Fund raising paves way for new small animal hospital

All pet owners in Florida whose animals need state-of-the-art veterinary care will benefit from the new Small Animal Hospital that University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine administrators hope to build.

The project is a key fund-raising aim of the college due to space constraints brought about by increased student enrollment, as well as demand by pet owners for all the bells and whistles that come with advancements in specialty care, said Joseph DiPietro, D.V.M., dean of the college.

“We are suffering from growing pains, “ DiPietro said. “Our present Small Animal Hospital has not undergone significant expansion since it first opened its doors in 1976. A survey of other U.S. veterinary colleges shows that we are operating far below the standard among the better schools when it comes to space.”

Having reached nearly half of its $4 million goal in private donations — needed to supplement the building’s estimated $34 million price tag — the college is well on its way to success. “Get on Board the Ark,” a recent fund-raiser held at the college, brought in nearly $450,000. A challenge gift of $250,000 by Town ’n Country Farm owner Louise Courtelis was a major boost to the college’s efforts.

UF administrators say they hope the state will provide matching funds for the money they raise and that additional dollars will be available through the university system.

“We do the very best we can with what we have while referring veterinarians continue to send more animal patients to us,” DiPietro said. “However, to keep our teaching and quality-of-care standards high, we need to provide adequate space to our faculty clinicians to do what they do better.”

The new Small Animal Hospital, as currently envisioned, would consist of 41,000 square feet of new construction and 31,500 square feet of renovations to existing space. The facility would include a cancer referral center, separate emergency room, intensive care and anesthesia areas, and improved telecommunications equipment.