I’m a pre-vet student living in Connecticut, and in a few years, I’ll be applying to veterinary schools. It’s incredibly disheartening to know that I’ll have to apply as an out-of-state student everywhere, paying significantly more in tuition and competing for limited seats—just because my state doesn’t have a vet school or meaningful support in place.

Connecticut is one of the few states that does not house a veterinary school, putting aspiring veterinarians here at a major disadvantage. Many other states without vet schools have stepped up by securing contract seats at regional schools—agreements that reserve spots and reduce tuition for their residents. For years, CT offered nothing like that.

In 2024, the state finally took a step in the right direction by passing legislation to reinstate the Kirklyn M. Kerr grant program, which would fund up to five Connecticut students per year to attend out-of-state vet schools. But unfortunately, no funding was actually allocated, so the program still isn’t helping anyone yet. Five seats is also not nearly enough—UConn alone has many more pre-vet students than that each year.

This petition is about more than just students. It’s about you, too—Connecticut pet owners who depend on veterinarians for the health and well-being of your animals. We’re already facing a shortage of vets across the country, and when Connecticut makes it harder for students to pursue this career, it only makes that shortage worse here. Supporting more vet students now means better access to quality care for your pets in the future.

That’s why I started this petition: to urge the state to fully fund and expand the Kirklyn M. Kerr program or develop a stronger, more inclusive partnership with one or more veterinary schools. Connecticut’s future veterinarians—and the animals they’ll care for—deserve better than this.

Other states have already done this, and it's made a huge difference for students and their communities. It's time for Connecticut to do the same. I’ll be sending this petition to a state government representative once it reaches enough signatures (hopefully at least 1,000—but I’m aiming even higher).

Let’s make this change happen—for future veterinarians, for animal health, and for everyone who calls Connecticut home. Please sign and share.