Press release: Royal Canin
To further expand its commitment to equity, inclusion and diversity in the veterinary industry, Royal Canin recently announced that it is expanding its support of Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine with a five-year financial commitment.
Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine is the only veterinary specialized program on the campus of a historically black college or university in the United States. Royal Canin’s donation will help promote diversity in the veterinary field by providing volunteer financial support to Tuskegee veterinary students.
“At Royal Canin we strive to create the world we want tomorrow,” said Cecile Coutens, President of Royal Canin North America. “To do this, we need to ensure that the pipeline of veterinary talent better represents our diverse and changing population. We are proud to support Tuskegee University in their efforts to increase representation in the veterinary industry. “
This new post expands Royal Canin’s commitment to empowering diversity in the veterinary field. In 2020 Royal Canin became a founding member of the Diversity Veterinary Medicine Coalition, which aims to increase equity, inclusion and diversity among veterinarians. The company also supports other inclusion initiatives through numerous in-house Associate Resource Groups (ARGs), including Pride, Tu Voz and the Black Advisory Council.
“Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) values this conscious and effective partnership with Royal Canin. Of the thousands of veterinarians in the United States, only 2% are African American, and of that number we proudly say that 70% are our graduates. Together we are able to provide meaningful support to TUCVM veterinary students to preserve the legacy of education and training of underrepresented minorities as vets in the veterinary profession, ”said Dr. Ruby L. Perry, dean of the college.
In addition to its work promoting equity, inclusion and diversity, Royal Canin provides veterinarians with continuing education and e-learning on a variety of topics including compassionate fatigue and is a strong advocate of mental health awareness programs as part of its efforts to support the veterinarian industry and the company’s veterinary partners.
Royal Canin is a leader in science-based health nutrition for cats and dogs. Royal Canin was founded in 1968 by a veterinarian and has over 50 years of experience in providing customized nutritional solutions. In collaboration with a team of experts made up of nutritionists, breeders and veterinarians from around the world, Royal Canin puts cats and dogs at the center of the innovation process. Royal Canin’s line of products offers a range of diets based on size, age, race, lifestyle and therapeutic needs. Royal Canin diets are available at veterinary clinics and pet stores nationwide. Royal Canin is a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated.
Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) is located in Alabama as one of the state’s two accredited veterinary programs and was founded in 1944 by Dr. Frederick D. Patterson, founder of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), launched and officially founded Tuskegee in Alabama in 1945. The college has trained more than 70 percent of the country’s African American veterinarians and is considered the most diverse of all schools / Recognized colleges of veterinary medicine in the country. The primary mission of the college is to create an environment that fosters a spirit of active, independent, and self-directed learning, intellectual curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, ethics, and leadership; and promotes teaching, research and services in veterinary medicine and related disciplines.
