SPCA Serves as Resource for Animal Science Class
The SPCA Serving Erie County is a five-minute drive from the Potter Career & Technical Center in West Seneca, making it a great resource for Erie 1 BOCES Animal Science instructor Jessica Sawyer.
Sawyer started as a teacher at Potter this school year, and she sees a lot of potential in a partnership between the school and the non-profit animal shelter/rescue. Currently, the SPCA helps enhance some lessons.
“The SPCA most commonly helps us in discussions on various aspects of the animal field,” Sawyer explained. “We covered animal rights versus animal welfare views, and they served as a helpful source on it. In fact, the students actually did a project around the SPCA to do research into their mission.”
Students also tour the SPCA for an interactive lesson on various topics. Selected topics include pet talk, animal rescue squad, wildlife overpopulation, responsible pet care and animal advocates. A guest speaker from the SPCA has also come in to speak with students on public relations and medical animal care.
The Animal Science program at Erie 1 BOCES allows students to explore careers in the veterinary and animal management fields. Over the course of two years, the program teaches basic and advanced skills in nutrition, health and disease, animal handling and restraint, grooming, pet first aid and medical terminology. The second year entails students interning at veterinary hospitals, animal training facilities, dairy farms, stables and grooming salons.
“It’s great being able to learn about all sorts of animals,” Frontier High School senior Shannon Smith said about the program. “If you love animals, it’s the place for you to be.”
Skyler Karalus, also a Frontier senior, said she enjoys the hands-on experience she gets working with dogs on grooming days.
“This place makes me want to go to school,” she noted. “It’s something to look forward to.”
Both students will be attending Medaille College’s Veterinary Technology program after graduating. Shannon hopes to go to Cornell University afterward to get her vet degree, while Skyler hopes to study exotic animals after attending Medaille.
Sawyer said there are possibilities in doing more with the SPCA, which is something she hopes to explore down the line. In the meantime, she is glad to have it so close to be able to call upon it for lessons.
“They do such great work in the community, and it’s a great fit for a class devoted to animals,” Sawyer concluded.