El Paso VMA presents awards

The El Paso VMA (EPVMA) held its 39th annual community awards banquet on May 18 in El Paso, Texas. This year’s honorees were the late Dr. Thomas R. McCabe Jr., the Border Patrol Canine Academy, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Veterinary Science Certificate Program.

Dr. Thomas R. McCabe Jr. (Texas A&M ’77), was honored posthumously (see obituary) with the Veterinary Legends of the Southwest Award. A small and exotic animal practitioner, he owned Northeast Veterinary Clinic, Sun Valley Animal Clinic, and Montana Animal Clinic in El Paso. Earlier in his career, Dr. McCabe served as a captain in the Army Veterinary Corps. During that time, he worked in the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Dr. McCabe served on the board of directors of the EPVMA, Texas VMA, Humane Society of El Paso, and City of El Paso Department of Public Health.

The Border Patrol Canine Academy in El Paso, one of two training delivery sites for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Canine Program, was recognized with the Community Involvement Award. The academy provides training to canine teams deployed along the nation’s border on various aspects, including the detection and apprehension of people attempting entry to organize, incite, and carry out acts of terrorism; the detection and seizure of controlled substances and other contraband; and on assisting in search and rescue and detection of human remains.

A Special Recognition Award was given to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Veterinary Science Certificate Program. The program aims to assist students interested in veterinary science careers. Participants learn the skills necessary to become a veterinary assistant and graduates of the program are eligible for certification through a third-party organization by examination.

A version of this story appears in the August 2024 print issue of JAVMA