Become a Vet for a Day!

Community service is one of the guiding principles at Firehouse.  Supporting our local community includes donating time and services to its members.  One category of our community that could always use a donation is that of teachers, students and school programs.

The main goal of Vet for a Day program is to provide a basic overview of companion animal health care in an interactive environment while maintaining the participant's comfort level.  Students will also have an opportunity to understand the educational commitment it requires to become a veterinarian and a certified veterinary technician (CVT)

Vet For a day Event Schedule:

1. Participant arrives and is greeted by the Vet for a Day Director.


2. Director takes participant on tour of the hospital noting exam rooms, sympathy room, hospital setup, surgery, dental.


3. Doctor to cover four main experiences during their visit: surgery, rooms, lab and technical care.

•       Surgery.  The student goes through the process of sterile preparation by scrubbing their hands, gowning, gloving, and wearing a cap and mask.  At this time we can take a picture of the student with a doctor and an animal (if appropriate).


• Exam Rooms.  The student gets at least two room experiences.  First, they will enter with the CVT and observe the TPR and history, then stay with the tech for the remainder of the exam to better understand the technician's perspective.  Then they will go in with the doctor to see what the veterinarian's job entails.  We should be sure that we are allowing them to do anything that is safe for them to do.


• Laboratory.  The student assists in all aspects of a lab procedure, like a fecal, er cytology, fine needle aspirate.  We provide pre-stained slides in the event that we do not have any appointments that involve a lab procedure that day.


• Technical Care.  This allows the student to shadow a CVT for a portion of their time at Firehouse.  Examples include:  gathering urine form a dog (by walking behind us), setting up a kennel, filling a prescription or setting up for surgery.