The school’s Veterinary program offers students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience through its doggy daycare program. For a small fee, students and staff can bring their dogs to school, where they are cared for by veterinary students who handle everything from feeding and exercise to training and socialization.
Sophomore Paige Nixon, a student in the program, finds the experience invaluable.
“I enjoy spending time with the dogs and kind of getting to train them better,” Nixon (10) said. “We’re in charge of feeding, training, and making sure they get enough exercise and playtime.”
The daycare operates on a structured schedule, ensuring each dog receives proper care and attention. Nixon (10) explained that the experience provides students with real-world veterinary skills, including administering vaccinations and learning about pet care procedures.
“We get a lot of hands-on experience with things like vaccination,” she said. “One of my favorite moments was when a puppy fell asleep in my lap while I was doing classwork.”
However, running a doggy daycare comes with its challenges. Some dogs may not get along, requiring careful management and scheduling.
“Not all the dogs get along very well, so usually we have to do rotations,” Nixon (10) explained.
For those new to the daycare, Nixon (10) describes it as a service where students and staff can drop off their dogs for the day. The program charges $10 per day for regular students and staff, while veterinary program students receive a discounted rate of $5 per day. The daycare has been operating since Ms. Newcome started teaching at Freedom.
Although Nixon has not yet brought her own dog to the daycare, she hopes to in the future.
“It must get filled up quite quickly,” Nixon (10) added.
Senior Solana Kyser, another student in the program, enjoys seeing the dogs’ progress over time.
“I enjoy teaching the dogs new tricks and watching them grow from when they first come in to when they’ve been here for a while,” Kyser (12) said.
Students take on a variety of responsibilities, including training, hydration, and even bathing the dogs if they get dirty. Kyser (12) emphasized the importance of the experience, particularly in upper-level vet classes.
“In the higher-level vet classes, we learn about vaccines, urinalysis, and even get to perform medical procedures,” Kyser (12) said.
While Kyser has worked with many dogs, one in particular stands out.
“I like Vanilla,” she said. “And Fred—he’s a very sweet boy. When he first came, he didn’t really like it, but now he’s very sociable. He’s even lost a couple of pounds.”
Managing the daycare as high school students can be challenging, especially since it operates five days a week and can host up to 15 dogs a day.
“Sometimes, we have to pick up the slack for others,” Kyser (12) said. “But it’s still a great experience.”
Kyser has also brought her own dog, a Pomeranian named Tokira, to the daycare.
“When you bring your dog to daycare, there are a lot of dogs for them to socialize with and people who love dogs,” Kyser (12) said.
Beyond working with the animals, the veterinary program offers students valuable educational benefits.
“My favorite thing about the program is probably the opportunities it gives you,” Kyser (12) said. “If you complete three classes, you qualify for a scholarship that covers 75% of a technical college.”
As for whether she would recommend the daycare service to pet owners, Kyser (12) had no doubts.
“I would definitely recommend it,” Kyser (12) said. “We help socialize the dogs, train them, and even groom them. It’s a great environment for them.”
The doggy daycare program continues to provide students with practical experience while offering a convenient service to the school community, making it a valuable part of Freedom High School’s veterinary program.
