All VMRCVM students have accepted the Veterinary Oath and have professed their committment to the profession.  Practical training is a vital component to our education.  By introducing practical training earlier in the DVM curriculum, we may potentially reduce the number of laboratory animals that are required for teaching purposes.  As our student population grows, it is undeniably important to support efforts to reduce the numbers of lab animals that are needed for instruction.  I firmly believe that this petition will promote education opportunities and allow the reduction in number of lab animals that are required for teaching purposes.