Pecos is identified as a “veterinarian desert,” a term used to describe areas with an insufficient number of veterinarians to meet the needs of pets, livestock, and show animals. In response, Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School District has partnered with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to implement the Veterinary Science Certificate Program, aimed at training local high school students to help bridge this gap.
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The program, which is coordinated by Joe Tyus, the district's technical education coordinator, focuses on practical veterinary skills rather than general interest. Students learn essential techniques such as suturing and working with hypodermics, preparing them for future careers in veterinary medicine.
Nikki Boutwell of AgriLife Extension has played a pivotal role in implementing the program. Working closely with Tyus, who has also been a teacher in the program, she noted the challenges of providing clinical experiences in a veterinary desert but commended Tyus for successfully building a community-supported initiative.
Pecos High School recently constructed a dedicated career technical education facility for the veterinary science program, featuring a surgical room, kennel space, and other specialized areas. Tyus, a Texas A&M University alumnus, sourced the curriculum to match the new facility’s capabilities, finding it rigorous yet manageable.
Veterinary science is one of 15 career pathways available at the school, with a selective admissions process that limits enrollment. Students interested in the program must submit an application and a parent essay. To qualify for certification, they need to complete over 200 classroom hours and 300 clinical hours—often surpassing the practical experience of many second-year veterinary students.
Currently in its second cohort, the program has students who aspire to apply to veterinary school or become licensed veterinary technicians. Tyus highlighted the importance of clinical exposure, which can identify students who are prepared for the demands of veterinary medicine.
In addition to benefiting students, the Veterinary Science Certificate Program also serves the community, addressing the shortage of veterinary services. The program collaborates with local organizations to host an annual spay-and-neuter clinic, which this year involved four veterinarians and quickly filled half of its available appointment slots, indicating a high demand for these services.
The students also gain experience treating show animals at the school's agricultural barn and observing local veterinarians performing various procedures. Boutwell remarked on the program as a successful partnership that not only facilitates youth learning but also contributes significantly to community welfare.