THE VETERINARY TECHNICIAN
Animal care assistants may work under a variety of names- animal health technician, Para-veterinarian, or veterinary technician. Their responsibilities and duties generally coincide, varying only in the degree of responsibility assigned by the veterinarian. And while titles may differ, there is one constant: this field is "hot!" One reason is that the new multipurpose animal hospitals with their sophisticated, high-tech equipment have a greater need for veterinary assistants.
The Para-veterinarian or animal technologist with a Bachelor of Science (four-year) Degree in Veterinary Technology may do more and earn more than veterinary assistants graduating from a two-year animal technician program with an Associate in Applied Science or equivalent degree. And just as with veterinary medicine, a strong foundation in the sciences is important before attending a veterinary technical school. Some schools accept a high school diploma; others require some college courses.
The position of animal health technician can be a happy compromise for you if for one reason or another you cannot become a veterinarian. Or, veterinary considerations aside, it is simply a rewarding job in a number of ways. Just think about the many areas in which these assistants may be involved: animal anesthesiology, assistance in surgery, surgical nursing, clinical conferencing, or animal hospital management. Short of diagnosing, prescribing treatment, and performing surgery, these animal care assistants can offer the animal patient the same comprehensive care as the veterinarian.
Veterinary technicians have been hailed as indispensable team members in today's ultramodern intensive care units. Part nurse, part technician, they monitor an ill animal while offering it care and affection.
Veterinary technicians may also work in public health organizations, research institutions, and with manufacturers of pharmaceutical products.
Student veterinary technicians graduating from any of the certified institutions in the country have studied microbiology, radiology, animal husbandry, veterinary parasitology, and other courses designed to give them a working knowledge of the veterinary field. While the curriculum sounds somewhat remote from the goal of animal and pet care, there is generally plenty of opportunity during the two-year study period to work with animals.
Of all the animal careers described in this book, animal laboratory technicians are the least involved with animals. Their work generally revolves around the prevention and treatment of animal diseases. Thus, test tubes and serums rather than animal care are their stock in trade.
But there is one role an animal lab technician or technologist may play that involves both experimentation and the animal world. The supervisor of a hospital or pharmaceutical animal laboratory constantly monitors a menagerie of mice, rats, dogs, rabbits, and guinea pigs. Because these animals are there for research purposes, their environments must be carefully controlled and maintained to high standards, and their behavior must be constantly observed.
William Squires, supervisor of the Animal Laboratory of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is responsible for the health of his laboratory animals. Each grouping of animals in the laboratory is separated from the others-rabbits from mice, for instance-so that each animal species is kept at its proper temperature and given its correct diet. Handling is also carefully controlled. Mr. Squires holds the animals gently but firmly so that the creatures sense that he is not frightened of them. (An animal sensing fear may try to bite the technician.)
A two-year Associate Degree in Applied Science has generally been acceptable for this field, but more and more aspiring technicians and technologists have been taking on four years of college. Science courses predominate in either a two or four-year Master's Degree curriculum.
Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, stands out as the only college or university (at the present time) to offer a Master of Laboratory Animal Science program.
The program is designed for those who already have a Bachelor's Degree in a scientific field. The two-year Master's program combines scientific expertise with business managerial skills. Graduates of the program become managers of colonies (a specific grouping of animals such as mice, rabbits, or primates) or animal laboratory facilities (many varieties of animals.) They ensure that humane care is provided while scientific investigation is performed.
The animal hospital clerk or receptionist is a familiar figure to the pet owner. This is the person who gathers up the trembling cat or dog and calls it soothingly by name. Because people view their pets as family members, they look for V.I.P. treatment from the minute they carry in their leashed, caged, or boxed animals. That treatment begins at the front desk. The friendliness and competence of the animal hospital clerk are often the deciding factors in a pet owner's choice of a veterinary hospital or office.
Animal hospital clerks do far more than greet owner and pet. They have a multifaceted job that may include record-keeping, billing, phone duty, making appointments, taking inventory, and expanding on the veterinarian's directions for treatment after the office visit-even to following-up by phone to see how the pet is doing.
An animal hospital clerk need not take courses beyond high school to qualify for this position. However, office skills and some knowledge of animals are helpful.
Starting salaries are generally of minimum wage. They do not rise steeply and even with years of experience, one cannot be expected to earn a great deal of money. Many animal hospital clerks, however, add veterinary technology to their list of qualifications, and while remaining clerks, also work with animal patients. This results in higher pay down the road.
Given the basic skills just outlined, a job as animal hospital clerk is an excellent beginning for the student desiring work while gaining further education in animal care or technology.
