In a landmark development for veterinary education in Arkansas, Lyon College has received an $11 million gift from the Arkansas Animal Rescue Foundation to establish the Katharine Reese Shelter Medicine and Animal Welfare Program at its School of Veterinary Medicine.

This generous donation will create a specialized program dedicated to shelter medicine at the veterinary school’s Cabot facility, which shares space with Cabot Animal Support Services. The investment comes at a critical time when shelter medicine is gaining recognition as a vital specialty within veterinary practice.

“Kathy Reese’s lifelong passion for animals and nature lives through this program,” said Gail Arnold, chair of the Arkansas Animal Rescue Foundation Board of Trustees. “Her dream was to make Arkansas a better place for animals — and through this collaboration with Lyon College, we are fulfilling that dream in a very effective and sustainable way.”

Comprehensive Program Development

The $11 million gift will fund multiple components essential to building a robust shelter medicine program, including:

A dedicated professorship

Endowment for additional faculty and academic programs

Student scholarship programs

Creation of purpose-built physical spaces

Purchase of a mobile veterinary unit

Beyond the educational aspects, the collaboration ensures the continuation of the foundation’s mission through a fiduciary trust that will fund shelter grants, spay/neuter programs, and animal rescue efforts throughout Arkansas.

“This is a defining moment for Lyon College and for veterinary education in Arkansas,” said Dr. David Hutchinson. “It’s an investment that will benefit students, shelters and animals for generations.”

Advancing Shelter Medicine

Shelter medicine has emerged as a crucial specialty within veterinary practice, focusing on the unique challenges and medical needs of shelter animals. The American Veterinary Medical Association has recognized the importance of this specialization, which addresses issues from population health management to behavioral medicine in shelter environments.

For veterinary professionals and students, this development represents a significant opportunity to gain specialized training in an increasingly important field. The program will prepare future veterinarians to address the complex needs of shelter animals while working to improve animal welfare standards across the state.

The Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine plans to welcome its inaugural class in 2026, pending accreditation. This gift positions the school to become a leader in shelter medicine education from its very inception.

This development represents a major step forward for both veterinary education in Arkansas and animal welfare statewide, creating pathways for veterinary professionals to make a lasting impact on shelter medicine practices.

References:
Source: https://armoneyandpolitics.com/11m-gift-lyon-college/