Vet Tech expands facilities and opportunities

By Johanna Salazar
Pulse Staff Reporter

Palo Alto College proudly celebrated the grand opening of its $5.2-million state-of-the-art Veterinary Technology Building on Feb. 20.

Thanks to the 2005 Bexar County Bond Election that gave Palo Alto College $55 million for expansion, we now have a 15,188-square foot instructional building after one year of construction.

The Vet Tech Building is not only larger than its former location at Brooks City-Base, but it provides our Veterinary Technology majors a much better environment to work and learn in.

Katie Powers, a sophomore Veterinary Technology major who will graduate with her associate’s this coming May, said, “It’s amazing, especially compared to the building and classes we had before this.”

Powers said that there is much more space in the new Vet Tech Building than there was at Brooks City-Base. They were in a space that was comparable to just the front of the new Vet Tech Building.

The new facility is equipped with many special features, including spacious surgical rooms, a clinical pathology lab, a parasitological lab, kennels, three classrooms, a pharmacy, an x-ray room and an outside exercise area.

Powers said the Vet Tech Building is very high-tech and the equipment is state-of-the-art. Doors are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., but classes are available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Grand Opening’s attendees included representatives from the Alamo Community Colleges Board of Trustees, sister college representatives, members of the Citizen’s Oversight Committee, members of the architectural firm Rehler Vaughn & Koone, Inc., representatives of SpawGlass, community members, the Palo Alto Mariachi Band, faculty, staff and students.

Palo Alto’s Mariachi Band kicked off the event, and the mariachi’s violinist, Stacey Mazuca, sang the national anthem.

Dr. Ana “Cha” Guzmán, president of Palo Alto College, thanked all who contributed to providing our campus such a great facility for students. She noted that Palo Alto had the only Veterinary Technology training available in all of south central Texas.

Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez also made an appearance and thanked the ACC board members for making this facility possible.

Dr. Bruce H. Leslie, the chancellor of ACC said, “This is a living breathing thing, not just stone and glass.”

After the speeches, Guzmán invited representatives to join her as she cut the ribbon for the grand opening. Students and Vet Tech professors then offered tours of the building.

Just by looking at the Vet Tech Building, you wouldn’t think as much is going on as there is. But as soon as you peek into just one of its rooms, you cannot help but be amazed at the work being done with the equipment provided.

The facility was very clean, considering that classes have already been in session since the beginning of the spring semester. It had a very friendly environment that made you feel at ease despite being surrounded by such advanced equipment.

Other than mainly cats and dogs being present, there was a small brown horse, Satin Lace, and its white and brown spotted three-week old colt that has not yet been named.

In addition to the new Vet Tech Building, Palo Alto also has a new Veterinary Technology Program director, Dr. Fonzie Quance-Fitch. Before entering the Vet Tech program students are required to work 80 hours for a veterinarian, whether it is volunteer or paid work, in order to give them a feel for what they’re getting into.

Quance-Fitch said, “[It’s] real live experience of how they might be employed.”

It’s key to know what you’re getting into because the Vet Tech program is very strong, but not so easy.

As Quance-Fitch said, “[One must] be committed to see it through.”

After graduating from the Vet Tech program, Quance-Fitch said that students not only will be able to work in clinical veterinary workplaces, but they will also be able to work as assistant veterinarians in commercial and research settings.

Palo Alto’s Veterinary Technology program was accredited in1998 by the Committee on Animal Technician Activities and Training of the American Veterinary Medical Association, which allows graduates to be eligible to take the Texas Veterinary Medical Association’s examination to become Registered Veterinary Technicians.

Powers said that those who are interested in animals should give the Veterinary Technology major a try. “It’s hard work, but it’s worth it,” she said.

For more information on Veterinary Technology or to visit the new building, please contact Kristie McCann, Vet Tech Adviser/Recruiter, at (210) 921-5563 or at kmccann1@mail.accd.edu.