TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough College has partnered with Hillsborough County’s Pet Resource Center, and while it’s not a monetary partnership, it does end up saving the county shelter some money.

What You Need To Know

Students enrolled in Hillsborough College’s Veterinary Technician Program assist at Hillsborough County’s Pet Resource Center weekly

Students earn their clinical hours assisting, and it frees up shelter employees to help more animals

Ginette Campos is the veterinary practice manager. She says during peak months, the shelter has upwards of 500 animals to care for

Students enrolled in the Veterinary Technician Program visit the Pet Resource Center weekly, assisting with exams and treatments for 8-10 animals each time, and with a packed shelter, it’s all hands on deck.

Anthony Spatola worked at the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center as a vet tech himself several years ago. Now he’s back, this time instructing his students from Hillsborough College.

“What these animals at the shelter need to get adopted if they’re already spayed or neutered is a physical exam, rabies vaccine, heartworm test, they get preventatives and vaccines, so whatever they need at that time, we’re going to perform,” he said.

Students take what they’ve learned in the classroom and put it into action here, helping shelter animals, which in turn, frees up staff to care for additional pets.

Ginette Campos is the veterinary practice manager. She says during peak months, the shelter has upwards of 500 animals to care for.

“It definitely alleviates a little bit of our work load at animal services, mainly our department because they’re helping us to perform some vaccines, some treatments for the animals that need it,” Campos said. “And if they were not being done by the students, we would have to do it at animal services, which is great. They’re helping us, we’re helping them.”

Students like Italianna Anderson say helping here is a dream come true, as she has always wanted to work with animals.

“It’s different when you’re looking at a textbook versus actually being hands-on and doing things. It’s been very interesting and very fun, and I’m excited to jump in and do everything,” she said.  

Hillsborough College just resumed this partnership. They had stopped bringing students to the shelter during the pandemic, but started the program back up within the last year. They plan on keeping it going, and even growing it next year.