TCC and VBACAC Formalize Longstanding Partnership
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2025
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Bailey Deaver
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Tidewater Community College and VBACAC Formalize Longstanding Partnership
Virginia Beach Animal Care & Adoption Center Becomes Official Off-Site Classroom for TCC Vet Tech Program
Virginia Beach, VA. (May 21, 2025) — Tidewater Community College (TCC) and the Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center (VBACAC) have officially renewed their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), reinforcing a three-year standing collaboration that supports both veterinary education and community animal care.
TCC’s Veterinary Science Department began its initial partnership with VBACAC in the Fall of 2021. The renewed partnership was finalized at the beginning of the year by TCC’s Dr. Megan Taliaferro and Dean Dr. Maggie Charlton, to designate the Veterinary Suite at VBACAC as an official off-site learning facility for students to get laboratory hours for the Veterinary Technology Program.
The Veterinary Technology Program is a 2-year long program with classes starting in the summer, going year-round. By designating the city animal shelter as a clinical/lab training site, the partnership ensures students will have hands-on experiences in shelter medicine — an essential component of their education.
“We’re pleased that our students will continue to benefit from the meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities the shelter provides. It’s a great opportunity that will also help us grow our cohorts moving forward. The City of Virginia Beach recognizes how important this educational program is and how important it is to develop the next generation of veterinary professionals,” Dr. Taliaferro said.
Jessica Wilde, the Shelter Manager under the Animal Services Bureau in Virginia Beach, praised the renewed partnership, “We’re really passionate about our community, education, and supporting our neighboring partners. And so, when we had the opportunity to discuss bringing in people to learn from things that we’re already doing on a day-to-day basis, it was a huge component.”
Noah Meyers, the Clinical Skills Instructor in TCC’s Veterinary Science Department emphasized that veterinary technology students will complete a portion of the required laboratory hours on-site at VBACAC under instructors and a veterinarian. The students will be working with cats and dogs provided by the shelter.
The first-year students will work under the supervision of TCC faculty to build a strong clinical foundation, focusing on safe and effective animal handling, pain scoring, and basic nursing skills such as drawing blood and administering medications. In their second year, students take on more advanced responsibilities in anesthesia and surgical support. These include placing intravenous catheters, inducing and intubating patients, and closely monitoring animals throughout anesthetic procedures. This progressive, hands-on training ensures graduates are not only well-prepared for their licensure exams but also confident in navigating the complex and meaningful work of shelter medicine.
Additionally, new lab equipment has been added to the Veterinary Suite to provide more educational tools for students to practice their technical skills.
For more information about TCC’s Veterinary Technology Program, visit https://www.tcc.edu/programs/veterinary/.
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ABOUT TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Founded in 1968, Tidewater Community College (www.tcc.edu) helps students of all ages and backgrounds achieve their educational and career goals. TCC is the largest provider of higher education and workforce solutions in southeastern Virginia, serving both students and local employers with in-demand academic and career programs. It is one of 23 schools that make up Virginia’s Community Colleges.
ABOUT THE VIRGINIA BEACH ANIMAL CARE AND ADOPTION CENTER
The Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center (www.vbacac.com) is operated by the Virginia Beach Police Department’s Animal Services Bureau. As the city’s official animal shelter, VBACAC is dedicated to the care, protection, and placement of homeless and abandoned animals. The center provides shelter, medical attention, and adoption services for thousands of animals each year while promoting responsible pet ownership and enforcing animal welfare laws. VBACAC is committed to building a more humane community through education, outreach, and compassion.