Everyone can agree that a dog is a man’s best friend, and now a program at Akins lets pet owners treat them like one.

The Akins Veterinary Pet clinic program has created a grooming center for animals.

Anyone in the Austin community can drop off their pets (cats, dogs, sheep, goats, birds, reptiles) to get a check up or a clean up. This is an expansion for Akins pet clinic as they have started to branch out from just grooming farm animals to now include the small pets.

The students are trained in class and are overseen by teachers and a licensed veterinarian.

The clinic has been open to the public for the last two years here on Akins campus, but has been around for the last eight.

Doctor Crossland, being the vet on duty coming by on certain A-days Fridays

The schedule for appointments are for every A day or Friday after school within the animal clinic. The pricing is a discounted compared to other places.

Junior Kermeasha Maxwell said it is a convenient way to groom student pets.

“It’s enjoyable to see all the dogs wagging their tails after being groomed,” Maxwell said “This helps out our experience with animals as some of us are planning to be vets, and gives us the chance to do something different other than taking care of lambs and chickens.”

The grooming treatment that is offered includes: trimming the nails, a haircut, and a bath. With holidays around the cornergsome students consider it a good way to treat their pets and make them look spiffy for the relatives.

“We’re really organized because we have a meeting weekly and we discussed what we don’t like, what we can improve on and what’s doing good in the members and in the barn.”  senior Emily Hernandez said.

Chemistry teacher Jessica Henry, who recently brought her 3 pound Yorkie Chihuahua mix dog to get groomed, said she was pleased with the service.

“She came out awesome! They did a really great job.” Henry said. “She honestly looked better than when I usually take her to PetSmart, or Petco. And it was for a really good deal, I’m ready to take her back again.”