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Published: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 / Updated: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 05:13 PM

CAREER CLASS: It's a small, furry world after all

Animal care course is popular with Fort Mill students

FORT MILL Vanessa -- 

Robinson strokes a gray rabbit.

Nearby, Samantha St. Clair cleans the rabbit's cage. Then she snuggles with a ferret, fresh up from a nap.

A cage over, a guinea pig toys with the idea of waking up.

The Fort Mill teens aren't tending to their pets or visiting a local farm. They are students in the small animal care class at Fort Mill High School.

“We get to interact with animals, play with them and learn how to keep up with them,” Chanel Johnson, a 15-year-old 10th grader, said.

Johnson is among 27 students enrolled in a small animal care class at Fort Mill High School. The class, part of the agricultural lineup that debuted three years ago, fosters an early love for pet care, agricultural teacher Kristen Reinhardt said.

“Many of my students are eager to become veterinarians,” Reinhardt, who grew up around a family farm that boasted cattle, goats and horses, wrote in an e-mail. “Vet school is very competitive to get into and requires at least eight years of school, sometimes more if a vet decides to specialize.”

In addition to the small animal care class, agricultural classes include pre-veterinary science and agri-science, according to Chari Young, Fort Mill High‘s assistant principal for curriculum and career tech.

“The animal science class gives our students opportunities to explore careers in animal science,” Young said. “Whether they will become a veterinarian, a vet technician or if they have animals at home, the class gives them a glimpse into their next step.”

And the classes are popular with the students, Reinhardt said.

During the 2007-2008 school year, 49 students enrolled in the classes. That number dropped to 45 the following year. This year, the number nearly doubled with 79 students, Reinhardt said.

That's good news for Reinhardt, who recently attended the Columbia-based Carolina Groomfest. The event showcased a trade show, grooming competitions, grooming seminars and face-to-face conversations with grooming professionals. During this school year, Reinhardt is placing greater emphasis on grooming in her small animal care class.

“I am trying to give my students options in the animal industry, and grooming is an opportunity that many of them may not consider,” Reinhardt, who with her husband owns two horses, a donkey and two dogs, wrote in the e-mail. “It is an industry where you can own your own business. It can be stationary or mobile. You can continue your education and improve your skills by attending grooming seminars and classes.”

After high school graduation, Johnson plans to pursue a career as an animal surgeon or veterinarian.

“This class gives me all the fundamentals I need and a little taste of what animal courses in college will be like,” she said. “It's a really fun class. If you are into an animal career, this is a really good class to take.”

Classmate Melody Nesbit isn't sure if she wants to be a vet or a marine biologist or a nurse for children.

“I love animals,” said Nesbit, 16, who has a white chinchilla named Chichi. “I like to be around them. I wouldn't mind working with them.”

So, with the small animal care class, she's laying the foundation to determine which career is the right fit.

“This class helps me understand more about animals in detail and if I really want to work with animals,” she said.

For Taylor Phillips, the class offered animal orientation, she said.

“I didn't know much about animals until I took this class,” Phillips, 16, said. “It's interesting to learn about them and get hands on experience.”

Learning how to care for animals reaches beyond the tradition classroom, where last week Reinhardt offered a lecture on huskies. Lectures are coupled with hands on work in a nearby lab.

“There's actually animals in there,” Nesbit said of the animal lab that's home to several small animals, including a rabbit, guinea pigs and a ferret. “I actually get to learn how to take care of them and how to react if they attempt to bite me.”

Sierra Hoisington, 15, also is partial to the animal lab, where she learns about animal dietary needs.

“This class teaches me about the different animals and their nutritional needs,” she said. “I want to be a wildlife biologist, and I'll need to learn a lot of this stuff.”

That includes learning how to clean out a rabbit's cage, though she's somewhat partial to guinea pigs.

“I like the lab, going in there and feeding and playing with the animals,” she said. “I like the guinea pigs because I have one at home. They're really cute.”

Harold Walker, 16, wants to fly jets in combat zones.

But maybe he'll pursue a career as a biologist.

“I hope to learn about how different types of animals live and how to care for them,” he said. “This class can teach me the basis about animals to get me ready for my biology class.”