By Addy Hatch, WSU Nursing
SPOKANE, Wash. – Students and faculty from the WSU College of Nursing and the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine will join up to host a health-screening clinic for homeless and low-income people and their pets.
WSU nursing and veterinary medicine students, under the guidance of faculty, will provide both humans and pets with no-cost health screenings, vaccinations and simple treatments.
The drop-in clinic will take place 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at the WSU Veterinary Specialty Teaching Clinic, 218 E. Spokane Falls Blvd.
Besides health care, the event will offer snacks and coffee, plus gloves, hats and personal-care items for humans, and pet supplies such as collars, leashes, coats and pet food.
Healthy People + Healthy Pets is sponsored by the Denice Murphy Community Nursing Endowment at WSU College of Nursing.
In addition, students, faculty and staff on the WSU Spokane campus donated some of the pet supplies.
“We know how important the companionship of pets can be to people for whom life is often uncertain,” said Dean Joyce Griffin-Sobel, of the College of Nursing. “Research has shown that having a pet can help ease depression and loneliness. That’s why the College of Nursing wants to help improve the lives of both people and pets through this clinic, which we hope to make an annual tradition.”
Bryan K. Slinker, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, said, “For those people experiencing homelessness, companion animals can provide comfort and friendship during a very difficult situation. At the WSU Veterinary Specialty Teaching Clinic, we are grateful to provide opportunities for veterinary and nursing students to serve these vulnerable animal and human populations and provide hands-on experience for our students and increase their social and cultural awareness as they develop their professional identities while caring for our homeless and low-income communities.”
The WSU Veterinary Specialty Teaching Clinic offers ophthalmology and dental care and clinical experiences for veterinary medicine students through two private practices, The Animal Eye Clinic of Spokane, Inc. PS., and Pacific Northwest Veterinary Dentistry & Oral Surgery of Spokane.
Contact:
- Addy Hatch, director of outreach and communications, WSU College of Nursing, addy.hatch@wsu.edu, 509-324-7340.
