Spurring inspiration through community vet care

Humane Colorado is celebrating three years of accessible, lifesaving vet care offered through our Veterinary Hospital at CSU Spur. This unique clinic, made possible by the generosity and commitment of our donors, provides care and continued compassion for families with too few places to turn when their pets need help. Reliable access to affordable treatment like ours not only prevents animal suffering, but it also provides mission-critical veterinary services to our community including euthanasia options and financial-related relinquishment decisions. In fact, last year, our teams served 26,630 animals in need of low-cost veterinary care, helping pets stay healthy and with the people they love and trust.

Central to our commitment to accessibility, the Veterinary Hospital at CSU Spur creates an environment where people from all walks of life can gather to learn and be inspired. In partnership with Colorado State University, we help to engage the community in the essential work of veterinary professionals and introduce young people to STEM-related careers so they can envision themselves in these roles.

Our veterinarians perform surgeries “on-view”, inviting the public to watch live through glass while CSU docents describe the activity and field questions. Visitors are also encouraged to explore the world of vet care, handle medical instruments, interact with mock exam room exhibits, and get a better understanding of anatomy through virtual reality simulators.

A primary focus of these no-cost educational activities is to help bring much-needed cultural diversity to the veterinary field. Our humane educators regularly host school visits and other youth groups throughout Denver communities, providing participants with resources, tips, and encouragement to pursue their dreams in animal welfare.

Thanks to two of our generous donors and longtime volunteers, Karen and Mike, we expanded our reach even further in the summer of 2024, welcoming a group of middle and high school students from Ueda, Nagano, Japan to the CSU Spur campus through the Broomfield Sister Cities organization.

For the past 20 years, Broomfield Sister Cities organization has offered an exchange program for students and families from the U.S. and Japan to gain a deeper understanding of, and connection to, other cultures. On alternating years, Broomfield and Ueda serve as host cities for a group of international students, providing them with unique learning opportunities. Karen and Mike serve as both chaperones in Japan and as a host family in Colorado – experiences that have deeply enriched their personal lives as well. When helping plan activities for this year’s exchange group, they immediately though of CSU Spur as a destination that the 12 visiting students would love. “CSU Spur and each of its Spur as a destination that the 12 visiting students would love.”

CSU Spur and each of its three program areas are so cutting edge and unlike anything available in Japan. – Karen

It was clear that the visit was indeed engaging for students and chaperones alike! Viewing live procedures and interacting with virtual reality were impactful moments for the group. “It was fun to watch the kids do work wearing 3D goggles,” said chaperone, Mika. “They were trying their best to see, touch, and move [virtual] organs.” Mika also enjoyed learning about intestinal blockages after viewing an obstruction surgery. “We could see from the X-rays what things were inside of the dogs’ stomachs… we people must watch the pets, so this doesn’t happen.”

Fellow chaperone, Shinya, shared that the experience at CSU Spur appeared to spark both wonder and inspiration. “During the debriefing, one of the students stated he wanted to become a veterinarian in the future,” Sinya remarked. “He said he was amazed to see a cat’s teeth being treated.”

By inspiring future generations of veterinary caregivers while also supporting local pet owners through affordable pet care, we’re able to stay true to our mission to end pet homelessness and animal suffering.

We’re grateful for the friendship, generosity, and continued support of our donors, including Karen and Mike. Your dedication makes the world a better place for people and animals.

Help us inspire future generations of veterinarian caregivers through the Humane Colorado Veterinary Clinic at CSU Spur.