Fridays are busy days for dogs and students at the New Market Skills Center’s veterinary assistant program in Tumwater. That’s because with a small donation, you can make an appointment to get your canine friend washed while providing high school students a hands-on experience with handling dogs and learning about animal health care at New Market.
Vet Assistant Students Bathe Dogs at the Tumwater Dog Wash
New Market is a public school offering technical training for high school students, in a consortium of 11 school districts. The veterinary assistant program includes theory and practical application of skills and concepts including animal restraint; medical terminology; anatomy and physiology; surgery and medical nursing; and diseases.
Vet assistant students attend class Monday through Friday. On Fridays they offer a dog wash program located in the classroom clinic at 7299 New Market Street SW (Building D). Instructor Jade Williams says those weekly sessions involve more than bathing local dogs. “All the students have jobs,” she says. Owners make morning or afternoon appointments by telephone. Students take the calls and schedule the appointments, learn the dog’s age and breed, whether it has been treated for fleas and if it has any allergies or medical issues, services to be provided, and if it is okay for students to give the dog treats.
Upon the dogs’ arrival, students groom them, including giving baths, blow-drying, brushing teeth, cleaning ears, express anal glands and clipping nails, although they do not cut hair. Students clean the floors, dishes and laundry and perform all the other tasks to run the dog wash, under Williams’s guidance. And students learn to work with different breeds including methods to safely restrain rambunctious dogs during the bathing process. “Some dogs are easier than others,” says class president and Tumwater High School junior Audrey Zinis. “It takes different perspectives.”
“When they do good, we pet them and tell them they did good,” Zinis adds. “We are very gentle.”
Zinis says students handle procedures to return pets to their owners after the appointment. “When the owner comes back, we do the discharge and tell them how their dog did,” she explains.
Donations to Veterinary Assistant Program
The New Market dog wash has a recommended donation scale for owners, based upon their dog’s weight.
For example, the recommended donation for the services is $15 for dogs weighing up to 25 pounds, $20 for dogs 26 to 40 pounds, $25 for dogs 41 to 70 pounds, and $30 for dogs weighing more than 70 pounds. The recommended donation is $5 if an owner wants only one service, such as only having their dog’s ears cleaned.
Money earned from donations goes back to the class for supplies and activities.
Thurston County Veterinary Assistant Student Support
Williams says students from 20 surrounding high schools are enrolled. She says some students take the class for two years. After their first year, they guide new students. Williams explains that the program is in the process of formally transitioning to a two-year program and is seeking national certification. “It’s nice to have returning students so they can be a student leader,” she says. “And they can listen to their peers as well.”
Adna High School senior Shaina Dunlap is one of those returning students. “This is my second year,” she says. “We can help each other. This year, I help others here.”
“We all work together,” agrees Zinis.
Careers Working with Dogs are Popular
Williams coordinates the students who are managing the weekly dog wash as part of her role in running the program and teaching animal health care. “Our classes are in high demand,” she says. “Last year it just exploded. We have wait lists. I have clinics calling to ask if any of our students are ready to come in as an animal care provider or assistant.”
“It’s one of our most popular programs,” says New Market’s Executive Director Matt Ishler. “Jade does a great job.” The program is a resource for students considering a career as a groomer, ranch hand, animal trainer, veterinary assistant, animal control staff, veterinary technician, animal behaviorist, biologist, educator or veterinarian.
Aryanna Persons is a senior at Timberline High School who was helping at a recent Friday dog wash. She wants to use the skills and credits she obtained at New Market to launch an animal-related career. “I like working with medicine, and with dogs,” she says. “This puts two and two together. I hopefully will attend Pierce College in their veterinary technology program.” Through internships, the vet assistant program can provide college credits.
To schedule an appointment for your favorite canine at the New Market Skills Center veterinary assistant program’s dog wash in Tumwater, call 360.570.4442.
