BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University's Veterinary Technology program, with support from the College of Arts and Sciences, is pleased to announce the lineup for its fall 2025 speaker series.
The three events will take place on October 22, October 29, and November 5 via Zoom:
Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. EST
"Pet Peace Talks: Strategies for Blending Pets & Fostering"
Presented by Hansen Dendinger and Ashlee Yepez of the Watauga Humane Society
Have you ever wanted to introduce a new pet into your household? Blending pet families requires plenty of time, patience and communication. Watauga Humane Society's Medical Technician, Hansen Dendinger, and Director of Operations and Animal Welfare, Ashlee Yepez, will discuss preparing your home for a new pet, integrating a new pet with existing ones, adopting and fostering animals from the Humane Society, and volunteering at the Humane Society.
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Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 10 a.m. EST
"Let’s Talk Pet Food: Making More Informed Choices"
Presented by Jennifer Serling & Ann Wortinger
Making good nutritional choices for pets can be challenging. Pet parents are sometimes confused or misinformed about nutritional facts pertaining to pet foods, and common nutritional myths can complicate choices. What treats are safe to feed pets, and what are some common ones that can be hazardous? Join Jen Serling and Ann Wortinger for a talk about pet food nutrition and how to read pet food labels. Bring your pet's food label to see how to read it for your situation.
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Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 10 a.m. EST
"Backyard Chickens"
Presented by Ann Wortinger
More people are embracing the idea of raising chickens at home. Whether you are experienced with chickens but have questions or you have been contemplating becoming a part of the chicken-keeping community, there’s no need to wing it. From setting up the perfect coop to ensuring a steady supply of wholesome eggs, Ann Wortinger will walk you through every step of the process.
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All events are free and open to the public. For more information (including the meeting links), visit rri.appstate.edu/vet-tech/speaker-series.
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About the Department of Rural Resilience and Innovation
Appalachian State University’s Department of Rural Resilience and Innovation is one of 17 academic departments in the College of Arts and Sciences and serves as a hub for App State faculty, staff and students working on scholarship, teaching and service with rural community partners. The department, which launched in summer 2021, is home to App State’s online, four-year Bachelor of Science in veterinary technology degree and offers seed grants to fund research or service-learning class collaborations that address challenges faced by rural American communities. Learn more at rri.appstate.edu.
The Veterinary Technology Program at Appalachian State University
The Veterinary Technology Program at Appalachian State University