Student grant will aid animal care in rural southwest Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Remote villages in southwest Alaska will receive animal care assistance through a private grant announced by the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Students from UAF and Colorado State University will use the $450,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to assist a veterinarian and a veterinary technician with work in villages surrounding Bethel.

A mobile program established with the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. will provide about 3,000 spay and neuter surgeries.

The clinic will also treat certain diseases and work to prevent disease transmission between humans and animals.

About 30 veterinary students are expected to participate.

UAF and CSU have collaborated on a veterinary degree program since 2015. Students can study for two years at UAF and complete their degrees with two years at the CSU campus in Fort Collins.