Healing & Hope to Domestic Violence Survivors Veterinary Medicine students partner with Purina to provide support for the local community
By Logan Burtch-Buus, University Communications
Students from the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine are teamed up with Purina, Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse and the Sister José Women’s Center to offer free veterinary care for pets of community members experiencing domestic violence and other hardships. Led by third-year student Stefanie Contreras, the initiative brought the college’s mobile surgical unit to the Footsteps for Healing community walk hosted by Emerge on Oct. 18 at Reid Park. Domestic violence survivors received free pet wellness exams, vaccinations and screenings. Those who received care were chosen by Emerge and Sister José’s, a Tucson- based nonprofit dedicated to assisting women experiencing homelessness. Contreras and participating students treated at least 100 pets at the event, using supplies donated by Banfield Pet Hospital. Later that same day, the Wildcats participated in Oro Valley’s Bark in the Park at Steam Pump Ranch, offering animal-themed games,
activities and information booths alongside Purina’s “Courageous Together” statue honoring survivors and their pets. Contreras organized the effort alongside fellow Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students Kayden Shotwell, Michaela Blackmore and Jordyn Purpura. Contreras also serves as the president of the college’s Shelter Medicine Club, a student-run group that supplements classwork with extracurricular experiences treating shelter animals. When Contreras – who works as a Purina brand ambassador outside of her studies – learned that survivors of domestic abuse often choose between leaving a pet in danger or staying with an abuser to keep the animal safe, she desperately wanted to help. “As future veterinarians, we will have a role in preventing or identifying animal cruelty, or even suspected domestic violence,” Contreras said. “I want to be a part of changing how those animals are treated, because few women’s shelters accept animals, and those
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