A new approach to teaching the basics in small-animal surgery at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine helps save animals' lives, says Dr. George Cardinet, associate dean for instructional programs. With cooperation from Sacramento, Solano and Yolo county agencies, homeless dogs and cats are being sent to UC Davis where they are spayed or neutered in surgery teaching laboratories by third-year veterinary students. "Working closely with the faculty, our students not only receive traditional hands-on training in basic surgery, they also now have the opportunity to nurse the animal through the recovery process," says Cardinet. The animals are returned to the animal control departments and put up for adoption. "We see this as one way to deal with the growing problem of pet overpopulation," says Cardinet. "It's a win-win situation all around. We provide expanded educational experiences for our students and, at the same time, we help to increase the percentage of animals being adopted." (The school's surgical labs will be closed Thanksgiving week.)