By Jacqueline Arroyo / The Jambar
Youngstown State University students, faculty and staff can expect the return of the Marjorie Hartman Family Foundation Pet Clinic.
The annual event started by Dr. Tina Costarella, local veterinarian and YSU alumna, in 2018. While previously held twice a year, the clinic is now hosted during the spring semester.
The event is organized by the YSU Pre-Veterinary Society, a student-led organization for individuals interested in the veterinary field to gain animal care and veterinary experience.
Donald Crum, assistant organizer of the pet clinic, assists the clinic’s primary director with promotion, recruiting licensed veterinarians and volunteers.
“It is a process that starts in early January to where I, myself, or Costarella reaches out to local veterinarians, asking them to donate their time,” Crum said.
The licensed veterinarians provide services including dog and cat vaccinations, rabies vaccinations, heartworm tests, microchip placement and nail trims. Costs for each service vary, with nail trims being free and microchip placements being most expensive at $30.
Crum said the low cost of vaccines is credited to the clinic’s outreach efforts, as it aims to keep prices affordable while helping as many as possible.
For individuals with shy or aggressive pets, Crum said the clinic has staff members and volunteers trained to handle those animals. They understand that being removed from their home can be stressful for pets, which may cause them to react poorly.
“With those cats, we may have a single veterinarian and maybe two of my [registered veterinary technicians] that I have there on staff who are well seasoned working with cats…and work with them as best as possible to give them their vaccines,” Crum said. “With dogs, kind of the same thing, you never know what you’re going to get.”
As an extra precaution, muzzles are available for dogs to ensure the safety of volunteers during procedures.
Volunteers come from three student organizations, including the YSU Pre-Veterinary Society, students from Mahoning County Career and Technical Center’s animal science program and Kent State University’s veterinary technology program students.
Volunteers are encouraged to stay as long as possible to help ensure the event runs smoothly and clients are seen promptly. Crum said the goal of the event is to give students experience working in a veterinary clinic while providing an opportunity to serve the community.
“Student involvement is one of the biggest things and one of the biggest drivers for this event,” Crum said. “If it wasn’t for the student organizations and student volunteers, this may not be possible.
The event is scheduled for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 6, in the Stambaugh Stadium gymnasium. It is a cash-only event with a limit of two pets per person and a maximum of 250 vaccinations.