Palo Alto’s Veterinary Technology program received full accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in the Fall of 2003. The program was given provisional accreditation in 1998 after being initiated in 1996, and it is one of only five Veterinary Technician programs in the state of Texas.

With the accreditation of the program, students who complete and receive their Associate’s of Applied Science Degree in Veterinary Technology are eligible to take the state and national certification board exams to become registered veterinary technicians.

“Without the accreditation of the program (at Palo Alto), I wouldn’t have transferred from the program in Wisconsin. I would have stayed and finished the program there,” said Shannon Campbell, a second year student of the program at Palo Alto.

Another distinguishing factor of the program is that it has a partnership with two major universities. The University of Texas health Science Center gives the program the laboratory support it needs for dental and animal procedures for larger animals, other than cats and dogs. Also, Texas A&M University at College Station has joined Palo Alto in giving students interactive instructional videos. These courses and other general education courses are offered on campus at Palo Alto College. Students receive their hands-on training at a facility located at Brooks City-Base.

Dr. Larry Bruestle, Director of the Veterinary Technology Program, said there were no adequate facilities to be able to take care of the cats and dogs on the Palo Alto campus.

At Brooks City-Base, the program occupies a 3,000-square foot facility and in December of 2002, Lowe’s donated materials to build a fenced in area where dogs could receive adequate exercise without being on a leash.

“In 1998, we (Palo Alto) were one of the first civilians to come to Brooks before it even became a city base,” said Laurie Pawelek, Registered Veterinary Technician.

At the Brooks City-Base facility, the students actually work with cats and dogs that are donated to them by a local shelter. Currently, there are nine cats and 10 dogs that are being cared for by the students.

The animals receive any medical attention that they might need and are cared for by the students. Students of the program gain the experience that is needed to become a successful registered veterinary technician, from giving the animals their medication and giving them health examinations to actually assisting in surgery.

Students participating in the program must also learn to be responsible and do their share of kettle duty. Kettle duty involves keeping the animal cages clean, make sure the animals are given daily care and taking them out of their cages so that the animals are getting their daily exercise, this happens every day seven days a week.

“As a vet tech, we do everything except for prescribing medication, actually performing the surgery and actually diagnosing the animal. Other than that, we do everything else,” said Gail I. Burrows, a second year student of the program.

For students to participate in the program, each student must successfully complete prerequisite courses, the orientation process and 80 hours of volunteer work that involves some experience with animals before going into the program. Students are also interviewed by Bruestle and Pawelek so that students interested in the program are aware of what to expect once they are accepted.

Currently, there are 18 students in their first year and twenty students in their second year who are expect to graduate in May 2004. For the upcoming fall semester, 32 students are expected to enter the program, their largest class yet.

TheVet Tech program at Palo Alto begins every fall semester only. The program is for two years, and students must also successfully complete 360 hours of an internship. These hours are completed during the summer between the first and second year of the program.

All animals that are treated every semester by the students of the veterinary program can be adopted at the end of each semester. There is an adoption fee of $25 that covers the animal’s medical care.

For more information on pet adoption from the program, go to www.geocitites.com/dogsandcats4u.

“When I am taking care of someone’s pet, I am also taking care of that person. The bond between a person and a pet is very strong,” said Campbell.

For more information on the Veterinary Technology Program at Palo Alto, call Laurie Pawelek at 531-8703 or email her at lpawelek@accd.edu.