Third-year student travels abroad for unique experience in South Asia

By Chloe Capodagli Sherrill

Third-year student Chloe Capodagli meets a local goat

This summer my husband, Connor Sherrill, and I spent four weeks in South Asia. I entered veterinary college knowing I wanted to serve others and glorify Christ through veterinary medicine. I have a huge interest in shelter/street dog medicine and public health. I believe the human- animal bond is something that is valued across all cultures, however many regions have limited access to veterinary care and education.

Chloe takes time to meet with local people, local livestock and some local puppies.

This trip showed Connor and me what it would look like to live in and serve others in one of these regions. I learned from a local street dog rescue and low-cost clinic. There I helped treat patients and even gave a presentation on neonatal kitten and puppy care.

Chloe helps to bandage this canine's leg.

It was such a great opportunity to collaborate with the community and apply what I have already learned in veterinary school. I also visited the government veterinary clinic where I learned about the communities needs and the role of their veterinarians. I recognized many public-heath-risk diseases and learned new ones too.

My husband is interested in wildlife conservation, so we visited a vulture restaurant. Yes that’s right, it’s a restaurant for the endangered vulture population. The organization brings old or sick cows to their retirement in the jungle and the community cares for them until they eventually pass on and become food for the vultures.

Chloe's husband, Connor, helps document the trip through photos, and poses with Chloe at a couple of unique locations. Connor is a student at Oregon State who is studying conservation biology and working in ecology in Kansas.

The highlight of my trip however were the conversations had with the community over hot cups of masala tea. When we visited village farms, everyone we met was incredibly kind and hospitable. I was able to join some women planting millet. They were very patient with my lack of experience. The language barrier was no hindrance to their kindness in sharing their daily life and tasks. My husband and I could definitely see ourselves going back to serve long term after veterinary college.