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Veterinary technology students raise money to pay for lifesaving treatment

Baker College of Port Huron veterinary technology club students held a bake sale to raise more than $275 for a young dog in need of heartworm treatment to survive.

The dog, a 4-year-old male black Labrador retriever named Apollo, was going to be euthanized because the local animal control center could not afford the expensive treatment for an animal with this disease.

“We were relentless in our efforts to give this dog a chance, and luckily, a Labrador Retriever Rescue guardian took him in so he can receive this potentially lifesaving treatment,” said Stephanie Johns, LVT, Baker College of Port Huron Veterinary Technology Program Director.

Apollo has been on medicine for the past two months that inhibits the growth and reproduction of the immature worms in his system. He is scheduled to be treated for adult heartworms in early January. Once treated, Apollo will require about three months of restricted exercise to allow the adult worms to die and be absorbed by the body.

“The guardian was very touched by the efforts of our students that gave this young dog another chance at life and prevented him from becoming just another shelter statistic,” said Johns. “This is yet another example of the ways our students and the program are making a difference in the lives of abandoned and homeless animals. I could not be any prouder of our students than I am right now.”

Emphasizing both clinical and ethical ideals, the mission of Baker College’s Veterinary Technology Program is to prepare students to enter the veterinary health care team and enhance the competent care of animals by providing a skill set that includes clinical proficiency, critical thinking and strong communication.

For more information about enrolling in the Veterinary Technology Program, please contact Daniel Kenny at the Baker College of Port Huron admissions office at 888.262.2442 or 810.985.7000. In addition to Port Huron, the program is available at the following Baker College campus locations: Cadillac, Clinton Township, Flint, Jackson and Muskegon. The program is accredited through the American Veterinary Medical Association, Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (AVMA, CVTEA).