Beloved former patient, Maddie, after whom the “Maddie Mile” is named in her honor.
from gcisdnews.com
It seems like all kids want to be Veterinarians at some point, simply because they love animals. Some of those kids follow through to become full-fledged Vets and care for our fluffy family members. Currently, the competition to get into the field is particularly fierce. One Colleyville business is helping GCISD students push through those barriers to realize their dreams of becoming Veterinarians: truBOND Veterinary Center.
Two years ago, GCISD student Daniel Aponte approached the owner of truBOND, Dr. Chris Dietrich, requesting that the practice host Daniel for the GCISD Veterinary Science Practicum which would allow him to get a certified veterinary assistant credential upon graduation. The business had just opened and it was in the middle of Covid, so Dr. Dietrich was hesitant.
Daniel then let him know he needed to identify a host hospital by the end of the week or he couldn’t participate in the program. He also needed a hospital he could walk to because he did not have a car. He and his mom had moved from Puerto Rico and he was in no position to purchase a vehicle at the time. Located at Heritage and Glade Road, the truBond clinic was in an ideal spot for Colleyville Heritage High School students. At that point, Dr. Dietrich couldn’t say no. In fact, he told Daniel that if there were any others who needed a hospital, they’d be happy to help. Soon after, truBond was hosting 5 students in the clinic to learn about veterinary medicine!
truBond’s 1st Annual Open House featured “Teddy Bear Surgery” for aspiring veterinarians!
Fast forward to the summer of 2022, and truBOND hired its first student, CHHS graduate Daniel Aponte, as a part-time kennel assistant. He recently came on full-time. They also hired another student this summer, Ellie LaCroix, and hired a former CHHS graduate who was in her second year of undergraduate pre-veterinary studies at TAMU, Jordan Wallace (Jori). Jori worked full-time at the clinic during her summer break and has come back every summer, winter, and spring break since that time to work at truBond. Last year the clinic hosted another 4 students, and this year there are 3 more. All of these GCISD students will have a huge advantage in the job market!
Getting into veterinary school is incredibly competitive, since there are only around 32 veterinary schools in the United States. In Texas, there was only one option for many years – Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine – until 2 years ago when Texas Tech opened their College of Veterinary Medicine. With only 2 programs in Texas, many qualified candidates are declined each year due to limited space in each class, even though there is an incredible shortage of veterinarians and veterinary technicians nation-wide.
The Veterinary Assistant program offered through GCISD is just one mark of excellence in preparing students for the future career they desire. And thanks to the local business partnership with the truBond Veterinary Center, GCISD’s students will gain the experience and knowledge to help them get accepted to veterinary school and become excellent veterinarians!
Community invite to truBond’s annual Open House.
Open House for Fur Babies and their Owners!
On Sunday, October 29th, from 1pm to 4pm truBOND Veterinary Center will have its Second Annual Open House and they want to celebrate with the community they love! Join them for food and treats, yard games, trick or treating for the kiddos, and much more. Furry friends will need harnesses/leashes. Costumes would be great too! The doctors will be performing “teddy bear surgeries” with all the future veterinarians who stop by (bring your own stuffed animal). They will also offer hospital tours and their team will be sharing some great information with pet owners. Come join in on the fun!
truBond Gives Back Even More
On February 11, 2024, truBOND will be hosting the second annual Maddie Mile! This is a community dog walking event that will take place in Parr Park in Grapevine. Participants will receive a Maddie Mile t-shirt, and all dogs will receive a Maddie Mile bandana. Maddie was loved by our entire truBOND family, and her story has inspired us to give back to help great pets like her. Hear all about Maddie’s story and sign up for this walk at the open house on October 29th!
Do You Need a Loving & Professional Local Vet?
Locally-owned and independently run, truBOND Veterinary Center and Practice is located at Glade Road and Heritage Avenue in Colleyville. Their mission is offering the gold standard in veterinary care and grooming services to the community. truBond supports the local police and fire departments as well as many local youth programs, including Grapevine Colleyville ISD’s Career pathways opportunities.
Tasty treats for Furry Friends and their owners at the Open House.
If your pet needs tender loving care, you won’t find better service than at truBond! Call 817-713-4790 to book an appointment or email them at [email protected]. For pictures of the most adorable animals you’ve ever seen and helpful knowledge about how to take care of them, check out truBond’s Instagram page here.