Mutt's misfortune spawns new animal care program

December 22, 2005

Ziggy the dog's near-death experience has given life to a whole new animal care program.

In fact, you might call it Brenda Welock's pet project.

"I saw a need that had to be filled," said Welock, a Continuing Education Coordinator for Douglas College. "I knew we could fill that need."

After Ziggy got hit by a car, Welock rushed her pet to the nearest animal clinic. While the dog got lots of love, she "didn't get all the essentials" of good animal care. Ziggy emerged from the clinic completely dehydrated.

Concerned that not all veterinarian staff had the skills needed to take care of both animals and office work, Welock started making inquiries. She kept getting the same message: more animal-handling training was needed. She discovered there wasn't a single public post-secondary institution offering a full-time veterinarian assisting program. So Welock decided to fill this crucial educational gap.

The result is the Veterinarian Office Assistant and Animal Care Certificate (VOAAC) Program. Starting in April, 2006, students will receive the comprehensive, hands-on training they need to handle both paperwork and pets.

"It's priced extremely reasonably and builds on the Douglas College foundation of excellent instructors and small class sizes," says Welock. "Our goal is to make it the best program in the province."

During the 20-week program, students will learn from professionals about domestic animal handling, physiology and pre- and post-operative care. The office skills will be taught by instructors from the College's Office Administration Department.

Offered at the New Westminster campus from April to September, the 25-hour-a-week program will also feature a three-week practicum plus a debriefing session.

Welock says the VOAAC Program not only fills a need in the community, it will help open doors to new careers for students.

"There are lots of job opportunities in this field," says Welock. "As well as veterinarian clinics, you can work in animal rescue shelters and elsewhere."

The program has been designed with the help of animal care professionals like veterinarian Pauline Chow, who says it covers all the bases.

"The VOAAC Program being offered by Douglas College is now the most comprehensive Veterinary Assistant Program available in the Lower Mainland," says Chow.

Information sessions for the program are set for January 17, February 15 and March 9, 2006. For more information, please contact Brenda Welock at 604-527-5446 (welockb@douglas.bc.ca) or check out (www.douglas.bc.ca/ce/cba).

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