The Josh kit and vet student.

Do you remember your first visit to the hospital? For a child facing surgery or treatment for a life-threatening illness, it can be a scary experience. By participating in the Josh Project, our Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association hopes to transform this ordeal through the power of the human-animal bond.

 
We raise money for Josh and Friends, a program founded by a Knoxville, Tenn., veterinarian and his Golden Retriever, Josh. The funds raised are used to purchase “I’ll Be Okay” gift sets—a book by the same name and a cuddly stuffed Golden—which are given to children in our community to help them through this anxiety-provoking experience. Best yet, when it’s over, the children have a furry friend to rub noses with as they make their way back to health … and we all know how reassuring that can be.