Marcia Lane - “Furthering a Vision”
Marcia Lane
The search for wide open spaces far away from the hustle and bustle of city life led California native Marcia Patrick Lane to make her home in the Black Prairie area near Columbus where she spends much of her time with the company of quite a few four-legged companions.
Lane has the usual run-of-the-mill pets—plenty of cats and dogs, but her brood extends much further. A couple of fillies, a steer, and some cows who have fallen on hard times roam the fields. Five turkeys rescued from a dead pile by a farm sanctuary round out the herd of homeless, trapped or abandoned animals she has lovingly adopted.
Lane spent her very early years on Catalina Island before moving with her family to Beverly Hills. After completing a drama degree, she performed for five years in lead and supporting roles in television, but traded in her career for the more rewarding one of motherhood.
She travels frequently to visit her four children and grandchildren in Atlanta and California, leaving her animals under the watch of a caretaker. And, although she loves visiting, she readily admits she's always eager to return to her Columbus "retreat" and her animal friends.
When Lane expressed an interest in becoming more involved with animal welfare in her community, Mississippi State's College of Veterinary Medicine and Dr. Philip Bushby, an MSU professor of surgery, were highly recommended to her by friends.
"Marcia Lane cares about animals and it is a dream of hers to truly teach those around her in regard to their welfare," Bushby said. "She goes to great lengths to provide opportunities to focus efforts in these areas," he added.
An overwhelming desire to educate others and provide care for animals not fortunate enough to have an owner led Lane to establish an endowment for a professorship in the veterinary college. A $500,000 gift from her makes possible funding beyond state salary for activities related to the position.
The Marcia Lane Endowed Professorship in Humane Ethics and Animal Welfare allows CVM to forge a more collaborative relationship with animal sheltering organizations in the area and throughout the state. The professorship, now held by Bushby, paves the way for more interaction between the veterinary college and the shelters by providing opportunities for homeless animals devoid of basic humane care to become adoptable companion animals. The position will lead to the development of an education program for school children focused on the proper care of animals and pet overpopulation. Lane is a proponent of connecting children to favored animal practices at an early age.
"This animal welfare program led by this endowed position will create a ‘win-win' situation in which valuable animals are adopted for lifetime care, the unwanted animal population is controlled, and students have a wealth of experience in clinical training," said CVM Dean Kent Hoblet.
Further activities of the professorship revolve around shelters including professional on-site visits to evaluate design, animal holding, disease incidence, and behavioral counseling and spay/neuter assistance. A major focus of the professorship will be to significantly decrease the number of animals being euthanized in animal shelters.
For more information on giving to the College of Veterinary Medicine, contact Keith Gaskin at 662.325.3815 or e-mail kgaskin@foundation.msstate.edu.
