Humane society receives Award of Excellence from BHC

For more than four years, the Henry County Humane Society–Kewanee Chapter has partnered with Black Hawk College to provide services to over 150 animals and help train dozens of veterinary technology students. In appreciation, the organization recently received the 2024 Award of Excellence in Advancing Veterinary Medicine from the Black Hawk College Veterinary Technology Program. The partnership “has supported our students with amazing opportunities to fulfill over 300 educational and nursing skills,” said Dr. Colleen Lewis, lead veterinarian for the BHC program.The annual award recognizes excellence in every aspect of veterinary medicine. It honors clinical veterinarians, veterinary technicians and advocates, industry leaders, educators, organized veterinary medicine and animal resource partners of Black Hawk College whose work has contributed significantly to advancing veterinary medicine.

“Each animal that we see from the humane society is different,” Dr. Lewis said. “Our students teach them social skills, monitor their caloric intake and weight gain, bathe them when they’re stinky, and love them unconditionally.”

The partnership allows vet tech students to experience some of their first comprehensive physical examinations, vaccinations, bloodwork, anesthesia administration, surgical assisting with spays and neuters, fecals and dewormings, heartworm tests and preventive medications.

“We wouldn’t be able to provide such a large scale of medically necessary procedures without you,” Dr. Lewis said when she presented the award.

The Henry County Humane Society–Kewanee Chapter is a no-kill animal shelter and a 501(c)(3) charity organization.