Veterinary medicine students at Kansas state University will soon be going mobile. On Monday the College of Veterinary Medicine dedicated its new Shelter Medicine Mobile Surgery Unit.

The clinical sciences department recently purchased the mobile surgical unit to allow students and faculty to perform on-site, pre-adoption spay / neuter procedures and provide medical care to enhance the health and adoptability of shelter animals. Agreements have already been established to provide services for nonprofit and municipal animal shelter organizations in Junction City, Manhattan, Clay Center, Ottawa, Emporia, Topeka, Lawrence, and Salina.

The mobile surgical unit complements the college’s shelter medicine program, which is a service-learning course for fourth-year veterinary students to get hands-on experience under the supervision of a shelter medicine faculty member. Most shelter organizations in Kansas do not have a veterinarian on staff nor do they have on-site surgical facilities.

The success of the program is dependent on developing strong and sustainable relationships with regional shelters. Sixty-six students from the graduating class of 2016–fourth year students — are scheduled to complete this elective two-week rotation.