DERRY — It's a classroom like no other, where the fur flies and snuggly snouts wait to be patted.
Upon entering the lower-level classroom at Pinkerton Academy last week, visitors soon realized this is no ordinary high school class.
It was all part of the animal business/management curriculum. It's the official Pinkerton "Pet Palace" where dogs come on a regular basis for baths, trimming and grooming.
Under the guidance of Career/Technical Education teacher Katrina Hartlen-Mooers, students learn basic grooming, pet health, management skills, behavior, math, consumer information, customer relations, and get a lot of hands-on experience.
Gracie, a sturdy little Schipperke, stood secured and ready for some brushing.
Another dog, Lady, waited patiently on the other side of the room and watched.
Pinkerton English teacher Ann Bienvenue owns both dogs. She dropped them off earlier in the day.
Hartlen-Mooers, in her 12th year at Pinkerton, said the class teaches the students not just how to care for the animals, but also about the business of working as groomers or veterinary technicians.
"They also learn to work with each other," she said.
Some dogs, like Gracie and Lady, belong to faculty members Others come in from the public to take advantage of the students' talents.
For minimal charges, pets are cleaned, groomed and sent home looking like a million bucks.
Between 10 and 15 dogs usually stop by the Palace in a week's time.
Students agreed the experience is valuable for entering into a world of animal care following high school.
"Some dogs come in weekly," senior Ashley Clement said.
Ashley is no stranger to caring for pets. The Derry student has her own rabbit and guinea pig breeding business.
Learning about how to run the Pet Palace will serve her well as she continues her own ventures, she said.
All money earned from the dog business goes back into the animal program to purchase food and other supplies.
It's not just a dog's world at Pinkerton.
Upstairs from the grooming area, students were snuggling and caring for a bevy of smaller animals, from ferrets and snakes to hamsters and guinea pigs.
"For some kids ,this is the only place they can see animals," Hartlen-Mooers said. "They don't have them at home."
Josie Blydeck, a sophomore, was giving a fluffy rabbit, Inara, some pats on her nose. "I really want to work with animals," she said. "I think the class teaches the basic business skills to work with animals."
Hartlen-Mooers said Pinkerton planned new space for the Career/Technical classes, including her animal classes.
That means bigger opportunities for her to teach about caring for all types of animals, something her students look forward to.
"For most, it's their most favorite class of the day," she said.
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