The Douglas College Foundation is launching their fall campaign by hosting a public event for dog owners to interact with first- and second-year Veterinary Technology (VTEC) students, where they can get free advice on dental care, nutrition, trips to the vet and more.
The event kicks off the Douglas College Foundation’s Campaign for Veterinary Technology Student Awards, a six-month fundraising campaign aiming to raise $130,000 to support the next generation of Registered Veterinary Technologists (RVTs) and address the critical staffing issues in the field.
“We are currently facing a critical shortage of qualified personnel and a growing demand for services in the veterinary medical field,” says Dr. Jennifer Wakeling, a Veterinary Technology faculty member and program lead at Douglas College. “Clients are struggling to find a veterinarian, or to get appointments in a timely manner, which has a detrimental effect on our pets, as well as leading to burn-out for veterinary professionals.”
The bursaries created through a fully subscribed campaign will provide much needed financial support for second-year VTEC students. This second year of the VTEC program is the most intensive, hands-on portion of the program, making it challenging for students to support themselves financially.
“The VTEC diploma has a rigorous course load, leaving little to no time to work part-time to pay for tuition, housing, food or other expenses,” said Cheryl Bosley, Director of Philanthropy at the Douglas College Foundation. “This campaign is essential at this time to provide financial reprieve, allowing future RVTs to focus on their education – and the future health and well-being of those in the field.”
Douglas College is only one of two post-secondary institutions in British Columbia with a VTEC program –and one of 17 in Canada. Graduates of the VTEC program at Douglas College are eligible to write the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) and thus qualify for registration in Canada and most of the United States as an RVT.
The two-year Veterinary Technology diploma program provides both theoretical and practical training in medical and surgical nursing, anesthesia, radiography, dentistry and laboratory procedures. Students gain hands-on experience on small and large animals on campus and at off-site facilities.
The event runs October 28 from 1–3pm at the Douglas College Coquitlam Campus.
Douglas College is the largest degree-granting college in B.C., combining the academic foundations of a university and the employer-ready skills of a college to graduate resilient global citizens who adapt, innovate and lead in a changing world.
For more information, visit: douglascollege.ca.
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Contact
Carly Whetter
Communications Officer
whetterc@douglascollege.ca