A week to celebrate some humans close to our hearts: October 16 – 22 is Vet Tech Week.
Vet techs, also known as veterinary technologists and animal nurses, are our favorite people. Besides being a big part of your pet’s healthcare team, they are sometimes the first people we encounter when seeking treatment for a sick or injured pet, and they understand us in those panicky moments. As BarkPost says, “Veterinary technicians must do the jobs of the nurse, assistant, orderly, radiology tech, phlebotomist, and janitor, all for about half the pay.” They’re animal lovers too, and many know just what it takes to make our furbabies comfortable when we can’t be there.
As the glue that holds together the day-to-day functions at a vet office, vet techs are critical in overall animal health and welfare. Since 1993, National Veterinary Technician Week honors these hard-working, compassionate individuals. And if you need more reasons to say thanks, VetStreet’s 5 Good Reasons is pretty spot on.
So what are some good ways to thank a vet technician?
If you’re a vet, make sure you recognize the week verbally and visually! Let clients and patients know it’s Vet Tech Week, and decorate accordingly. Then get to celebrating! A pot luck lunch or company outing would be a great way to say thanks, chosen by your techs, of course. Handwritten notes and little tokens of appreciation go a long way too. If you’re a client, any small gesture of thanks will go a long way—a card or some cupcakes can make anyone’s day.
We’re so into Vet Techs, we want to help you pay for school.
We are committed to pet health, care and advocacy through both our business and the Healthy Paws Foundation; so it just made sense to offer academic scholarships for aspiring veterinarians, vet technicians and animal activists. We have an Animal Advocate Scholarship (one scholarship award of $1,000, paid out January 2017; deadline October 31, 2016) where students who have shown commitment to animal health and welfare; as well as a Veterinary Student Scholarship (one scholarship award of $1,000, paid out January 2017; deadline October 31, 2016) for a student who intends to pursue an education in veterinary medicine, including veterinary assistants and technicians.
Thanks for all you do, Vet Techs! We wouldn’t have healthy and happy pets without you.
