From Campus to Community: Aiding Animals in St. Kitts and Nevis
From bats and fish to donkeys and stray dogs, a wide range of animals in St. Kitts and Nevis benefit from the ongoing research and community outreach efforts Ross Vet students and faculty provide.
With over 450 animals on campus, Ross Vet offers students hands-on training in routine, diagnostic, and emergency care for both large and small animals. The Ross University Veterinary Clinic (RUVC), a veterinary teaching hospital, is the first outside North America to earn accreditation from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). The accreditation focuses on animals used in teaching and research environments.
These opportunities offer immersive, hands-on learning that benefits both students and the domestic and wild animals of St. Kitts. Ross Vet also features over 25 student clubs and strong research centers, offering students additional hands-on opportunities with a variety of animal species.
Here are just a few ways students and faculty contribute to the welfare of animals throughout the St. Kitts community:
New Beginnings for Stray Dogs
In the Caribbean, dogs are not always regarded as family members in the same way they are in the U.S. Many are kept outside and are less likely to receive consistent care, contributing to a growing population of unspayed, unneutered stray dogs and limited options for population control. Access to veterinary services is often minimal, especially in rural areas where even basic care may be unavailable.
At Ross Vet, many of these stray dogs find refuge. They receive medical treatment, are spayed or neutered, and in some cases, become part of the teaching program. Others are adopted by students or faculty, giving them a second chance at life in a loving home.
Providing Care at Local Farms
As part of the student chapter of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, one of the many on-campus clubs at Ross Vet, students collaborate with local farmers to offer guidance on animal husbandry, perform pregnancy checks, administer deworming treatments, and assist with recordkeeping. To further support local agriculture, Ross Vet also donates and sells bull calves from its teaching herd to help farmers enhance crossbreeding efforts.
Pig farming on St. Kitts is also constantly evolving, providing another opportunity for students to give back to the local community. The university’s chapter of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians aids local pig farmers by providing health checks and assisting with essential care practices like deworming, ear tagging, and iron injections.
Faculty Track Bat-Borne Viruses Across St. Kitts and Nevis
Bats play a crucial role as pollinators on the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis, and as such their health is closely linked to our own well-being. In a recent study, student Jessica Kulberg and faculty member Dr. Sarah Hooper published groundbreaking research on virus transmission in bats, presenting what they believe to be the first report of herpesviruses detected in Antillean tree bats. This research will allow them to tracking bat migrations across the Caribbean islands and lead to better the potential spread of diseases in bats.
Tracking Fish Populations Via Parasites
Halfbeak ballyhoo can be found off shorelines from Massachusetts to Southern Brazil and even St. Kitts. Faculty member Dr. Mark Freeman, along with MSc by Research student Dr. Clara Camargo, recently presented research at a symposium in Mexico that reveals how parasites in a ballyhoo’s gallbladder can serve as biological tags, offering a new method for tracking their movements. These fish are crucial as both bait and food, making it essential to monitor their populations and migration patterns for effective fisheries management.
Campus Donkey Herd Provides a Lasting Impact
Around 150 Caribbean donkeys call the Ross Vet campus home as part of an effort to control donkey overpopulation on St. Kitts. Students help rehabilitate these wild donkeys, and in turn the donkeys allow students to develop their large animal skills before being released to local farmers. For even more hands-on experience, students can join the Donkey Club on campus.
The herd is even made available for community outreach events, including interactions with neurodivergent children at Cotton Thomas Comprehensive School, in partnership with the nonprofit Zakers Affinity Causes.
Through these hands-on experiences and community outreach, students and faculty are making a lasting impact on animal health and welfare across St. Kitts. Their dedication not only supports local wildlife and domestic animals but also strengthens the bond between veterinary education and the broader community.
Questions for Admissions
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