Last updated on June 27, 2022
When a local animal shelter needed a temporary home for a few of its dogs, Dallas College’s Veterinary Technology program — housed at Cedar Valley Campus — gladly stepped up.
The campus took in four dogs from the Richardson Animal Shelter in mid-June as that shelter started renovations to its dog kennels.
“It’s a win-win for everybody,” said Dr. Kelly Black, a veterinarian who runs Dallas College’s Veterinary Technology program.
“It’s beneficial for our students. It’s beneficial for the program. It’s beneficial for the shelter. And it’s beneficial for the animals.”
One of the dogs has already been adopted. The three remaining dogs range in age from 8 to 11 years old. Cola, 11, is a Labrador retriever mix; Niko, 10, is a German shepherd mix; and Rupert, 8, is a plott hound/Australian cattle dog mix.
At the school, the dogs will undergo any medical treatments necessary. Most of the surgeries conducted by the program are spays and neuters, or other routine procedures, which will make the animals more adoptable when they return to the shelter.
“The students get to help with the surgeries, so they get experience, and the shelter doesn’t have to pay for that,” Black said. “The animals can come here, get treated and get healthy, so they can be adopted.”
The dogs are expected to have a six-to-eight-week stay at Cedar Valley.
Giving back to the community is something Dallas College prides itself on. For the Vet Tech program, assisting shelters in instances such as this is just one of the many ways it helps the community. Other examples include partnering with the SPCA of Texas to run no-cost vaccine events at Cedar Valley.
“Our students actually staff those events,” Black said. “It helps the SPCA, it helps the community, and it helps those animals. We try to do as much community service and helping as we can.”
Along with dogs and other common pets such as cats, Cedar Valley is home to a number of animals. The campus has 160 acres of land that houses horses, donkeys, goats and cows.
All of it helps build the foundation for students to pursue a number of careers in the veterinary field. The school offers an associate degree in Veterinary Technology as well as a small animal veterinary assisting certificate and a large animal veterinary assisting certificate.
There are on-site and distance learning options available for prospective students. The school has approximately 120 students enrolled in on-site classes and 400 students enrolled in distance learning.
For those interested in adopting one of the dogs being housed temporarily, please contact the Richardson Animal Shelter at 972-744-4480.