Since 1987, the Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital has provided some of the finest animal health care available anywhere while empowering current and future veterinarians to grow in their profession through hands-on training of residents, interns, and veterinary college students.

Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors recently approved a $4.3 million planning authorization to begin the design process of a monumental renovation and expansion of the hospital by the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

The size and scope of the renovation and expansion will depend, in part, on philanthropy, and the college has launched a $9 million fundraising campaign for 2024-25, as critical aspects of planning take shape. The ultimate goal is a project that achieves its maximum potential for the animals the hospital serves and the future leaders in veterinary medicine and research the college educates.

“This is not just about expanding a building,” said M. Daniel Givens, dean of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. “This is about our ability to heal. This is about teaching the next generation of students and pushing the boundaries of veterinary medicine. This is about ensuring that every animal that comes through our doors gets the best possible care without delay.”

Through training and research, the veterinary college prepares talent and makes discoveries that translate into better outcomes for animals, small and large. Veterinary faculty and students conduct research that sheds light on questions in human health, as they collaborate with colleagues across Virginia’s most comprehensive research university, fostering a One Health approach that prioritizes the improvement of human lives, animal lives, and the environment.

During the hospital’s almost four decades, the number of specialties provided has grown from five to 14, and the number of students accepted each year to the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine has grown from 70 per year to 130. The hospital’s caseload has increased dramatically, too. Over 13,000 dogs and cats, 800 horses, 200 cows, 150 sheep and goats, and 60 pigs receive clinical care in the hospital each year. The project envisions renovation of approximately 25,000 existing gross square feet and the addition of approximately 32,000.

Veterinary college leaders hope philanthropy can support the vision of bringing the full 57,000-gross-square-foot vision to reality, delivering modern space for the teaching and patient care missions of the college.

“Our aspirations have outgrown our walls,” said Erin Phoenix '11, DVM '17, a community practice clinician in the hospital. “We’re stretched to our limits, and that’s why this expansion isn’t just important, it’s critical. Every day I see our incredible staff and students working miracles in spaces that weren’t designed for the advanced care we provide.”

Please consider giving to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Expansion Fund. Now, more than ever, it’s a powerful way for you to improve veterinary education and care.