Contact: Thonnia Lee, Office of Strategic Communications
Tuskegee University’s College of Veterinary Medicine has provided services to the local and surrounding communities for generations, as part of its legendary training of veterinary students. Now the university and the college are celebrating the birth of a new foal, the first born on campus in many years.
Coco Chanel was born early on Feb. 1 after the team of veterinarians and students had been monitoring her mother Dolly’s progress for weeks.
Dolly’s story is one of ongoing examples of how the College provides veterinary support to the surrounding community. About five years ago, Dolly was surrendered by an area resident who could no longer care for her. The Large Animal Farm/Barn manager adopted her about a year and a half ago. Her pregnancy was confirmed last year and every other month the veterinary students performed ultrasounds until delivery earlier this month.
“We are incredibly proud of how the College of Veterinary Medicine turned this into a story of joy and rebirth,” said Dr. Ebony Gilbreath, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “Our veterinary team exposed our students to Dolly’s monitoring throughout her pregnancy and now the care for her baby foal. We are proud to be able to share this story.”
The College of Veterinary Medicine provides a variety of services for the community. In addition to training the next generation of veterinarians, our Small and Large Animal Teaching Hospitals provide care for small and large companion animals, food animals, exotic animals, and pocket pets.
The College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital services include:
- Preventative care and wellness exams, including vaccinations and parasite prevention
- Diagnostic testing and treatment
- Specialty services like surgery, internal medicine, dermatology, dentistry, diagnostic imaging and emergency medicine
- Large animal ambulatory services
- Emergency care (during regular business hours)
“The College of Veterinary Medicine provides stellar medical care to our patients from the surrounding area,” said Dr. Nelson Diaz, Director of Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Associate Professor of Small Animal Community Practice for the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine.”
“Our veterinary medicine program at Tuskegee University was established in 1945 and has provided advanced general and specialist-level care for local clients and referring veterinarians for over 80 years,” said Dr. Gilbreath. “Our services manage a wide range of internal medicine and surgical cases, provide comprehensive in-house consultation, and accept referrals across multiple disciplines. We have a dedicated veterinary team who are committed to achieving the best possible outcome for every patient entrusted to our care.”
Please visit the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Teaching Hospital at 1607 Hospital Road for a walk-in office visit, or call (334) 727-8436/8437 or email
tucvmvetcare@tuskegee.edu to make an appointment for a routine visit or urgent care with for either small or large animals.
Media outlets interested in on-campus interviews on Dolly and her foal, Coco Chanel, can contact Crystal Drake at
cdrake@tuskegee.edu.
© 2026 Tuskegee University
