Monday Open Line


There are few bonds in nature as gratifying as that between pets and their owners. Most pets are rewarded for their loyalty and devotion with shelter, food, and welcome attention. Though less welcome, they are also rewarded with medical care. The first state sponsored veterinary school in the U.S. opened on this date in 1879 at Iowa State College — now university — in Ames, Iowa. Today, there are over 30,000 veterinary establishments located around the U.S. There, 317,000 veterinarians and staff workers take care of the nation’s domesticated 70 million dogs, 74 million cats, 8.3 million birds and more than 4.8 million horses. You can find more facts about America’s people, places and economy, from the American Community Survey, at <www.census.gov>.