KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A program to find animals a permanent home is also teaching local college students to care beyond the classroom.
At Metropolitan Community College, Maple Woods Veterinary Technician students are matched with a shelter animal at the beginning of each semester. This semester that meant 14 dogs and 12 cats from local shelters had a student to look after him or her.
“That is why we do what we do. That is the ultimate to see an animal who`s happy in their home. To see an owner who`s really loving that animal,” said Natalie Short, lab instructor.
Sometimes it leads to a long-term partnership, as was the case for a boxer-beagle mix named Truman and a student named Melanie.
“He came right over to me and leaned in to me and put his paw on my foot and that was it. I said this is the dog,” said Melanie Bowman.
Bowman adopted Truman two years ago when his stint in the vet tech program ended. She says sometimes it’s hard to tell who rescued who.
“He’s really mellow, but he also goes out and runs four miles every morning with my husband, so really he rescued us,” said Bowman.
The adoptions are free. The school asks for a donation for its program. To learn more or to see the animals looking for a permanent home, click here.
