Become a Veterinary Technician

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The last quality I'd like to cite is certainly not the least important one: a strong stomach. You'll never make it through surgery assist or certain emergency situations without one

LANDING THE JOB, AND DO YOU REALLY WANT IT?

Veterinary technicians are hired from a variety of backgrounds. Some animal clinics do prefer licensed graduates of an accredited technical school (or folks who at least have a background in animal husbandry or biology). But don't be discouraged if you don't have such training or experience, because many vets-like the ones I work forare much more interested in your skill with animals and ability to garner on-the-job knowledge than they are in credentials. (Some technicians start out as kennel workers or even volunteers, and then move up when a job opens up and they've proven themselves ready for more responsibility.)

But pause just a moment before you get your sights set on landing a tech job. I'd be misleading you if I failed to mention a few of the drawbacks inherent in this type of work. For one thing, weekend and evening work is often required because of emergencies. For another, the janitorial and kennel chores you might be asked to help with can get pretty messy and unpleasant. And then there's the most difficult aspect of this job ...having to assist in euthanatizing a beloved pet and then trying to comfort its bereft master.

As far as I'm concerned, the advantages of being a professional animal health technician far outweigh the disadvantages. The pay is pretty good: It starts at about $3.75 an hour in my area and can go to more than $6.00 depending on how skilled you become and where you live. You'll probably receive free vet care for your animals along with discounts on vaccines and medications. And your pets and livestock will also benefit from your increased knowledge of veterinary medicine.

On a more personal note, taking on the may not tally with some people's version of daily responsibility of caring for sick and in-the true homesteading ethic ...but as I see jured beasts in a hospital environment can be it, becoming a part-time veterinary technician highly rewarding work. Ah, I know that tak-is a mighty good compromise. It can help you ing a fob (that is, working for someone else) sustain your country lifestyle!

Job Sharing

When I first took my job at the vet clinic, I was required to work a forty-hour week, assisting another full-time technician. As the weeks passed; though, I found it increasingly difficult to keep up with my farm chores at home. After all, I was tackling two full-time jobs: one at the hospital and one on my homestead. And what with the garden, livestock, and house remodeling to tend to before and after clinic work, I had absolutely no free time left over for leisure activities. Daily walks, reading, and lust plain goofing off were luxuries I simply couldn't afford.

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