A veterinary technician student holds an orange tabby cat, Jameson, during the “Cats and Canines” event. | Photo Credit / Isabella Beyl
UT Martin recently hosted an adoption event for lovers of all furry friends.
“Cats and Canines” is a biannual event that occurs during each semester of the academic school year. This event is a collaborative effort between UT Martin’s Residence Life and Housing, Jackson Animal Care Center, and the UT Martin Veterinary Technician Program. Students could find the event in the lobby of Cooper Hall or the UT Martin Quad, with each location housing separate animals: kittens and puppies.
Kittens were housed in the lobby of Cooper Hall. Coffee and tea were also served to students who were interested in refreshments. There were numerous breeds of kittens, such as the classic orange tabby and Chartreux, as well as a sleek black Bombay kitten.
Students were asked to have their event passes ready to scan by the hall director of Cooper Hall and were then permitted inside a fenced area with the supervision of veterinary tech students. Four guests were allowed at a time while waiting visitors could admire the kittens from the outside. All kittens were available for adoption through Jackson Animal Care. Students also had the ability to play with kittens, giving them cat treats and holding the animals carefully.
In the UT Martin Quad, students could find various breeds of puppies, such as Pit Bull Terriers and mixed-breed puppies. There were four dogs up for adoption, with adoption papers and leashes outside the fenced area. Students were permitted inside with the help of additional veterinary tech volunteers.
When a puppy was let out of a holding crate, students were given a leash to keep their designated puppy secure. There were also pails of water for the puppies to drink, tennis balls to play fetch, and a wider area of land in the Quad for dogs and students to play together. Multiple students were allowed in each time, with several arriving between classes and leaving bags outside.
The puppies were given treats by each student, as well as students who wanted to remain outside the puppy pen. Each puppy in the fenced area was a rescue dog from local shelters.
The event began at 10 a.m. and lasted until 1 p.m. Nov. 14. Students who were not able to attend and are seeking to bring home a furry friend are encouraged to adopt rescue animals and visit local shelters for more information.
