Annual Open House
18th Annual WesternU CVM Open House – 2026 date TBA (check back regularly or follow our social media accounts for updates)
Our annual Open House event invites thousands of members of all ages from the local community to participate in a free event on our Pomona campus. This event strives to foster meaningful connections with our local community and professional partners through various activities like interactive sessions, guided tours of our state-of-the-art facilities, pet adoptions, a petting zoo, and immersive hands-on activities. It also attracts local Scout, Brownie and Daisy troops as one of the only locations in the LA County area that offers the opportunity for members to get an animal care badge.
This year promises to be even more enlightening, providing attendees with an in-depth look into the world of veterinary medicine and the critical role it plays in the health of animals, humans, and the environment. We aim to inspire and inform, showcasing our academic and professional offerings. We welcome potential students, their families, and community members to join us in exploring the world of veterinary medicine.
Updates, including registration announcements, requirements, raffles, or other news will be launched via social media– make sure you’re following us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter!
Admission is free, but registration is required for all attendees, regardless of type of admission selected (General Admission, or Scout Admission).
To register for this event, please select the appropriate registration type and provide all relevant information. Once you have done so, you will be redirected to the required waiver. All attendees must register and sign a waiver to attend this event, regardless of age. Attendees who are considered to be minors (under the age of 18) must be registered, and have a waiver completed, by their parent or legal guardian. Once the waiver is signed and submitted, you will return to this site and receive your confirmation and QR code. A QR code will be required to enter the event.Attendees will not receive a confirmation email and QR code until all necessary waivers have been signed.
Check back later this year for more info and registration for the 2026 Open House!
WesternU CVM invites potential students, their families, community members, and professional partners to join us for this enriching experience! Last year, our Open House event attracted an impressive turnout of over 4,000 guests, reinforcing its status as a premier community engagement event. Previous years have included various activities like interactive sessions, guided tours of our state-of-the-art facilities, pet adoptions, a petting zoo, and immersive hands-on activities.
This year promises to be even more enlightening, providing attendees with an in-depth look into the world of veterinary medicine and the critical role it plays in the health of animals, humans, and the environment. We aim to inspire and inform, showcasing our academic and professional offerings. We welcome potential students, their families, and community members to join us in exploring the world of veterinary medicine.
- Support WesternU CVM Student Clubs – student clubs will have booths available for guests to visit, offering information about their mission and goals, interactive activities, and may offer items for sale– all proceeds made at individual booths go to support the clubs representing them.
- Location – The majority of this event, located on the Western University of Health Sciences campus in Pomona, CA, will be held outside. Attendees are recommended to take precautions against the weather. On-site parking is available.
- Food trucks will be located on-site for the convenience of guests.
- Animal Care Badges (Scouts) – Local Scout, Brownie and Daisy troops are invited to take advantage of one of the few opportunities in the LA County area that offers the chance to obtain an animal care related badges.
As always, Scouts (BSA Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts [Brownies, Junior, Cadette, and Senior levels]), are invited to take advantage of this rare opportunity to obtain animal specific badges. Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine is proud to have established a close relationship with local troop Boy Scout and Girl Scout troop leaders to provide the educational activities that will help scouts fulfill requirements for badges that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.
Parents or group leaders should be aware that all activities are open to the public, in addition to scouts. These activities are scheduled at specific times during the day to accommodate as many groups as possible. These once-a-year offerings may have limited space– please be aware of the day’s schedule so you do not miss out! Sign-off booths will not be able to sign-off on cards if the scouts have not fulfilled their requirements. Some of the estimated badge types are listed below, but troop leaders should check with their offices to verify conditions, types and details.
- Veterinary Merit Badge (Boy Scouts)
- Bear Elective Adventure: Critter Care (requirement #3) (Cub Scouts)
- Brownie Pets Badge (Girl Scouts)
- Junior Animal Habitats Badge (Girl Scouts)
- Cadette Animal Helpers Badge (Girl Scouts)
- Seniors Voice for Animals Badge (Girl Scouts)
Passport cards for Boy Scouts will be provided on-site, but troop leaders are expected to make sure to check with their local leaders to fully understand all requirements. Scout leaders are responsible for bringing blue cards necessary for sign-off.
A sign-off booth will be located at the event, on the esplanade, and will be staffed with experienced volunteers ready to sign off on blue cards. The booth may be accessed between 10:00am – 2:00pm.
A total of 9 parking areas are available for guests to park in*. Of these parking areas, six are free (Lot 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, and 9) while three are paid via meter (Lots 3, 4, and 6). Guests are asked not to park in areas marked in red on the map– these lots are for WesternU CVM employees and VIP guests (by displayed permit only)**.
The best location to park is Lot 1 (indicated in the map below)– this parking garage is closest to the event check-in.
Lot Locations:
- Lot #1 : FREE Parking Garage entrance located at the corner of E. 2nd Street and Towne Ave
- Lot #2 : FREE Parking Lot with entrance located at the corner of Gibbs Street and First Street
- Lot #3 : PAID Parking Lot with entrance located at Gibbs Street and First Street (pay at on-site meter)
- Lot #4 : PAID Parking Lot with entrance located on First Street (pay at on-site meter)
- Lot #5 : FREE Parking Lot with entrances located on Third Street
- Lot #6 : PAID Parking Lot with entrances located on S. Gibbs Street and Locust Street (pay at on-site meter)
- Lot #7 : FREE Parking Lot with entrances located on S. Gibbs Street and S. Elm Street
- Lot #8 : FREE Parking Lot with entrance located on S. Elm Street
- Lot #9 : FREE Parking Lot with entrance located on S. Palomares Street and Linden Street
* City/Institutional construction and event road blockages may effect entry points and availability of parking.
* * Unauthorized guests (no permit displayed) parked in these lots may be towed at the owner’s expense.
We strive to offer a rich experience to the local community via our open house event, seeking to foster meaningful connections with the local community and our professional partners while educating them on the critical role veterinarians play in the health of animals, humans, and the environment. This event is made possible by contributions from our generous sponsors and local community members. However, because our event grows larger every year, we could use your help!
Your generous donations keep this educational community outreach event free and open to the public.
Click here to donate today (add “Open House” to the comments section in the provided form)
Thank you for your continued support!