Vets in show: Shreiber School students follow professor to National Dog Show

Before millions of Americans tune in to the Thanksgiving Day tradition, Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine students Alena Brown, Kristianne Casale and Seraphim Lyons found themselves behind the scenes in a world filled with fur and finesse – the National Dog Show. 

“I never watched it, so I didn’t know when it premiered or anything,” said Lyons, a first-year Shreiber School student from South Carolina. “It seemed like such a cool opportunity and so close by. I couldn’t pass it up.” 

From Chihuahua to Doberman, German Sheppard to Tibetan Mastiff, the classmates spent the weekend of Nov. 15 and 16 surrounded by nearly 2,000 purebred dogs being primped and paraded across the floor. Since the early 2000s, hundreds of trainers, breeders, vendors and spectators have packed the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center & Fairgrounds, where the National Dog Show is filmed.  

As one of only two bench shows in the United States, the National Dog Show allows for public interaction with competitors, so ticket holders can see the dogs up close and learn about the different breeds directly from the trainers and handlers. A bench show also requires competitors to remain in the building from start to finish, which becomes a very long day for all involved, especially the competitors. With more than 200 dog breeds represented, the Kennel Club ensures there is a veterinarian on-site for exams and emergencies. 

Paging Dr. Krebs. 
Associate clinical professor of primary care for Shreiber School, Dr. Kaitlyn Krebs, is the official veterinarian for the National Dog Show. In her fourth year at the show and her first with Rowan, Krebs invited veterinary students for a career-building opportunity. 

“The dog show world is a whole different world,” said Krebs, who joined Shreiber School faculty earlier this year. “I learn new things every time I’m there.” 

Krebs describes her work with the show as more of a field veterinary situation. She typically encounters stress-related issues like gastrointestinal trouble or the occasional limp, though she always comes prepared with anti-seizure and heart medication just in case. 

“It was basically just a one-woman show — just Dr. Krebs and her stethoscope and a box of supplies,” said Casale, a first-year veterinary student from Niagara, New York. “The center floor is organized by size and breed so she was on call. If there was a problem, she would go to it.” 

Fortunately for the competitors and their teams, this year’s show was emergency-free, but Casale said Krebs still took the time to walk the students through her process. Whenever she returned from rounds around the center, Krebs would update the students on what she saw. According to her, opportunities like the National Dog Show help students grow their practical skills and build confidence, real-life experience that supports Shreiber School’s goal of graduating day-one ready veterinarians. 

“Some of my most fundamental and core memories and experiences that shaped how I practice as a veterinarian came outside of the classroom,” said Krebs, eager to bring similar experiences to her students. 

Student Stamp
Beyond the field experience, connecting to the community was just as important to the Shreiber Students on-site for the show. The group staffed a table throughout the weekend where guests could visit and ask questions about the school, the hospital and veterinary medicine. They also connected with doctors and representatives from clinics and hospitals across the country looking for students to fill open internship positions and research opportunities. 

“It was our chance to represent our school out in the community and show what Shreiber is all about,” said Lyons, who noted the large crowd was surprisingly inviting and down to earth. Several competitors even stopped by the table and their teams promised to visit Shreiber’s hospital for care in the future. 

For first-year student Alena Brown, volunteering at the dog show was a big “aha” moment – as area residents she met expressed relief and excitement for a veterinary school and hospital closer to them. Earlier this year, Rowan opened Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine, one of just 36 veterinary schools in the nation and the first in New Jersey. The teaching hospital, also located on West Campus, now provides primary and specialty care for area pets. 

“It really started sinking in that this is actually a very big deal,” said Brown, referring to the opening of Shreiber School. Growing up in New Jersey, she remembers hearing friends and family wishing for veterinary schools and services in the state. “To be able to bring Shreiber to the dog show and talk about that in the community was such an amazing opportunity.” 

Though they had front-row seats to the judging, Krebs and the students were tight-lipped about the results, sharing only that they had a chance to meet some of the award winners (but no paw-tographs to show for it). 

“You’ll just have to watch on Thanksgiving,” Krebs added coyly. “I tune in every year so it's like finding out with the rest of the world.” 

The Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s National Dog Show airs on November 27 on NBC. To book an appointment and learn more about Shreiber School, visit svm.rowan.edu.