MEDIA ADVISORY: Discover the Possibilities at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine Open House

April 10th, 2010

WHAT: The University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine will host its annual Open House for the public to explore the veterinary medical profession through educational entertainment, exhibits, activities and speakers. 

This year’s theme is “Paws for Possibilities” and will include appearances from the Purina Incredible Dog team, a group of highly trained dogs that perform tricks. The Budweiser Clydesdales, Columbia Mounted Police and Columbia Canine Unit also will appear at the Open House.

Activities include a teddy bear surgery lab for children and a farm animal exhibit where students will give demonstrations on how to milk a cow. Students will give tours of the MU Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Demonstrations with horses and mule wagon rides will be available throughout the day.

MU faculty will give presentations on several research projects. Rebecca Johnson, director of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine’s Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) and associate professor for the MU Sinclair School of Nursing and College of Veterinary Medicine, will discuss the human-animal bond and how humans and animals benefit from the companionship. Other talks will focus on joint disease and treatment, diabetes and blood glucose monitoring, maternal-fetal interaction, and the use of the electron microscope in research.

WHO: The MU College of Veterinary Medicine students, faculty and staff

WHERE: MU College of Veterinary Medicine, MU Campus

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 10

NOTE: This event is free and open to the public.

The open house is sponsored by the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, Bayer, Hills, Anheuser Busch Clydesdales, Iams, Merial, Pfizer, Purina and the MU Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

For more information, visit http://cvm.missouri.edu/news/openhouse2010.htm