Veterinary Technician student will then contact applicants with further instructions.
Brown urges potential adopters to do their homework regarding their living situations. The adoption approval process includes contacting an applicant’s landlord and fellow residents.
“You can’t really want a cat, and you live with your mom, and she doesn’t want one,” Brown said. “That wouldn’t work.”
Potential adopters may be asked to provide veterinary records for other animals in the household, such as proof of vaccinations. Applications may also need to be approved by a humane society, so this process could take some time.
“We spend so much time with the animals,” Brown said. “We love them, so we’re pretty strict about whom we let take them home.”
Students interested in viewing adoptable animals online can search the Madison College directory under P for Pet Adoption. The direct link is http://madisoncollege.edu/pet-adoption. Photos of the adoptable animals are also posted on a bulletin board at the entrance to the Veterinary Technician program’s hallway at Truax, and cats and dogs are categorized based on their personalities.