The students in the Veterinary Assistant Program at South Technical High School gain valuable hands on experience through our relationship with the Heartland Humane Society. Through this, our students receive hands on experience unmatched by the majority of programs at this level. Because of their hard work in the 2010-2011 academic school year alone, the students have taken care of and helped find loving forever homes for one hundred and forty lab animals!

Heartland graciously allows the Vet Tech program to house rescued dogs and cats to use as lab animals. Students receive lab animals in all kinds of conditions with various types of health problems. The students learn to diagnose the animals and plan their course of treatment. Under the direction of the teachers, the students then carry out the treatment plan. Many animals are also cared for after spaying and neutering so the students learn after surgery care.

Many of the students go beyond what they do in the classroom. They volunteer many hours of time for further care of the animals, and to volunteer with Heartland at adoption events. As members of FFA, they receive credit and service hours for this work.