Annual Pet Day celebration slated on Mom's Weekend

Pets, pet owners invited to participate in annual celebration of animal lovers

By: Brittney Menard

Posted: 5/1/08

The College of Veterinary Medicine is hosting the 21st annual Pet Day this Saturday.

Taking place at Magruder Hall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the event is free and open to the public.

Students and community members can enjoy numerous all-day events including pet portrait booths, llama petting, petting zoo, pony rides and tours of the veterinary teaching hospital.

Popular events also include teddy bear surgery, pet washing, the dog frisbee contest, a fun run and a visit from the Oregon Herpetology Society.

This event not only serves as an open house for the Corvallis community, but for students who may be interested in the veterinary program, including incoming freshmen.

"I think it's a great idea and a great example of student involvement," said Lacey Moore, a general agriculture major.

Pet Day coincides with this weekend's Mom's Weekend festivities.

"I'm planning on going with my mom. It will be something out of the ordinary," Moore said.

Perhaps the most notable event to take place during this year's Pet Day is the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Cyril Clarke will cut a ribbon at 10 a.m. to signify the grand opening of the new large animal and diagnostic imaging facility.

"This will allow for significant expansion of the college," Clarke said of the facility.

The facility was made possible by a $5 million donation provided by Valley Education, with the remaining balance paid by a Lois Bates Acheson endowment.

Having taken over a year to complete and costing a grand total of $12 million, this project will enhance the College of Veterinary Medicine in multiple ways.

"The new facility will be equipped with new offices, an imaging wing, a remodel of existing facilities, new research labs, advanced equipment and an intensive care unit," Clarke said.

Sponsors for the Pet Day events include Bayer Animal Health, Hills Pet Nutrition, Nestle Purina PetCare Co., Novartis Animal Health, Oregon Animal Health Foundation, Oregon Veterinary Medical Association, Royal Canin and SCAVMA.

Pet Day is 100 percent student-run, primarily by freshmen and sophomores of the college.

All proceeds from this event will go into student club accounts to support future student activities.

Proceeds will also help contribute to graduation expenses for the 2010 and 2011 classes.

Pet Day organizing co-chairs Jennifer Buchanan, Christine Gustin, Kristy Headings and Ryan Scholz are dedicated members of the College of Veterinary Medicine and have worked to bring Pet Day to the Oregon State campus.

"The purpose of Pet Day is to involve the community and bring people together to celebrate the human-animal bond," said Jennifer Buchanan, a sophomore co-chair of the event and student of veterinary medicine.

Brittney Menard, staff writer

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