Local Program Lets Kids be “Veterinarian for a Day”

On Tuesday, June 14, 2016, 34 area children attended Jr Vet Day Camp at the Ellwood Animal Hospital in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. This session was dedicated to learning how to be a “Pet Detective.” Animal diagnostic methods and treatments were demonstrated.

For the last 12 years, Dr. Cynthia Maro and the staff of the Ellwood and Chippewa Animal Hospitals and Cranberry Holistic Pet Care have offered local kids a unique, behind the scenes experience at life in a veterinary clinic. Jr. Vet Day Camp has helped over 600 children from Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and Allegheny Counties see and do procedures, such as eye and ear examinations on our pet volunteers, suturing, parasite detection, disease diagnosis and physical therapy treatments. Children ages 6 – 15 years have the opportunity to attend one or two day camps each summer for hands-on learning and instruction by the veterinarians and support staff at the Ellwood Animal Hospital.

All attendees receive take home T-shirts, home activity sheets, a stethoscope and new knowledge about keeping pets healthy. Attendees get inspiration about future animal career fields through interacting with the veterinary staff, veterinary technicians and veterinary students.

A second session will be held on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 and there are still several openings for interested kids to fill. In that session, attendees will participate in a teddy bear repair clinic, view radiographs, learn about dental and emergency care, and much more!

The sessions are very popular and more info can be obtained on the hospitals’ Facebook page at Facebook.com/ellwoodvet.