Unsung Heroes: Veterinary Technicians | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Unsung Heroes: Veterinary Technicians

Have you hugged a vet tech today?

68
Unsung Heroes: Veterinary Technicians
Elizabeth Griffon

The world is full of unsung heroes, many of which rarely get the appreciation or the recognition they deserve. There’s a specific hero I’d like to call attention to today, one who is very near and dear to my heart. The job they do is unglamorous and unorthodox. Their days are full of bodily excretions and patients who are unable to communicate, ones that tend to be hostile, scared, confused, and a bit violent at times. The work is exhausting both mentally and physically. These heroes, my dear reader, are your veterinary technicians.

So many Americans own some form of a pet, and we as pet owners always make sure to appreciate our veterinarians. After all, they’re the ones who perform the surgeries and cure our animals from what ails them, and they are wonderful, valuable people. But who does the grunt work, so to speak? Who does the restraining and cleaning and bandaging? Who nurtures our sweet sick ones, nursing them back to health one hand-fed kibble at a time? That would be the undervalued and underloved veterinary technician.

I’ve worked at Cooper Veterinary Hospital (hence the cover photo) since 2008, both part time and full time. I’ve been a receptionist, kennel girl, and a technician throughout my time there. And I can honestly say that the group of people that staff that clinic are among the most compassionate, intelligent, and strong people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. The demands of the job are astronomical at times, with long hours and so many ungrateful patients (because how do you explain a life-saving surgery to a dog or an IV catheter and fluids to a horse?). However, through large and small animal treatments, these amazing people continue to return to the job day after day. They work emergencies and all-night observations without complaint. They are bitten, scratched, stepped on, and covered in all kinds of bodily fluids on a regular basis. They are at the beck and call of their veterinarians, working for hours and days side by side in stressful and sometimes hazardous situations. Still, so many of them will tell you they wouldn’t do anything else.

Why is that? What makes this seemingly unpleasant job so rewarding? The answer: love (cheesy as that is). These amazing people truly love the animals that they treat and truly love their profession. They have a heart that lives to serve those who can’t help themselves or voice their ailments. They have a calling, a mission, and it’s to save the lives of the ones we hold dear. They are willing to suffer the long hours and strenuous demands, not to mention the heartbreak that comes with the field, simply to see one animal have a better life. They are dedicated to their veterinarians, as well, and that partnership and teamwork are what make the clinic function. The veterinarians, with their many patients and demands, depend on solid, hardworking, and compassionate technicians. And they are not disappointed by the technicians who love their job that continuously fill that position.

So let’s honor the unsung heroes, as we wind down Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week. Let’s give them the recognition and appreciation they deserve and so rarely see. Go give them a pat on the back, a handshake, a hug. Make them feel special, because they definitely are.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Gilmore Girls
Hypable

In honor of Mother’s Day, I have been thinking of all the things my mom does for my family and me. Although I couldn’t write nearly all of them, here are a few things that moms do for us.

They find that shirt that’s right in front of you, but just you can’t seem to find.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons To Thank Your Best Friend

Take the time to thank that one friend in your life you will never let go of.

1399
Thank You on wooden blocks

1. Thank you for being the one I can always count on to be honest.

A true friend will tell you if the shirt is ugly, or at least ask to borrow it and "accidentally" burn it.

2. Thank you for accepting me for who I am.

A best friend will love you regardless of the stale french fries you left on the floor of your car, or when you had lice in 8th grade and no one wanted to talk to you.

Keep Reading...Show less
sick student
StableDiffusion

Everybody gets sick once in a while, but getting sick while in college is the absolute worst. You're away from home and your mom who can take care of you and all you really want to do is just be in your own bed. You feel like you will have never-ending classwork to catch up on if you miss class, so you end up going sick and then it just takes longer to get better. Being sick in college is really tough and definitely not a fun experience. Here are the 15 stages that everyone ends up going through when they are sick at college.

Keep Reading...Show less
kid
Janko Ferlic
Do as I say, not as I do.

Your eyes widen in horror as you stare at your phone. Beads of sweat begin to saturate your palm as your fingers tremble in fear. The illuminated screen reads, "Missed Call: Mom."

Growing up with strict parents, you learn that a few things go unsaid. Manners are everything. Never talk back. Do as you're told without question. Most importantly, you develop a system and catch on to these quirks that strict parents have so that you can play their game and do what you want.

Keep Reading...Show less
friends
tv.com

"Friends" maybe didn’t have everything right or realistic all the time, but they did have enough episodes to create countless reaction GIFs and enough awesomeness to create, well, the legacy they did. Something else that is timeless, a little rough, but memorable? Living away from the comforts of home. Whether you have an apartment, a dorm, your first house, or some sort of residence that is not the house you grew up in, I’m sure you can relate to most of these!

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments