Former WT President donates towards new program for small animal care

CANYON, Texas (KVII) — The Texas Panhandle holds a long history of agriculture and veterinarians in the area often take a strong focus on livestock. A new program at West Texas A&M University seeks to build the next generation of care for pets and companion animals.

“This is a unique program. No, not one does not exist at another university here in the state. So, we're very excited to be able to do it here,” says WTAMU Vice President Todd Rasberry

Thursday, WTAMU unveiled a new veterinary program specializing in caring for small animals. Something never available in the Panhandle now beginning in Canyon thanks to a donation from former WT President Russell Long and his wife, Natrelle Hendrick Long.

Now, instead of having to go to other schools to specialize - students will be able to start companion animal studies at West Texas A&M as soon as next fall.

“There are other programs that support companion animals, but it is a billion-dollar industry, and it is an ongoing area that continues to need support,” says Dr. Sara-Louise Newcomer.

Dr. Newcomer is the new director of companion animal studies and a veterinarian herself. She says she has met and worked with students who received little to no solid training specifically in the care of pets in their under-grad experience, so programs like these are needed.

“Exciting for our veterinary students, but it's also exciting for those and maybe they want to go into boarding or doggy daycare, or they want to work with the shelters, or they want to work with Petco, or they want to be a vet tech,” said Dr. Newcomer.

Here in Amarillo pet care is certainly a necessity. The city has long struggled with animal overpopulation, both in shelters and on the street and Dr. Newcomer says this program can arm students to stay right here in the panhandle to lend a hand.

Dr. Newcomer says, “We're focusing on a lot of the issues that relate to animals, ending up in a shelter and helping students find out what they're passionate about in regard to companion animals to make a difference.”

Dr. Russell Long says the donation was worth it because small animals are important to human lives and West Texas A&M can very well be a renaissance for their care.

“So, I think it is important for Texas to do what many other states have already done, which is to create a state licensing program requirements for management of animal shelters,” says Dr. Long.