Animal Surgical center brings Youth Day to Oceanside

Young people in Oceanside will have a chance to take a close look at the veterinary profession on Sept. 21, when Dr. Tomas Infernuso, the founder and medical director of the Animal Surgical Center, on Atlantic Avenue, will lead its first-ever Youth Day event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The center is hosting the initiative so children ages 8 to 12 can learn about the world of veterinary medicine, responsible pet ownership and animal rescue.

The idea grew out of a spay-and-neuter event, when a vet technician’s daughter took part by drawing pictures of the animals. “She had her daughter in with her that day, and it was so cute,” Karla Hojas, the center’s director of marketing, said of the technician, Nicole Volpe, adding of her daughter, Catalina, “She was walking around, drawing pictures for all the animals that were going through surgeries, and when they would wake up, they would have a picture there for them. I saw that going on and thought it’d be so great if we could have a day for kids to come in and learn about the hospital.”

Dr. Tomas Infernuso, founder and CEO of the center, has long wanted to involve the community, particularly children interested in the veterinary field. Partnering with Hurley’s Heart Bulldog Rescue, a Westbury nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and “rehoming” of bulldogs in need, the event will feature adoptable animals. The children will tour the hospital and learn about jobs in veterinary medicine. More than 20 children are already signed up.

“We do a lot for the community, but we don’t advertise it,” Infernuso said. “There’s so much that can be done, and our goal is just to try to inspire other people to team up and make a bigger impact.”

Infernuso, who graduated from the Cornell University veterinary school in 2004, has been in practice for 22 years, and is known for his skill as a surgeon as well as his passion for helping animals around the world. He is dedicated to animal rescue, and his work ranges from his Long Island office to rescue missions far and wide. He is on the board of directors of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, one of the nation’s largest animal-rescue organizations, and has taken part in efforts in the Caribbean, in Puerto Rico and even in Ukraine, where his team helped save 500 animals affected by the war with Russia. He also opened a pig rescue facility in Alabama, and travels regularly to help save animals in dire conditions across the country.

The message he will share on Youth Day is that a veterinarian’s work and animal rescue aren’t just careers — they are pathways to making a real difference in the world.

“I want these kids to understand that this world of veterinary medicine is not just about science,” Infernuso said. “It’s about compassion, empathy, and really connecting with animals that don’t have a voice. It’s beautiful.”

As a keynote speaker at medical conferences and as someone deeply involved in rescue work, he hopes to be a guiding voice for young people.

“People ask me all the time what drives me,” Infernuso said. “It’s the contribution. It’s showing people that it’s OK to give back. Rescue work doesn’t pay well, but it’s not about that. It’s about doing the right thing for those animals and giving them the care they deserve.”

By introducing children to the compassion-driven side of his profession, he hopes to plant a seed that will grow into a lifelong dedication to helping animals and their human families. The increasing corporatization of veterinary medicine, Infernuso said, has led to a loss of empathy in some areas of the field. His message to youth is that the work should always be about compassion, about making a real impact on the lives of animals and the people who love them.

“At the end of the day, after 16 hours of work, I go home and I feel good about it,” he said. “Knowing that I helped ease the suffering of an animal, that I made a difference in the life of a family, that’s why I do what I do.”

With Youth Day, Infernuso hopes to inspire young people to take action — whether by volunteering at a local animal shelter, fostering a rescue animal, or simply being more aware of the issue of animals in need. “I want to show these kids that there are so many opportunities to give back,” he said. “You don’t have to be rich or powerful to make a difference. Just showing up and caring is enough.”

This may be the first exposure to veterinary medicine for many of the young participants. “If we can ignite purpose in just one child, we’ve succeeded,” Infernuso said. “That one child can grow up to make a huge difference, not only for animals but for people as well. That’s what it’s all about.”