Taylor Best | Photo Editor
Cody Goswick and his dog, Bear, prepare for the weiner dog races hosted by the Vet Tech program held on the Quad on April 30.
Taylor Best
Photography Editor
From cats and goats to rabbits and cows, Crowder College’s Veterinary Technician students receive hands-on experiences with a wide range of animals.
The program began in 2005, graduating the first class in May of 2007. Although it is a fairly new program, it has distinguished itself.
According to www.vettechcolleges.com, Crowder’s Vet Tech Program is among three others that are ranked as the ‘Top Vet Tech Schools in Missouri’, stating that “…the campus is unique in many ways. It features: An outdoor dog kennel, barns, a small animal kennel and 300 acres of farmland. Students are also able to care for a number of different animals while they are learning.”
Dr. Stephanie Watson, the Vet Tech program director, said, “Being embedded in an agriculture program and having access to many animals on our working farm is a great advantage, especially for students interested in learning about large animal medicine. Many Vet Tech Programs have a single cow or horse to learn from, while we have a herd of cattle and 15-20 horses, as well as sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits, mice, rats, and birds.”
The program’s admission is relatively competitive. It can accept up to 18 students, but not everyone is qualified to apply.
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First year Vet Tech student, Amy Swan, lets one of the residents at Medicalodges pet one of the program’s dogs.
“It’s important that students are prepared for program classes that are very challenging.
Experience in the practice of veterinary medicine and grades achieved in classes that are prerequisites for the program often indicate how successful students will be in Vet Tech Program classes,” said Dr. Watson.
The number of students in the program is small, “…therefore the bond between the students and instructors is strong. Students work together and are supportive of each other. Instructors know the students well and do all they can to help them to be successful,” said Dr. Watson.
Students in the program learn how to do animal’s lab work, assist during surgeries and monitor animals under anesthesia, among other things.
Alyssa Bruer, a first year Vet Tech student, said, “The experiences I’ve had with [the] dogs and cats from the program have taught me many things on how to handle and restrain animals in a veterinary hospital.” Bruer began the Vet Tech Program in August of 2013 and anticipates graduating in May of 2015.
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“I was able to do so many awesome things here that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do anywhere else,” said Karly Batson, a non-traditional Vet Tech student. “I’ve palpated cattle, tattooed, tagged, and ear notched goats, trimmed hooves, etc.”
The program strives to involve students and the community as much as possible, by organizing events such as the wiener dog races, dog washes and pet photo contests. The Vet Tech students also visit Medicalodges, the nursing home just a short distance from the Neosho campus. They bring dogs inside for the residents to see and pet.
“[It] brightens the resident’s day,” said Bruer.
Along with caring for the animals, students and instructors save and treat animals from area shelters and organize adoptions at the end of each semester.
“Each semester we pick out 4-6 cats and dogs from the Joplin Humane Society. Throughout the semester, the animals are spayed/neutered, micro chipped, socialized, vaccinated and treated for anything else that they might have. At the end of the semester we adopt animals out to anyone that fills out an application for only $25,” Bruer said.
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“Students are very well prepared upon graduating…the Crowder Veterinary Technology Program has had 100% of graduates pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination for the past three years in a row,” Dr. Watson said.
For those interested in applying for the Vet Tech Program or adopting an animal from the Vet Tech department, contact Dr. Watson at stephaniewatson@crowder.edu.
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