MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A Manatee County dog service training organization hosted pre-veterinary students to teach them more about the job of a veterinarian. They say it’s a way to encourage more people to enter the industry.

What You Need To Know

  • Dogs Inc is a nonprofit organization that trains dogs to become service dogs

  • According to studies, there is a veterinary shortage

  • Dogs Inc provided an educational tour to show students what it is like to be a vet

  • Students such as Brinn Dameron say the tour was beneficial and helped her better understand the industry

Devon Smith is the senior director of medicine at Dogs Inc.

“Inevitably, we’re going to need more people for nonprofit work," she said. "We’re going to need more people for those other career options that might be less advertised in vet school, but they definitely exist, and they’re definitely in need. And it’s a really strong career path."

Dogs Inc welcomed pre-veterinary students on Tuesday from Florida Southern College. On their tour of the facility, they learned some new techniques, like how to put on sterile gloves.

Senior Brinn Dameron has wanted to be a veterinarian since she was five years old.

“I’m a dog owner myself, and I love my dogs. They’ve changed my world. So I would love to help with that for other people,” she said.

According to a study by the Association of Medical Colleges, 75% of veterinarians focus on health care for domestic pets — a specialty Dameron is interested in.

“I think this is really cool, to be honest,” she said.

That same study also reported a significant shortage of full-time veterinarians, with the industry needing up to 6,000 more doctors.

“I think that the shortage is really important to focus on, because animal medicine connects with humans so much more than we even understand. And I think that helping people understand the different pathways they can take into veterinary medicine would help decrease that need — not decrease the need, but decrease the shortage,” Smith said.

Dameron says learning more about the equipment used and seeing experts at work has helped her better understand the field.

“This has been even better than I expected,” she said.

Now, she’s preparing her applications for veterinary school.

“I think being able to do some good, building connections with people and animals, and helping people be more aware is really important,” she said.

Dameron is still in the learning process, but gaining hands-on knowledge from experts is guiding her toward success.