An innovative course at Virginia Tech is offering more than just academic enrichment — it is assisting dogs in need to find their forever homes. Born in the confines of a shelter, Bambi, a Pit Bull-type dog, now has a second chance at life, thanks to the dedicated efforts of students and faculty at the university.
University students and professors at Virginia Tech help dogs find forever homes
At the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech, a unique course named “Shelter Dog Training” is paving the way for dogs like Bambi to find loving homes. Spearheaded by a passionate group of 46 students, this course is an immersive experience where students get paired with dogs from the Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection in Roanoke. Over the semester, these students dedicate their time to socializing, training, and caring for these dogs in three cohorts, with the ultimate goal of finding them adoptive families.
Eva Giguere, a dedicated junior majoring in animal and poultry sciences from Greenville, South Carolina, has been working closely with Bambi. Giguere’s involvement symbolizes a heartfelt commitment to changing the lives of animals in need, inspired by her own realization of the adversities faced by animals since middle school. “I want to help them through a lot of their traumas,” said Giguere. Continuing further, she added, “I want to help improve their lives in any way that I can, and this course will help me do that.”
At the helm of this course are Assistant Professor Lisa Gunter and Associate Professor Erica Feuerbacher, who aim to instill a deep understanding of canine behavior and animal welfare in their students. Beyond the theoretical knowledge, this course also stands out for its practical, hands-on approach, enabling students to actively participate in the training, enrichment, and adoption process of their canine companions. The program not only focuses on enhancing the dogs’ behavior and sociability but also on preparing students to showcase their dogs to potential adopters.
The Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine will host the first adoption event from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17.
