Pets and Vets

From service animals to household companions, our pets are so much more than an animal. Our Third Annual Pets and Vets Week, July 13-15, 2023, connects you to resources and animals that are shown to improve quality of life. Explore your options through demonstrations, educational engagements and more!

This free community event is open to the public. We always welcome well-behaved service animals trained to assist visitors with disabilities during their Museum visit.

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Partners On-Site:

  • Buckeye Paws
  • Central Ohio Beekeepers Association
  • Columbus Metroparks
  • Columbus Police Department
  • Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
  • Midwest K9 Search Unit
  • Pilot Dogs
  • Stockhands Horses for Healing
  • USO Ohio
  • Veteran Companion Animal Services (VCAS)
  • Wounded Warrior Dogs

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Partners On-Site:

  • Buckeye Paws
  • Central Ohio Beekeepers Association
  • Columbus Metroparks
  • Columbus Police Department
  • COPAW
  • Franklin County Auditors
  • Golden Hobby
  • Growler’s Dog Bones
  • Midwest K9 Search Unit
  • Ohio Canid Center
  • Ohio Rabbit Rescue
  • Pilot Dogs
  • The Buckeye Lady
  • USO Ohio
  • Veteran Companion Animal Services (VCAS)
  • Wounded Warrior Dogs

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Partners On-Site:

  • Black Paw Canine
  • Columbus Metroparks
  • Columbus Police Department
  • COPAW
  • Golden Hobby
  • Humane Society of Delaware County
  • MALTAC K9
  • Midwest K9 Search Unit
  • Pilot Dogs
  • Powell Animal Welfare Society
  • USO Ohio
  • Veteran Companion Animal Services (VCAS)
  • Wounded Warrior Dogs

BREAKOUT SESSIONS:

Breakout sessions are free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Thursday, July 13 | 12 p.m. | Free

Ambassador Animals with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Connect with wildlife as you enjoy up-close interactions with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s Ambassador Animals! Enjoy a fun and meaningful experience with a member of the Ambassador Animal team and learn how they raise awareness for the animals they care for every day.

Thursday, July 13 | 1:30 p.m. | Free

Benefits of Beekeeping with the Central Ohio Beekeepers Association

Buzz buzz! From fruit to potatoes, honeybees pollinate $15 billion worth of crops in the United States each year. Learn from the Central Ohio Beekeepers Association about the important elements of beekeeping, its impact on our biodiversity, and how you can improve pollinator habitats.

Friday, July 14 | 11 a.m. | Free

Yoga with Buckeye Paws Therapy Dogs

Stay calm with the help of our furry friends in our first-ever Pets and Vets guided yoga session. Buckeye Paws Therapy Dogs, an innovative animal-assisted therapy program launched by The OSU Wexner Medical Center, joins for to share how man’s best friend and yoga can be a powerful combination to help relieve stress, build resilience and maintain optimal fitness.

Friday, July 14 | 12 p.m. | Free

Urban Wildlife with the Ohio Canid Center

Explore wildlife conservation with the Ohio Canid Center and their Ambassador Animals. Learn about what makes wild canine species uniquely able to adapt to urban environments and how we can safely cohabitate with them.

Friday, July 14 | 1:30 p.m. | Free

Treat Making with Growler’s Dog Bones

Learn how Growlers Dog Bones is serving man and man’s best friend. In this hands-on session, the Growler’s team walks us through how they make their natural recipes as well as impact lives by serving individuals with disabilities.

Saturday, July 15 | 12 p.m. | Free

Basic K9 Obedience Training with MALTAC K9

Join Sean, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, from MALTAC K9 at the Museum for a free Basic Dog Obedience lesson. Learn how to teach your dog basic commands and maintain mutual connection and understanding safely and effectively. This session is for humans only – only service animals are permitted!

Saturday, July 15 | 2 p.m. | Free

Service Animals with Black Paw Canine

Wanna learn all there is to learn about service animals? Join Black Paw Canine for a crash course in service animals, their benefits and how they train these highly intelligent K9s in an informational and educational session with a Q&A.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

We welcome well-behaved service animals trained to assist visitors with disabilities during their Museum visit. Household pets and emotional support animals are not permitted.

Yes! The Museum has accessibility accommodations including mobility amenities, Braille resources and more. Click here for a full list.

Admission to the event is free and open to the public, but a ticket must be purchased if you would like to explore the Museum. We are offering a discounted $10 ticket for Museum visitors who attend our Pets and Vets events.

Interested in getting involved in Pets and Vets? Reach out to us at info@nationalvmm.org.

Tickets
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The NVMM is Open on MLK Day!

$1 Admission on Jan. 16 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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