Monty Tech Veterinary Clinic opens for business – Sentinel & Enterprise

FITCHBURG Furry pups and felines are finally being admitted to the Monty Tech Veterinary Clinic after more than six years of planning, two years of construction, and over $2.5 million raised in donations, grants, and in-kind services.

The clinic opened on Monday, and the students of Monty Techs veterinary science program now have the opportunity to give medical care to pets from low-income families while training to enter the veterinary sciences down the road.

Sheila Harrity, superintendent-director of Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, said the facility has been a special project for the school.

The leadership team had a vision and the talented instructors and students across our trades turned that vision into a beautiful 7,500 square-foot, state-of-the-art reality, said Harrity.

Freshmen and sophomores studying to become plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and more helped build the clinic starting in 2016, and construction concluded this past spring.

The clinic is the result of a partnership between Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School and Veterinary Centers of America, which operates veterinary hospitals across the country.

There are 21 vocational technical programs at Monty Tech and the newest addition is Veterinary Science.

Students entering into the trade are trained in the facility and receive both classroom and lab instruction in several topics, ranging from fundamentals of animal science to animal anatomy and physiology.

When a student reaches his or her junior year in the program, they transition from the classroom to the clinic floor, where they will work with veterinarians and technicians.

Dr. Kayla Sample, the Veterinary Medical Director provided by the VCA, said she understands the value of community medicine and has enjoyed working with the next generation of veterinary professionals.

Working with high school and college students has been a pleasure, said Sample. While exams and procedures may take longer to complete in a teaching clinic, having the time and resources to train the veterinary workforce will benefit the profession in the long run.

The Veterinary Science students will be involved in all aspects of veterinary care provided at the clinic. From greeting customers, taking histories, and observing exams and procedures, the students will be learning in the clinic.

Providing families with accessible veterinary care options for preventative and primary care is imperative, and our clinic aims to reduce financial barriers that may prevent animals from receiving the care they need, said Sample.

According to Harrity, the school is excited to provide this resource to clients in the area who may benefit from the clinics services.

While providing a valuable service to our community and educating the veterinary caregivers of tomorrow, is certainly our goal, said Sample, developing passionate advocates for veterinary care and community medicine, is the ultimate win for our profession, and an effort I am so incredibly proud and humbled to lead.

To be eligible for services at the Monty Tech Veterinary Clinic, the owner of the pet must presenta valid EBT card and a matching ID, and live within one of the 18 cities and towns in the Monty Tech District.

The district includes the following cities and towns: Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Barre, Fitchburg, Gardner, Harvard, Holden, Hubbardston, Lunenburg, Petersham, Phillipston,Princeton, Royalston, Sterling, Templeton, Westminster, and Winchendon.

For questions regarding eligibility, or to schedule an appointment, call (978) 516-0888.

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Monty Tech Veterinary Clinic opens for business - Sentinel & Enterprise