Animal | Hartpury College

Animal Collection

At Hartpury, our students have access to a variety of domestic and non-domestic species on-site. There aren’t many places that you’ll have access to invertebrates, reptiles, livestock and exotic species.

We have several different animal homes on campus which students can access:

The Animal Management Centre works as a purpose-built teaching space for our Animal Management and Science students, as well as a vivarium with a wide range of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. It also has a fully stocked aquatics room with a diverse assortment of tropical and coldwater fish, including piranha
Our Walled Animal Garden is home to rodents, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets. meerkats, prairie dogs, and our giant Sulcata, Millie. It also features a teaching space and four fantastic aviaries
Our orchard paddocks are home to wallabies, llamas, emus and rare bagot goats

Students also have access to the domestic species on our commercial farm and horses in our world-class equine facilities, including our Equine Therapy Centre.

Dog Agility Arena

We have recently opened our own dog agility arena. The new equipment includes an A-frame, a dog walk with poles, flat and cylinder tunnels, weaves, a see-saw, tyres and jumps.

Students on all courses can access new learning opportunities thanks to the new dog agility facilities through lectures and practical sessions in the arena. The sessions enable students to gain a deeper insight into canine training, fitness, health and safety and the careers available in this area of the industry. Several of our graduates have gone on to work as dog trainers. The dog agility arena could also provide material for student projects.

Animal Science Laboratories

Our Animal Science laboratories and Veterinary Nursing Centre have specialist equipment for teaching and research and are the hub for our students to learn more about anatomy and physiology, including dissections. The facilities in our labs include a thermal imager, new magnifiers and binocular and trinocular microscopes, dietcheck software, a veterinary haematology analyser, and microplate reader.

Animal Log Cabin

Whether you want to catch up on your studies, hang out with friends on your course, or make new ones, our dedicated animal-only student
zone will be your go-to destination.

The animal log cabin is open all day and popular with our students. Tucked away behind our Animal Management Centre, with views
across the pond and water fountain, it’s one of the most peaceful places on campus and a great getaway from the fast pace of campus life.

Cotswold Dog Spa is a professional small animal rehabilitation centre based on campus. The spa provides students with opportunities for work experience and helps bring their learning to life. They get to see how the spa works and come in contact with dogs undergoing rehabilitation, as well as experiencing a working business on site.

Owned and run by a Hartpury graduate, many of the current staff also studied at Hartpury. Cotswold Dog Spa offers outpatient hydrotherapy and physiotherapy and qualified veterinary physiotherapists and hydrotherapists work as part of an integrated multi-disciplinary team, including first opinion vets, referral vets, other rehabilitation specialists and the owner.

Animal facilities

Animal Collection

Dog Agility Arena

Animal Science Laboratories

Animal Log Cabin

Cotswold Dog Spa

Our partners & accreditations