Hampshire High teacher outlines plan for school-based spay‑neuter clinic and veterinary training program

Mr. Lewis, the animal veterinary science teacher at Hampshire High School, told the Hampshire County Board of Education that the school’s veterinary facility will serve both as a training site for students and as a spay/neuter clinic for the community. "The goals of the facility are in terms of opening up a spay neuter clinic at our school," he said, describing plans to give students real, hands-on experience with routine veterinary tasks.

The presentation explained why the program matters: Lewis said modern veterinary practices handle higher daily caseloads, reducing on‑the‑job training opportunities for students and recent graduates. The school’s facility, he said, can provide experience with basic diagnostics and procedures — from running ELISA tests to assembling surgery packs — and create a pipeline into vet‑tech programs and residency placements.

Lewis described procurement and…