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.