| What: | Leaving the shovels to their human counterparts, four eager dogs will help turn the first paws-full of dirt during groundbreaking ceremonies for the School of Veterinary Medicine's expanded Center for Companion Animal Health. |
| When: | 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18 |
| Where: | UC Davis, just southeast of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and Veterinary Medicine II in the llama pasture next to the new Parking Lot 55. |
| Visuals | Dogs and humans will collaborate in ceremonially turning the earth to kick off the new construction project. Many of the guests for the event also will be accompanied by their dogs, cats, parrots and other alternative pets. |
| Background: | The new 33,000 square-foot facility will be added to the existing Veterinary Medicine II building, which is attached to the southeast corner of the teaching hospital. The Center for Companion Animal Health, established in 1992, is a research unit that focuses on solving health problems of companion animals, including dogs, cats and alternative small pets. The new facility will help accelerate the development of new diagnostics and treatments, and will support research projects related to genetic abnormalities, cancers, infectious diseases, nutritional disorders and other health problems. The new addition also will house the veterinary school's cancer treatment unit and comparative genomics laboratory. The addition is planned for completion in 2003. |
| Directions and Parking: |
Take Interstate 80 to Highway 113 and head north toward Woodland. Exit to the right onto Hutchison Drive and go east toward campus. At the first stop light, turn right onto La Rue Road. At the first opportunity, turn right onto Garrod Drive. At the first stop sign, turn left and immediately right into Parking Lot 55. The groundbreaking will be directly west of the parking lot. To park free, place your media business card on the dashboard of your vehicle. |
Media Resources
Pat Bailey, Research news (emphasis: agricultural and nutritional sciences, and veterinary medicine), 530-219-9640, pjbailey@ucdavis.edu
Lynn Narlesky, Vet. Med. Dean's Office, (530) 752-5257, lnarlesky@ucdavias.edu