In one Bloomington High School classroom, absolutely.
Bloomington High School students Ruby Guerra-Flores, right, and Noah Ceja trim the nails of a German shepherd named Moose as part of their Wednesday, May 21, 2025, veterinary assistant class. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Jasmin Germane, from the Devore animal shelter, holds a shelter dog named Moose as he dries in the sun Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Bloomington High School. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
A drawing decorates the veterinary assistant program classroom at Bloomington High School on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Bloomington High School students are seen Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in their veterinary assistant program classroom, which has built-in kennels. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Bloomington High School students clean up Wednesday, May 21, 2025, as they dry a shelter dog during their veterinary assistant class. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Bloomington High School students Shaniya Stephens and Asheley Vasquez watch Wednesday, May 21, 2025, as Antonio, a staff member’s dog, pulls a towel from Analia Lara as she tries to dry him during their veterinary assistant class. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Bloomington High School’s Ruby Guerra-Flores holds newly adopted kittens from the school’s veterinary assistant program Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Bloomington High School students Vivian Ramirez, right, and Ruby Guerra-Flores wash a German shepherd named Moose during their Wednesday, May 21, 2025, veterinary assistant class. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Bloomington High School student Ruby Guerra-Flores trims the nails of a German shepherd named Moose during their Wednesday, May 21, 2025, veterinary assistant class. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Bloomington High School’s Ruby Guerra-Flores enjoys her newly adopted kitten during the Wednesday, May 21, 2025, veterinary assistant class. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Frankie, the classroom puppy at Bloomington High School’s veterinary class, waits for students to arrive Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Bloomington High School students Noah Ceja and Manuel Araujo wash a German shepherd named Moose during their Wednesday, May 21, 2025, veterinary assistant class. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Bloomington High School students Vivian Ramirez, Ruby Guerra-Flores and Noah Ceja wash a German shepherd named Moose as part of their veterinary assistant class on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
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Bloomington High School students Ruby Guerra-Flores, right, and Noah Ceja trim the nails of a German shepherd named Moose as part of their Wednesday, May 21, 2025, veterinary assistant class. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
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Welcome to the Veterinary Assistant Program.
Overseen by the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools office, the course aims to teach students about veterinary technician careers.
San Bernardino County Animal Care, which partners on the program with the Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa Regional Occupational Program, brings the pets to campus to give students hands-on experience.
That happened Wednesday, May 21, when pets from a county shelter arrived so students could do tasks such as bathing and grooming.
Students work from a specially equipped room that mimics a veterinary office, a San Bernardino County news release states. In addition to exams, deworming, vaccinations and nail trimming, students get experience scheduling appointments, according to the release.
The program serves dual purposes: caring for shelter pets and preparing youths aspiring to enter the veterinary field.
