By Courtney Oldwyn

Journal reporter

The newest crop of island veterinarians may be a little smaller than expected. They’re part of Island Rec’s youth program, “Little Vet School”, and they’re between the ages of five and seven years old.

“Lena loves it and wants to go everyday,” said Kimmie Wilson whose daughter Lena, 5, attends the Little Vet School.

“With Lena living around so many animals I think it’s beneficial. She came home talking about all the animal’s heart sizes last week!” said Wilson.

Stephanie Green’s daughter Allie, 6, is also getting a lot out of the program.

“Alli comes home everyday, puts on her surgical mask and does “surgery” on her stuffed animals,” said Green.

Taught by islander Annette McCullough who worked as a veterinary technician the class spent its first two weeks at the Friday Harbor Animal Shelter learning about animal care and getting to know the Shelters’ cats and dogs.

“We got to pet the cats and they were so cute!” said this reporter’s daughter Isla Oldwyn, 7.

The next two week’s classes were held at Islands Veterinary Clinic where McCullough and veterinarian Dr. Sonja Webster-Hill were able to show the kids close up what goes on in a vet office. McCullough, whose own dog Finnegan was the demo patient, and Webster-Hill led the class through the basics of a vet check up. The kids were able to use stethoscopes to listen to each other’s heartbeats and otoscopes for peering into each other’s ears. “Allie’s favorite part so far was visiting Dr. Sonja,” said Green.

The final class will be held at Wolf Hollow’s Animal Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

“Little Vet School” is part of Island Rec director Maddie Ovenell’s plan to diversify the types of programs they offer to local youth. “Alot of times with Island Rec kids are doing sports,” said Ovenell. “But the more programs we can bring to these kids the better. It’s all recreation. If athletics isn’t a child’s thing we need to find programs for them.”

“We’d been looking for a way to collaborate with different programs around the island and the shelter was looking to partner with kids,” said Ovenell.

When McCullough approached wanting to create a class about animal care the program was born. Community members with the expertise to lead classes such as this will help make it possible for Island Rec to expand what they offer.

“We need people with a variety of skills to act as instructors. These types of programs are needed.” said Ovenell.

“As well as the exposure to animals we may not see in our daily lives, Allie is very curious about what doctors do, ” says Green. “If you ask her, she wants to be a doctor.”

Thanks to Little Vet School Allie and the other children participating in this program may just get a jump on their dreams.

To sign up for the further sessions of Little Vet School go to www.islandrec.org or call 378-4953. Currently the second session is scheduled to run Wednesdays March 16–April 6 from 3:15–4:15 p.m. The cost is $45.

If you have an idea and/or would like to volunteer to teach a youth centered program for Island Rec you can submit your plans on their website under activity proposal.