TST BOCES Animal Science Program Unveils Innovative "BARK" Student-Run Canine Day Kennel
Ithaca, NY - For the past few months, students from the TST BOCES Animal Science program have been transforming their classroom into a cutting-edge educational facility called "BARK" - an acronym which stands for Canine Behavior VeterinAry Science Student EnteRprise Day Kennel. This unique program provides junior and senior Animal Science students with invaluable hands-on training in various aspects of animal care and management.
At BARK, students learn to master essential skills that align with current Animal Science industry standards. These include performing physical examinations, conducting diagnostic testing, utilizing veterinary software, practicing proper sanitation, biosecurity, canine management, customer service, and more.
The day kennel serves as an educational environment where students can apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world setting. The furry participants in this endeavor are a special group of dogs owned by TST BOCES staff members, allowing the students to gain practical experience while caring for familiar furry companions whose owners are on the TST campus.
"Our new direction with BARK was based on the current needs within the veterinary and canine industry," said Mattea LeFever, Animal Science Teacher. LeFever continued, "we met with industry experts and asked about the essential entry-level skills they look for, and they shared that communication with clients, proper restraint techniques, and following standard operating procedures when dealing with unpredictable dogs are crucial. From those conversations we created BARK, as it provides our students with practical, hands-on learning opportunities to develop and master these critical skills." She described some of the learning activities, "students have completed full physical examinations and temperament testing on each dog, and have been practicing their professionalism and communication skills by conducting phone calls to all the owners to collect important patient history and provide pertinent details about the dogs days with us."
In addition to their daily hands-on work at BARK, the Animal Science students recently sponsored a 'Paws & Protect' week in which all of the dogs were eligible to get preventative 4DX testing, screening the dogs for tick-borne diseases, heartworm disease, Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis. Out of the 20 dogs at BARK, over 25% tested positive for a tick-borne illness which allowed their owners to contact their veterinarians and make a plan for treatment.
The program's achievements extend beyond the classroom, as the class recently sent two teams of students to compete at the 99th NYS FFA Convention. Both teams placed in the top 20 out of 50 total teams, with the Senior Team, made up of teammates Maggie Shipe (Dryden), Jules Plue (Ithaca), Kayden Schmidt (Trumansburg), and Andy Difiglia (Candor) placed 4th overall. Meanwhile the Animal Science program had three individuals place in the top 20 out of 200 participants.
As is tradition at CTE, every senior from all 14 programs gets to prepare for their future careers by participating in mock interviews. For Animal Science Seniors, this took place on Monday, June 3, 2024. Industry professionals from Cornell University Hospital for Animals, A Paw Above Dog Grooming, Clippity Do Dog, CARE (Cornell Center for Animal Resources and Education), CALS(Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences), and the Department of Environmental Conservation showed up to interview the students. After the interview session concluded, the Animal Science program invited all of the business partners up to their classroom for the Grand Opening of BARK. The students proudly showcased their facility and spoke about their experiences gained at BARK with the roles, routines, and procedures set in place to make the enterprise run smoothly.
"Whether our students aspire to pursue a career in animal science or explore other paths, the experiences gained here will serve them well in whatever field they choose and if nothing else, they will all be able to apply the knowledge gained from this program to be well educated pet owners,” added Sarah Cuddeback, Animal Science Teacher Assistant.
While BARK represents a significant milestone for the Animal Science program at TST, it is merely the beginning of a journey that will continue to inspire and shape the next generation of animal science professionals.