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CLOSE TO HOME The Roy Rogers Show, a popular television series in the 1950s, centered around the daily lives of Roy Rogers, a ranch owner, and his community in the fictional western town of Mineral Springs. Rogers’ favorite horse on his ranch was a palomino Tennessee Walking Horse named Trigger. The third horse to “play” Trigger on the show was Trigger Jr., who was born in Souderton, PA, and raised and trained on John S. Ewell’s farm on Butter Road in Manheim Township. Rogers bought Trigger Jr. in 1954. The rest is television history! (lancasteronline.com)

IT’S IN THE NAME The word “hamster” derives from the German word “hamstern,” which means “hoard.” (petco.com)

PDid you know? That floof on the inner hair of your cat’s ear? They’re called ear furnishings. Some cat breeds have thick furnishings while others have a thin covering. (litter-robot.com/blog)

Aquarium Awesomeness Our furry friends aren’t the only ones who contribute to lowering blood pressure and reducing stress: pet fish contribute to our well-being too! According to a study by Plymouth University and the University of Exeter in the UK, viewing fish in their surroundings lifts humans’ moods and reduces anxiety, whether the aquarium or tank is at home or in a public space like a doctor’s or dentist’s office. And remember, aquariums don’t have to be huge or fancy to be beneficial. Watching fish weave around a sunken sparkly treasure chest is amusing, but even colorful marbles or stones reflecting the tones of the fish or day can promote a sunnier outlook. (fishkeepingworld.com)

Bearded dragon

Thinking of adding a reptile to your household? Bearded dragons (Pogona) are less active than most lizards, are easy to handle, and love to soak up the warmth from a heat lamp or ceramic heater. Their “beards” are spikes along the chin that can indicate mood. Generally relaxed around people, bearded dragons can communicate by puffing their spikes, waving their arms and posing their bodies. Nicknamed “Beardies,” these reptiles feed on plants and insects, including leafy plants, squash, string beans, and insects such as crickets, waxworms and beetles.

blogs.thatpetplace.com/ thatreptileblog/#.Xv502UBFw6Q

LKC is a not-for-profit all-breed dog club consisting of owners, breeders, and exhibitors of all breeds of pure-bred dogs. LKC has also provided canine education and scholarships for the Lancaster County community for 75 years.

lancasterkennelclub.org

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Courtesy of Denver Dumb Friends League

Pet Health HEROES Celebrating veterinary technicians and assistants in Lancaster County

by SAMANTHA ST.CLAIR /// PHOTOS by SAMANTHA ST.CLAIR

VET TECHS CAN SPECIALIZE IN CERTAIN AREAS OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, SUCH AS DENTISTRY OR SURGERY.

VETERINARY TECHNICIANS AND ASSISTANTS work hard every day to ensure pets are happy and healthy. Whether your pet needs routine shots or is battling an illness or injury, technicians and assistants work alongside veterinarians through every step of patient care, helping pets and their families along the way. They are the animal world’s nurses who rarely receive recognition for their role in saving and preserving furry, feathered, and scaled lives.

Technicians and assistants perform various tasks, including pet intakes, drawing blood, restraining animals, performing pre-operative and postoperative care, assisting during surgeries and dental care, and speaking to pet parents to gather data or update them on the status of their pet. Since Covid-19 precautions have taken place and curbside visits are standard in today’s world, you can also count on these professionals to spoil your pet while you wait in the car. Veterinary technicians, who receive more extensive training through schooling, may also administer and monitor anesthesia during surgery and perform other specialized care.

Becoming a veterinary technician or assistant means dedicating one’s life to the often stressful work that goes into veterinary medicine. Veterinary professionals, while they certainly do have their moments of fun, do not spend all day playing with animals. The reality is their days are filled with physical and psychological demands. From lifting and restraining animals who may be aggressive or temperamental, to dealing with tragic realities such as pets receiving terminal diagnoses and providing comfort to grieving pet parents, these special people continue their jobs because they love and care for animals deeply.

It takes a lot more than an interest in animals to become a veterinary technician or assistant. To advance in their careers, they must continuously learn and grow through daily experiences and continued research. Although a selfless job, they go through every challenge to see pet parents take their pets home at the end of the day. Every tail wag, every purr, and every fluffing of feathers makes the difficult moments worthwhile.

Due to Covid-19 and our new normal, it is especially important to remind your pet's health care providers how much you appreciate them. A small thanks could be just what they need to get through a stressful day.

Lancaster County Veterinary Technicians and Assistants Meet some of the fantastic professionals in Lancaster County!

JAMI CVT at New Holland Veterinary Hospital

“I love that every day is different. You help different patients and see new pets, new puppies, and new kittens every day!”

Jami’s veterinary technician career began when she saw her dog's veterinary office needed kennel help in 2000. Following a few years of kennel work, Jami graduated from Harcum College as a veterinary technician. For the last 15 years, she has pursued this career and loves it when she can be involved in the process that allows an animal who is deathly ill to return home. Jami’s family obtained a Basenji when she was eight years old and began showing and raising dogs. Today, Jami still attends shows with her mom and has five dogs, three cats, three chickens, and a turtle.

BRETT Veterinary Technician at Happy Tails Animal Hospital

"Many people don’t understand the amount of work that goes into what we do. A simple dental cleaning can be a 2-3 hour procedure.”

While studying to be a dental hygienist at Harrisburg Area Community College, Brett was working at an animal rescue and realized she was meant to work with pets. She changed her studies to focus on veterinary technology at Penn Foster College. Brett now has 11 years of experience as a vet tech and finds the day-to-day routine appointments fulfilling. She appreciates that each client and patient is different, and loves educating people and interacting with their pets. Brett has two dogs, a redbone coonhound named Ellie Mae and a German shorthaired pointer named Yaeger. When Brett isn’t at work, she spends her time with her two kids, enjoying family outings and sports.

CHASITY CVT at Willow Run Veterinary Clinic

“I enjoy surgery because I am able to use the skills I have learned to provide an outcome where a pet feels better.”

Chasity graduated from Harcum College in 2000 and has loved her job as a veterinary technician ever since. Spaying and neutering pets to promote a healthier community is something she is passionate about. While the job is physically and mentally taxing, she finds giving animals a voice and helping them feel better to be worth the difficult times. While Chasity loves all animals, she connects with dogs most and loves all the different breeds she gets to see every day. She has a 13 year old pug named Penny who she rescued. In her free time, Chasity is happiest outdoors hiking, kayaking, or taking Penny for a stroll.

JESSIE CVT at Neffsville Veterinary Clinic

“The highlight of my day is spending one on one time with my patients while they are in the hospital and seeing them leave healthier and happier than when they came in.”

Jessie attended YTI to gain her veterinary technician degree and now has six years of experience as a certified veterinary technician. There is nothing more gratifying to her than coaxing a cat that isn't eating to take a bite of his food, or comforting a scared dog that wags her tail by the time the appointment is complete. The hardest part, she says, is that not every case has a happy ending. Jessie adores pocket pets and is passionate about educating new exotic pet owners about their pets’ care and husbandry needs. She has a ferret and two Flemish giant rabbits, who she snuggles with while reading books, as well as two dogs and a cat. She also has fun hiking with her fiance.

KRISTA Veterinary Technician at Red Rose Pet Care Center

“Compliance is one of the hardest parts of the job. People need to trust their veterinary team instead of what they find online.”

Krista has been in the veterinary field for over 25 years. The satisfaction of completing a day's work and being a voice for the voiceless make her career rewarding. From seeing clients to diagnosing ailments and prescribing treatments, she believes finding a resolution and sending patients home better is what makes being a vet tech worthwhile. Krista is a crazy cat lady who does well working with aggressive animals since she can see and understand their fears. She shares her home with two sphinx cats, including one who is missing an eye that spends time at the clinic with her. Krista spends her free time hiking and exploring nature.

DONNA Veterinary Assistant at Always Helpful Veterinary Services

“I do not have any pets of my own at the moment, but I see every pet that I treat as mine. They come in here, and they recognize the technicians they have seen before, so I get my fix every day.”

Donna obtained a bachelor’s degree in equine studies in 1983 and immediately began working at a farm. On her first day working, a veterinarian was visiting to do pregnancy checks on the mares and offered Donna a job. Since then, Donna has worked with many large animals, including alpacas, camels, and even a zebra. She has been with Always Helpful Veterinary Services for 25 years and has found the small animal side of the practice to be fun, too. Traveling with the vet and learning something new every day are the highlights of her work. Donna sees herself as a yard sale and thrift store junky and enjoys driving around town looking for deals. She also has barn sitting clients with horses she visits when she can.

MEGHAN Head Veterinary Assistant at Lincoln Highway Vet Clinic

“The love that I have is for not just the pets, but the people! You meet so many different people from so many different backgrounds with a variety of pets.”

Meghan attended formal schooling at Willow Street CTC to become a veterinary assistant. She has 12 years of experience and embraces all of the challenges and rewards that come with her job. Working at Lincoln Highway Veterinary Clinic, Meghan has the opportunity to work with dogs, cats, and exotic pets. She is a go-getter that jumps right into every case, even if the patient happens to be a large ball python! Meghan is thrilled when she can help figure out why an animal is ill and says one of the best parts of the job is receiving a call or thank you cards from clients telling her their animal has recovered and is doing well. At home, she has a pit bull, Great Dane, two thoroughbreds, a quarter horse, and a cat. Her very active family loves to hike with their dogs and go horseback riding.