Northern Colorado teens interested in veterinary medicine have a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience through a special job shadowing program at West Ridge Animal Hospital in Greeley, designed to address the statewide shortage of veterinary professionals.

Vet Set Go, with support from Loveland-based Antech Diagnostics, is accepting applications from aspiring veterinarians between the ages of 16 and 18 until July 11. Selected students will shadow the clinic team on Wednesday, July 30, getting valuable exposure to the veterinary profession.

According to an Antech news release, the average student accepted into veterinary school has accumulated more than 1,500 hours of veterinary volunteer experience. This shadowing opportunity offers teens a valuable head start in building those crucial hours while providing insight into daily veterinary practice.

During the shadowing experience, participants will:

Experience a day in the life of a veterinarian

Gain insight into veterinary diagnostics

Learn how to perform physical examinations on pets

Hear from Tammi Lesser, interim president of Antech Diagnostics, about her career journey from “kennel maid to veterinary technician to business leader”

How to Apply

Interested teens must submit an application explaining why they want to be a veterinarian, why they love animals, and what they have done to gain science and animal experience. The essay should be 300 words or less.

For veterinary students and professionals, this initiative represents an important effort to nurture the next generation of veterinary talent amid growing concerns about shortages in the field. Early exposure to clinical settings can help solidify career paths and provide realistic expectations about the profession.

Applications can be submitted at bit.ly/4k1rTUk.

Source: https://www.greeleytribune.com/2025/06/23/teens-invited-to-apply-for-job-shadowing-at-west-ridge-animal-hospital/