Dr. Terri Champney, Original Co-Founder (retired)

Terri graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University. She practiced equine and small animal medicine in California and Michigan before moving to Virginia where she worked in small animal medicine full time for several years.

Dr. Champney is a retired professor and Program Head of Veterinary Technology at Northern Virginia Community College. While at the college she established the first program between a county animal shelter and a veterinary teaching program. The model program was recognized by the organization Veterinarians for Animal Rights, as a unique effort to benefit both animals and students. Terri also initiated educational innovations in the veterinary technology classroom including the development and implementation of one of the first American Veterinary Medical Association accredited Veterinary Technology Online programs in the US. She received a student award as Faculty of the Year.

Terri volunteered with the P.A.L. (People Animals Love) program of Washington D.C. and taught animal care classes to prison inmates at the Lorton Prison. The program goal was providing skills needed for employment after inmates left incarceration.
She volunteered with Fairfax Pets on Wheels assisting with the administration of the programs, co-coordinating volunteers, pets visits nursing homes. She received the “Mary Latshaw” award for her work at FPOW. More recently she has volunteered with the National Park Service as a docent and as an educator at the Naturalist Center, Natural History Museum, Smithsonian Institute.

Terri has been a horse owner for many years. When she was eight years old Tubby her first equine “mentor” taught her to ride among many other valuable lessons. Since then she has owned many horses and been involved with different breeds and activities including breeding and training.

Terri hopes to use her teaching experience and background in curriculum development to create innovative educational programs to help solve horse welfare issues.