The University of Lyon, France, is not associated with this article, however, the institution of Lyon College in Arkansas, is. Lyon College is a private liberal arts college in Cabot, Arkansas, that has recently received a generous donation of $11 million from the Arkansas Animal Rescue Foundation (AARF) to establish the Katharine Reese Shelter Medicine and Animal Welfare Program at the Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine. This significant donation will enable Lyon College to become a leader in shelter medicine and animal welfare, advancing veterinary education, outreach and community health across the state of Arkansas. The shelter medicine and animal welfare program will be located on the Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine campus in Cabot, which is co-located with Cabot Animal Support Services. •
- Key aspects of the program include:
- Establishing the Katharine Reese Endowed Professorship of Shelter Medicine and Animal Welfare
- Endowing additional faculty positions and supporting academic programs
- Creating the Katharine Reese Endowed Scholarship program for veterinary students
- Constructing physical space including classrooms, laboratories and shelter facilities
- Purchasing and operating a mobile veterinary unit
The Katharine Reese Shelter Medicine and Animal Welfare Program includes the following initiatives:
- Establishing the Katharine Reese Endowed Professorship of Shelter Medicine and Animal Welfare
- Endowing additional faculty positions and supporting academic programs
- Creating the Katharine Reese Endowed Scholarship program for veterinary students
- Purchasing and operating a mobile veterinary unit
- Constructing physical space including classrooms, laboratories and shelter facilities
The partnership between AARF and Lyon College ensures that the foundation’s mission will continue through a fiduciary trust that supports shelter grants, spay/neuter programs and animal rescue initiatives.
“Kathy Reese’s lifelong passion for animals and nature lives on through this program,” said Gail Arnold, chair of the AARF Board of Trustees. “Her dream was to make Arkansas a better place for animals—and through this collaboration with Lyon College, we are fulfilling that dream in a very effective and sustainable way.”
The shelter medicine and animal welfare program will be a hub for teaching, outreach and research, directly impacting animal welfare and veterinary best practices across Arkansas. The program will also ensure that Lyon College students have unmatched experiential learning opportunities.
| Key Dates: | 2026: Inaugural class of the Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine | Shortly after 2026: Launch of the Katharine Reese Shelter Medicine and Animal Welfare Program |
| Key Partners: | Cabot Animal Support Services | CARE for Animals (nonprofit rescue organization) |
| Key Organizations: | American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) | Arkansas Animal Rescue Foundation (AARF) |
“This is a defining moment for Lyon College and for veterinary education in Arkansas. Thanks to AARF’s extraordinary generosity, we can create a model of shelter medicine education that is collaborative, community-centered and deeply impactful. It’s an investment that will benefit students, shelters and animals for generations,” said Dr. David Hutchison, vice president for advancement at Lyon College. The partnership between AARF and Lyon College ensures that the foundation’s mission will continue through a fiduciary trust that supports shelter grants, spay/neuter programs and animal rescue initiatives.
Shelter medicine is a vital veterinary specialty that focuses on the health and welfare of animals in shelters.
Animal welfare refers to the conditions and treatment of animals, with a focus on ensuring their physical and emotional well-being.
The announcement was made at CARE for Animals in Little Rock, a nonprofit rescue organization that exemplifies the type of community partner the program aims to support. CARE for Animals is one of many Arkansas-based rescue organizations to benefit from AARF support. For more information about the Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine, please visit lyon.edu/vet. “We are enormously grateful to the AARF for this remarkable gift that will advance the mission of the AARF and the LCSVM while honoring Katharine Reese,” said Dr. Eleanor Green, founding dean of the Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine. “This gift supports the establishment of a center of excellence in shelter medicine and animal welfare on our campus and will ensure that Lyon College students have unmatched experiential learning opportunities.”
“This is a dream come true for us,” said Gail Arnold, chair of the AARF Board of Trustees. “We are so grateful to Lyon College for their commitment to this program and their willingness to partner with us to make a difference in the lives of animals in Arkansas.”
The Katharine Reese Shelter Medicine and Animal Welfare Program is a testament to the power of collaboration and philanthropy in advancing the welfare of animals in Arkansas. The program will have a lasting impact on the state, and Lyon College is proud to be a part of it.