Source: Joe Montgomery, 785-532-4193, jmontgom@vet.k-state.edu

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

ALL-UNIVERSITY OPEN HOUSE A CHANCE TO EXPLORE BOND BETWEEN PEOPLE AND THEIR PETS

MANHATTAN -- The bond between humans and animals will be a special part of the activities offered by the College of Veterinary Medicine at this year's All-University Open House, Saturday, April 16, at Kansas State University.

The college's first Human-Animal Bond Fair will be 10 a.m. to noon in the Mara Conference Center on the fourth floor of Trotter Hall in K-State's veterinary medicine complex. It offers a variety of exhibits, booths, demonstrations and presentations dealing with the ways humans and animals connect. Topics to be explored include canine companions for independent living, presidents and their pets, service and guide dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, agility training and more.

The fair is free and open to the public.

"The Human-Animal Bond Fair at our annual open house will be an opportunity to explore how animals enrich our lives on a daily basis. Whether or not you currently own a pet, please plan now to join us in celebrating our relationships with our nonhuman family members," said Ron Elmore, associate dean for academic programs, admissions and diversity at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Elmore, an expert on presidential pets, will be among the speakers at the fair, presenting "The Human-Animal Bond at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: Presidents and Their Family Pet," 11:45 a.m.

Among the presenters at the fair will be Dr. Kipp Van Camp, president and CEO of Midwest Education and Development, Midway Radiology Institute and Rejuvenate Medical Spa in Topeka. Van Camp is the author of a book that explores the human-animal bond, "Always Allie."

The book shares the story of Allie, a bichon the Van Camp family adopted and came to treat as a member of the their family. Van Kamp said Allie provided the perfect parent-training course for raising his two sons.

"For a type-A person, I couldn't believe how this feisty little bichon could shape my thinking," Van Kamp said. "When I was observant enough to study her behavior, I realized I could learn some valuable life lessons, like taking time to stop and smell the roses, not take myself so seriously, or that routines, consistency and structure are the keys to raising well adjusted children -- and dogs -- in a safe and healthy environment."

Van Kamp's presentation will be at 10:15 a.m.

Other presentations include:

* "All I Wanted Was a Puppy: Raising Puppies for Service," by Patricia Payne, K-State associate professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, 10:35 a.m.

* "The Life and Times of Jeb, the Facility Dog," by Debra Sellers, assistant professor and extension specialist, K-State School of Family Studies and Human Services, 10:55 a.m.

* "Sam, a Horse and a Family," by Jim Coffman, K-State provost and professor emeritus of clinical sciences, 11:15 a.m.

The Human-Animal Bond Fair is just one of the activities being offered at K-State's All-University Open House, which is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. campuswide. Open house is free and a schedule of events is available at http://consider.k-state.edu/openhouse/2011/.