TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. - Students in the Veterinary Science Academy at Tarpon Springs High School are a rare breed.

Tarpon Springs is the first high school in Florida and the second in the country to use a synthetic canine made by SynDaver, a Tampa-based company known for its unique synthetic human and animal models used for medical education,  training and surgical simulation.

"When I heard we were actually getting this dog, I jumped up and down with joy. I didn't stop bothering my teacher for awhile. I kept asking her, "When are we getting it? When is it coming?", said Farrah Schutte, a senior at Tarpon Springs High School.

Students named the dog "Sponger" in honor of their school mascot.

It's made out of water, fibers and salts, like a real living organism.

"The tissue feels, acts, cuts and bleeds like real tissue," said Dr. David Danielson with Syndaver.

Students get practice doing common veterinary procedures and surgical techniques.

The synthetic dog is made out of water, fibers and salts, like a real living organism. (Laurie Davison/Spectrum Bay News 9)

"I couldn't wait to actually get inside and feel the organs and cut them open and work with them,"said Kloee Edgmon, a senior at Tarpon Springs High School.  "And it lets us practice without worrying that we're going to hurt something because they're synthetic, they're fake."

"I feel like it definitely has made them aware of certain procedures and how little intricacies. can hurt a dog or different ays to work past that fear, as well," said teacher Jessica French.

Teachers said it also helps bring their lessons alive.

"We can pop out of a lesson if students aren't understanding and we'll just go right to the dog and say "See what I'm talking about, the liver right here" and we can just look right at it," said Krissy Tallarino.

Danielson said the Syndaver dogs cost about $30,000 but they last for years and the parts are replaceable.

It also eliminates the use of chemically preserved animals.