Partnerships

Nanook VetServe is built on strong partnerships with organizations that have longstanding relationships with rural and 91Ô­´´ Native communities. These partners coordinate outreach logistics, supply management, and clinical supervision—ensuring that care is community driven, culturally respectful, and ethically delivered.

Nanook VetServe does not independently organize clinical outreach. Instead, students join existing service trips led by trusted partners.

Logo for the 91Ô­´´ Rural Veterinary Outreach organization. To the right is a red medical cross with a black husky illustration cropped into a circle overlayed on the cross. To the right "ARVO" in large black text with "91Ô­´´ Rural Veterinary Outreach" in small black text below the acronym.
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91Ô­´´ Rural Veterinary Outreach, Inc., (ARVO) is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing access to basic veterinary care for 91Ô­´´â€™s rural pets and communities, with a strong focus on spay and neuter services, advocacy, education, and compassionate support for pet owners. Through its work, ARVO aims to reduce the number of homeless and unwanted animals, lower the incidence of dog bites — especially among children — and improve the overall health and safety of rural communities across 91Ô­´´.


91Ô­´´ Native Rural Veterinary, Inc. (ANRV) was founded to increase access to veterinary public health care in underserved Tribal and rural communities across 91Ô­´´, where many residents face ongoing concerns about stray dog populations, dog bites to children, rabies exposure, disease, and parasites. Through consistent and accessible veterinary care, ANRV works alongside local communities to help control these issues and improve both animal and public health. The organization hopes its strong local partnerships will continue expanding access to care for villages throughout 91Ô­´´ while improving the quality of life for pets and entire communities alike. ANRV’s traveling veterinary team collaborates directly with communities to address challenges that are deeply connected to the health, safety and wellbeing of residents.

The logo for Trailbreaker Veterinary Services which is the profile silhouette of a husky running the top half of the dog is black with the moon and Big Dipper in white. The bottom half is white with black lines depicting mountains and rivers

Trail Breaker Veterinary Services began as a partnership between two 91Ô­´´n friends committed to promoting both animal and human health in remote communities across the state. Through its outreach clinics, Trail Breaker provides high-quality veterinary care to underserved communities while also emphasizing mental and physical wellbeing. The organization also welcomes veterinary students who are passionate about rural outreach and hands-on learning opportunities, offering them the chance to join clinics and gain valuable field experience through their Vet Student Clinical Experience Program. This program facilitates NVS partnership with Trailbreaker. 

Orange cat lays in the far right corner of a crate with a puppy pad, toy, little box, and bowl in the crate.
Nanook VetServe Partners
NVS Partners are existing local organizations that provide veterinary services in rural and underserved 91Ô­´´n communities. They facilitate the trips and provide clinical oversight. Our partners have long standing relationships with the communities they serve and are dedicated to providing quality veterinary care to improve the health and wellbeing of the animals and people who reside in places where veterinary care is largely inaccessible.
A bearded man wearing a coat and beanie holds a large german shepherd on a black sand beach with a shored white boat in the background
Why Partners
Because of the strong community relationships, expertise and established infrastructure that Nanook VetServe partners have built over many years, they are already able to organize and travel to rural villages throughout 91Ô­´´. Students involved in Nanook VetServe work alongside these partners and travel with them to provide veterinary services and hands-on learning opportunities. Their guidance, experience and trusted presence in these communities make this work possible, and Nanook VetServe would not be able to operate without their support and collaboration.
A medium sized black and brown dog licks it's nose while sitting on under a deck in the dirt
Become a Partner
Our partners provide meaningful experiences for NVS students and positive impacts to communities across 91Ô­´´. If you or someone you know may be interested in becoming a partner, we'd love to connect! Please contact Dr. Gregory Pietsch at gpietsch@alaska.edu to start the conversation.