Services
All services are performed utilizing the Association of Shelter Veterinarians Guidelines for Standards of Care in combination with MSU College of Veterinary Medicine student curriculum.
- Spay/Neuter Surgeries: Exclusively for unowned, adoptable animals and community cats (TNR).
- Preventative Care: As time permits, we provide rabies vaccinations, blood draws, and microchip placement to help prepare animals for adoption.
- Consultation: Resource‑focused guidance to help organizations make the most of their limited resources while providing high‑quality care for the animals in their custody.
Service Area and Expansion
For our initial launch in Spring 2026, our primary focus is on animal welfare organizations within a two-hour radius of the MSU campus (serving counties such as Wayne, Ingham, Berrien, Bay, and Branch) who have a difficult time accessing veterinary care.
Are you located outside of this radius? Please don't hesitate to reach out: cvm.communitymedicine@cvm.msu.edu. While we are starting close to home, we hope to expand our reach as the program grows. Knowing where the need is greatest helps us plan our future routes and expansion phases.
Become a Partner
We believe in a "growth through success" model: our ultimate goal is to support our partners so effectively that, over time, their need for the mobile unit decreases.
By strengthening local collaborations, helping organizations reinvest their limited resources, and exposing skilled soon-to-be graduates to these communities, we hope to leave every partner stronger than we found them. As these organizations become more self-sufficient, it allows our mobile unit to rotate and bring our services to new areas of the state.
Partner Requirements and Logistics
To maintain surgical efficiency, ensure patient safety, and support meaningful student training, we look for partners who can generally meet the following parameters:
Animal volume: Ability to present approximately 15-20 eligible surgical candidates per visit (typically occurring on a six-week rotation schedule).
Case preparation and coordination: Submission of a prioritized surgical list in advance and collaboration with our team to confirm final caseload based on timing, staffing, and patient eligibility. Flexibility is important, as final case selection is determined by MSU faculty on the day of service.
On-site utilities and space: Access to a 50-amp 120/240V RV electrical hookup is strongly preferred to power the mobile surgical unit. A flat, stable, and accessible parking location for our 32-foot trailer and tow vehicle is also required.
Local veterinary partnership: An established relationship with a local veterinarian who can assist in managing rare post-operative complications, should they arise.
On-site coordination and support: A designated point of contact for the clinic day, assistance with animal handling and recovery monitoring, and logistical support to ensure smooth workflow. Providing lunch for the 5–6 member MSU team is appreciated and helps maximize efficiency during full surgical days.
Please note: These represent our ideal operating parameters. We recognize that every organization has unique constraints and capacities. If your organization does not meet every benchmark, we still encourage you to connect with us. We are committed to collaborative problem-solving and exploring ways to build sustainable partnerships whenever possible.
Join our Future Partner List
We are constantly gathering information for future rotations. Filling out our Partner Interest Survey ensures your organization is in our database when we evaluate new sites.
Click here to access the survey to share your organization’s details.