DENVER — In partnership with Denver Public Schools, the Denver Animal Shelter will host students this week to experience the variety of careers found in veterinary medicine.
This week is National Veterinary Technician Week. With the current shortage of veterinarians in the country, the shelter hopes to inspire the next generation.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the country will need 40,000 new veterans by 2030. \
Richard Butler
“There’s a natural affinity between animals and children,” said Melanie Sobel, director of Denver Animal Care. “We wanted to bring them to the shelter and show them that there are vets and that there is vet registration, but there are so many career opportunities and paths out there.”
Students from Bryant Webster Elementary School toured the evacuation center on Tuesday. Sophomore Christabel Gonzalez loves animals, especially her dog Barbie. She said she really enjoyed visiting the shelter.
“It’s been fun seeing the dogs and cats. I love it when my dog Barbie plays with me and sniffs me,” Gonzalez said.
Richard Butler
When asked, Gonzalez said he wanted to be a firefighter or a police officer. Patricia Crystal, a veterinarian at the Denver Animal Shelter, said she didn’t want to be a veterinarian when she was a child. She said she made that decision later.
“I didn’t always want to go into veterinary medicine, but I was really interested in public health and infectious diseases and loved animals, so that’s what ultimately led me here,” Crystal he said. “Our overall standards for animal health have improved over time, and the demand for veterinary services has increased accordingly.”
An estimated 155 students from nine DPS schools are expected to visit the shelter this week.
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