St. Petersburg College Veterinary Technology students held an adoption event for animals from the school at Pinellas Park’s Sixth Annual Bark in the Park Pet Expo on April 23. Visitors to the booth had the opportunity to interact with animals and learn about the college’s Veterinary Technology program.

The booth featured dogs, a chicken, a ball python and two bearded dragon lizards, all who were looking for new homes. Animal lovers enjoyed spending time with these adorable creatures and talking with the students who were minding the booth. Students also took time to tour the expo with the dogs up for adoption.

SPC student chatted with representatives from animal-related services at the expo including veterinary clinics, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Pinellas Park Police Explorers. Their four-legged companions also had lots of opportunities to make new friends.

K9 Unit demonstration

One of the highlights of the day was a demonstration by the Pinellas Park Police K9 Unit.

An officer spoke to the crowd about the role of dogs in police work,and how K9 officers work together with their dogs to keep the community safe. He also explained to the audience how Pinellas Park Police dogs are trained to track suspects and missing persons, check for drugs, and protect their human partner. The audience was given a shock when, in the middle of the demonstration, a man snatched a woman’s purse. The police K9 dog instantly pursued him and brought him to the ground. The man was one of the Pinellas Park Police animal handlers demonstrating the K9 Unit’s ability to restrain a suspect without injuring him. After the demonstration was over, members of the public had the opportunity to meet the police dog and his handler and ask questions.

At the end of the day,  many Pinellas Park animal lovers learned about the animal adoption program at SPC and the programs available at the Veterinary Technology Center.

Veterinary Technology, pet adoption programs at SPC

Learn more about the Veterinary Technology degrees offered and about the campus’s animal adoption program on the Vet Tech Facebook Page.

St. Petersburg College Veterinary Technology students dropped in on Pawfest at Largo Central Park April 9. Working to promote pet adoption, Pawfest was all fur, fun and no bite.

The SPC Veterinary Technology Program teaches students the skills they need to become veterinary technicians. Our students come from all over the world. The program has seen students from Africa, the Bahamas and China.

For those who decide to take courses on campus, we have special helpers to assist them on their journey.  These helpers are our SPC animal residents. All come from local area shelters. While they stay with us, our students assist in spaying or neutering them, giving them their vaccinations, treating them for any other medical problems and even teaching them basic obedience. At the end of each semester, our animals are then put up for adoption.

Our students help find these animals “furever” homes by taking them to local adoption events.

Pawfest, one such event, was put on by Kiwanis Club of Largo/Mid-Pinellas earlier in April. Many different groups were represented at Pawfest – other dog rescues looking for homes, staff from veterinary clinics and pet store representatives. Pawfest featured games and even a K-9 cop demonstration.

SPC Vet Tech also brought a few dogs of their own. Ghost, a 4-year-old Rottweiler/Doberman mix; Romeo, a 3-year-old Labrador/pit mix and Trina, a 3-year-old Australian Shepard/Border collie mix. To change things up, a 4-year-old albino New Zealand rabbit named Alice joined in on the fun. Students and animals alike had a blast, checking out the booths and looking for their “furever” home. Ghost even won second place in the Cutest Dog Contest. Though beaten out by a Newfoundland puppy, SPC Vet Tech is proud of Ghost!

The next event SPC Vet Tech students and animals will attend is Bark in the Park, April 23,  from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Freedom Lake in Pinellas Park. Proceeds from the event will go to the Pinellas Park K-9 Unit (Police Dog Medical Fund).

If you don’t want to wait to check out our adoptable pets, look for them on Petfinder and our Facebook page.

Danielle Cochrane, a first-year Veterinary Technology student at St. Petersburg College, received the best surprise right before the holidays.

The college’s Vet Tech students are asked to foster pets in their homes to help prepare the animals for adoption. Over the Thanksgiving break, Danielle took home a 1.5-year- old mixed breed terrier named Walker. The bond between the two clicked instantly.

“I’ve not seen a bond like this between a dog and person in a really long time. They’re like best friends,” said Danielle’s mother Jennifer Cochrane.

Danielle had previously asked if she could adopt Walker, but her mother said no because they have other pets at home.

But Danielle’s mother later changed her mind after seeing her daughter’s hard work in school and commitment to the dog. Danielle  would drive about two hours, three times a week, bringing Walker back and forth to school. With the holidays approaching, she decided to secretly adopt Walker and surprise her daughter with the new addition to their family.

Danielle is a full-time student, interns at a veterinary office and works at an area Publix three days a week. “We’re just really proud of her. She’s been working her way through college. She’s done awesome. So this is her reward”, her mother said.

On December 9,  the Vet Tech team coordinated a very special surprise adoption for Danielle and Walker. Bay News 9 was there to capture the moment. Staff told Danielle Bay News 9 would be at the school to showcase adoptable pets for the holidays and that Walker had been selected as one of the animals for the feature.

During the interview, staff claimed they had received “a tip” someone wanted to adopt Walker. Instead, Jennifer walked in and surprised her daughter with the great news!

Danielle was completely overjoyed and excited to bring Walker home for good.

Give a pet a forever home

“All of our animals in our program are up for adoption at any time,” said SPC Veterinary Instructor Tricia Gorham. “They come home spayed or neutered with dental procedures performed, blood work complete and all vaccinations. They have all had behavior modification training (clicker training) by our students and are well socialized and ready for forever homes. This includes dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs and rats.”

Learn more about adopting pets from SPC’s Vet Tech program or check the center’s Facebook page.

Everyone had a great time at the St. Petersburg College School of Veterinary Technology Open House. Thank you to the more than 450 people who visited with us this month!

Visitors got to meet critters from dogs and cats to snakes and chickens as well as learn more about the courses offered at the center.

See more  photos on St. Petersburg College’s Facebook page or on the center’s page or see them on Pinterest.

Or you can also follow St. Petersburg College’s board Fauna on Pinterest.

Veterinary Technology Center and programs

The facility features 32,000 square feet of state-of-the-art classrooms, labs, surgery and x-ray suites, kennels and offices. The center was awarded the LEED® Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

SPC offers an Associate in Science program in Veterinary Technology as well as a bachelor’s degree.  The center is located next to Pinellas County Animal Services, allowing students to obtain work experience.

To help celebrate National Vet Tech Week, St. Petersburg College’s School of Veterinary Technology will host its fourth annual Open House from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Veterinary Technology Center, 12376 Ulmerton Road, Largo.

Members of the public are invited to the event where they can tour the state-of-the-art facility, learn about programs and career options, meet faculty, staff and advisors, interact with Veterinary Technician activities, and visit vendor tables to learn about a variety of topics pertaining to pet ownership.

Some of the many hands-on activities will include the opportunity to examine blood samples under a microscope, administering CPR to your pets, internal examination of a cow and observe cat clicker training. Additional presentations and topics covered will include:

• Pet care and nutrition
• Avian and exotic species
• Career opportunities for Vet Techs
• When pets can’t go on vacation
• The importance of grooming
• Dog park safety

Vendors will include: Animal Luvr’s Dream Rescue, Banfield Hospital, HIll’s Pet Nutrition, Humane Society of Pinellas, Lap of Love, Lowry Park Zoo, Operation Snip, Pinellas County Animal Services, Southeastern Guide Dogs, SPCA, Val’s Dog Tags and more.

Please R.S.V.P. online at: www.spcollege.edu/survey/18960 or call 727-302-6720.

Now is the time to adopt SPC Veterinary Technology  animals! Our dogs and cats have been spayed or neutered, and their teeth have been cleaned and polished.  All are vaccinated and on heart-worm protection.

Please visit our Facebook page to see our animals to adopt and to discover what our students and kennel staff have been up to.

Nicole Becker, who earned her A.S. in 2008, recently received the Colorado Veterinary Technician of the Year Award.