and healing to the community, we have to address the root causes that allow violence to exist. At Footsteps for Healing, we want to bring the community together to show all survivors that there are people who will love and care for them.” While the morning offered first-hand experience in shelter medicine, the afternoon provided students with the opportunity to engage with their local community. “We really want to form a strong relationship with Oro Valley, because that is where our campus is located, and we are a relatively new school,” Contreras said. “A lot of our students will stay in Arizona, and in Tucson specifically, so fostering a relationship with the local community is very important.” From pet care to community building, Contreras’s work is just the beginning of a career dedicated to animal welfare. After she graduates, Contreras plans to work at the Pima Animal Care Clinic, where she can put her passion for shelter medicine into practice. ■
which carries all the equipment and supplies necessary to perform free wellness exams, screenings, vaccinations and other proactive treatments for a variety of animals. Students provided veterinary care under the supervision of Dr. Alex Ramirez, senior associate dean for academic progress and faculty affairs. An integral part of the college’s curriculum since its inception, the ADA-accessible facility made its first trip in the fall of 2023 and includes bays of kennels to hold animals, space for medical preparation, a lab for basic bloodwork and a surgical suite. The college delivered its mobile unit to Reid Park for Emerge’s “walk, roll and stroll” event, which aims to bring the Tucson community together “to center the survivors in our community,” said Josué Romero, director of community engagement at Emerge. “We want to center the survivors of all violence, including sexual assault, gun violence and any other violence that impacts our families,” Romero said. “In order to bring about change
VETCAT INSIDER
49
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator