WOODBURY – For the past three years, Nonnewaug’s vet program has been fostering cats from a local cat rescue based out of Southbury called Whiskers Pet Rescue. Since then, they have helped care for and socialize multiple pregnant cats who have since all been adopted out through Whiskers, along with their kittens. The classes play a crucial role in the upbringing of the cats and learn a lot through the process.
“I think that having the cats in class supports student learning in a variety of ways,” says Jessie Hungerford, one of Nonnewaug’s vet science teachers. “Working with those animals changes their lives forever and we are simultaneously giving back to the community by making sure that the kittens get good forever homes.”
Most of the students in the class see themself pursuing a career like veterinary science or many other areas that involve animal care have been benefiting from this experience. The connection that Nonnewaug has with Whiskers is already opening doors for current students in the ag program, one of which being Ella Schiron, a senior in the vet science program.
“I have been volunteering at Whiskers pet rescue for 5 months as a caretaker for all the cats we get in,” says Schiron, who is considering majoring in the animal science field beyond her graduation this coming June. “I love getting to work with all the different cats we have and especially socializing the kittens.”
On September 19th, the program welcomed Butterscotch, a very young cat who was about half way through her pregnancy. The students have been with her every step of the way, helping her prepare for that day that everyone has been patiently waiting for.
On October 20th, during the school day, Hungerford and her vet classes aided in the birthing of three, healthy kittens. They have since been doing daily weigh-ins of all four cats to monitor their health and keeping a watchful eye on this new mom and her kittens.
