UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine faculty do pre-op procedures to prepare dogs for their spays and neuters at Spayday
Tuesday, May 23 — There are few bonds in nature as gratifying as that between pets and their owners. Most pets are rewarded for their loyalty and devotion with shelter, food and welcome attention. Though less welcome, they are also rewarded with medical care. The first state sponsored veterinary school in the U.S. opened on this date in 1879 at Iowa State College — now university — in Ames, Iowa.
Today, there are well over 30,000 veterinary establishments located around the U.S. There, 323,000 veterinarians and staff workers take care of the nation’s domesticated 70 million dogs, 74 million cats, 3.2 million rabbits, more than 4.8 million horses, and many millions more birds, reptiles and other exotic creatures.
Profile America is beginning its 21st year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.
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