What does a vet tech at an animal shelter do?
We do everything from assisting in surgery, examinations, medications and x-rays. Everything as in private practice but not working with owners and on a larger scale especially if things like ringworm or kennel cough spreads.
What did you study?
became a vet tech when I graduated from Animal Health Technical School at the Agricultural College in Tifton, GA in 1978. It is a 2 year associate degree with core classes and specializing in anatomy and physiology of animals as well as hematology, parasitology and medical terminology.
Why did you choose to work at a shelter and do you help more dogs or cats?
I worked as an Animal Control officer in the field in Valdosta many years ago and when the job at Cobb came up a year ago I felt well equipped to come here. As for dogs or cats that come through the clinic it is seasonal. In Spring we take in a lot of kittens. Pregnant cats come in. Baby kittens are dropped off in boxes with no mothers. When kennel cough spreads through the dogs we see a lot of dogs. It is pretty even.
What story do you love to tell?
There are a lot of positive stories that come out of the shelter. This cat, Cheese (pictured with Kathy and Rob) is a positive story that is waiting for a happy ending. When Cheese came in he hid under his bed all the time. He was terribly scared and he had a lesion on his side that I thought was probably cancer. After various treatments we started him on a steroid and suddenly it shrunk and disappeared. He is also not hiding anymore and sleeps on his bed not under it. Cheese has been here a very long time and really needs a home.
What is something about the shelter that people may not know and should know and also how can the community help you?
We have a full vet staff full time at the shelter that provides treatment immediately to all dogs that are brought in. The shelter can always use donations of blankets, towels and bedding. As far as helping the vet staff, volunteers are always needed to help with washing and walking the dogs.