Branstad at Iowa State: 2013 is the Year of the Veterinarian

Gov. Terry Branstad proclaimed 2013 as the year of the veterinarian while touring Iowa State University's year-old Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital at Iowa State University Monday.

Monday was the 150^th anniversary of the American Veterinary Medical Association and organized veterinary medicine in the United States.

“I encourage Iowans to support contributions that the veterinary profession and American Veterinary Medical Association have made and continue to make to animal health, public health, animal welfare and food safety in Iowa,” Branstad read from a proclamation.

Iowa State University President Steven Leath said Iowa State's veterinary medicine school was the first state supported veterinary school in the country.

“Today the State of Iowa and Iowa State University come together to do something special and do something great and that is to have this celebration,” Leath said.

The comments were made in the lobby of the animal hospital which was dedicated in September 2012 after a two-phase renovation and expansion project of the Dr. W. Eugene and Linda Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center.

Robert King, Senior Clinician and associate Director of the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital, said he hoped Branstad's visit to the center would make a positive impression on the Governor.

“We hope for a positive outcome from this,” King said.

Last year, Brandstad struck about $400,000 from the state budget that would have gone to repair and renovate other areas of the Vet Med College, according to Radio Iowa. This year the University has increased its funding request to $1 million. The legislature is expected to address the budget item before the session wraps up, said Fred Love, a communication specialist with Iowa State University's News Service.

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