TRYING ON CAREER OPTIONS\Simi 6th-graders tour vet's quarters.

Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer

Nuzzled between hot water bottles with a catheter in his paw, Winston watched sleepy-eyed from his cage Friday while eight career shoppers took a tour of the Rancho Sequoia Veterinary Hospital.

The bulldog puppy was oblivious to the Simi Elementary School sixth-graders, who stared in awe as they toured the X-ray room, surgery quarters and animal pharmacy. Winston's eyes barely opened as the youngsters peaked through bars of his cage, some sad to learn the dog was being treated for pneumonia.

The students were equally sympathetic to other sick pets - Wee Wee the cat was recovering from an abscess operation, Buffy the dog was getting over knee surgery.

"We try to make sure the animals are as comfortable as possible," said Lauren Reinsel, a registered veterinary technician who has worked at the hospital for nine years. "It's good for students to come here and see what this is all about."

Veterinarian Michael Gerardo began giving regular tours of the hospital three years ago, after years of visiting his own children's schools to talk to students about veterinary medicine.

A member of the Simi Sunrise Rotary Club, Gerardo thought other members should become involved with some sort of career day at a local school.

"I thought it would be a good way to give these students a career to think about that they may not have thought of at this point in their lives," Gerardo said.

Once a month during the school's second semester, Simi Elementary's sixth-graders visit local businesses, where Rotary Club members teach them tricks of their trades.

This month, 34 students took their pick of different businesspeople to study - police officer, auto body worker and dentist.

"The whole purpose is to get them to start thinking toward the future," said Barbara Patten, Simi Elementary principal. "They learn what kinds of jobs and businesses are needed in a community of this size. This raises their consciousness to the level of what's coming next."

In addition to touring the veterinary hospital, the students learned about different jobs in the same field, like animal training and veterinary technician work. They were given a brief lecture on how pets can be treated for ear mites, fleas, lice and allergy problems. They learned that animals can contract the same diseases as humans, like cancer, and diabetes.

Debbie Redmond, a parent volunteer who took the tour with her daughter, Lindsay, said the visit also helped comfort children who bring their pets to the veterinarian.

"When kids have a pet that's sick, they worry about them," Redmond said. "This way, they see what it's like and see what the doctors do. They are reassured that their animal is in safe hands. They know that this animal that's been a part of their life is taken care of."

At the end of the tour, Gerardo opened the group for discussion. Students asked about how long they would have to go to school to become a veterinarian. Others wondered how many animals are admitted each day, and what's the worst disease Gerardo has treated.

Twelve-year-old Lindsay Redmond, who hopes to be a veterinarian some day, asked Gerardo if he has ever had any animals die while he was operating on them.

"Unfortunately, yes," Gerardo explained. But that didn't sway the youngster from wanting to continue pursuing her career goal.

"I've liked animals since I was a little kid," Lindsay said. "I want to take care of them."

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Photo (color) Michael Gerardo gives pupils from Simi Elementary School a look at his veterinary facility in conjunction with a Rotary Club career program. Dusty Locke/Special to the Daily News