Each year North Shore Animal League America saves the lives of more than 18,000 homeless companion animals. Dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens rescued from all over the world are rescued from lives of uncertainty, and transported to our Port Washington, N.Y. campus where they are provided with high quality veterinary care, nurturing support, and the chance to be adopted into responsible, loving homes.
Our Alex Lewyt Veterinary Medical Center is where most of the magic happens when it comes to transforming our homeless animals into highly adoptable Animal League America Mutt-i-grees. Inside these walls a large group of highly skilled medical professionals, including 18 veterinarians, 44 licensed veterinary technicians, 3 license-eligible techs, and 33 assistants, work tirelessly to provide our animals with the type of personalized, compassionate medical care that our organization has become synonymous with. Although the success of our medical center is predicated on everyone working together as a finely tuned machine – during this week we’d like to recognize one particular group – our veterinary technicians.
Christyne Anderson has been a Licensed Vet Tech for 16 years and currently works in our Alex Lewyt Veterinary Medical Center. Here she is with one of the many adorable Mutt-i-grees she cares for on a daily basis.
National Veterinary Technician Week, first celebrated in 1993, takes place this week every year, and provides an opportunity to recognize the vital role our veterinary technicians play in ensuring our Mutt-i-grees receive the best possible medical care. What does a licensed veterinary technician do, you ask? Animal League America Director of Medical Services, Daryl Sandoval said these men and women are an integral part of the inner workings of our American Animal Hospital Association accredited medical center.
“In addition to performing all technical tasks, the techs are often the first to identify symptoms or conditions that can improve prognosis in our patients,” Daryl said. “They possess a thorough understanding of veterinary anatomy and physiology that allows our medical team to make accurate and informed decisions in all situations. They are the Swiss Army knives of our operation.”
Dianne Tase is a vital member of the medical staff inside of our Port Washington, N.Y. Adoption Center. The Licensed Technician has been caring for dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens at Animal League America since July of 1999.
If you’ve ever brought your beloved pet to your local animal hospital, chances are you’ve met a veterinary technician. Considered the nurses of the veterinary world because of the individualized care they often provide to their patients, these dedicated men and women provide your dog, cat, puppy, or kitten’s doctor with support in all aspects of patient care. From performing physical exams, running labs and monitoring vitals during surgery, to assisting on dental procedures, caring for patients post operatively, and administering medications – veterinary technicians are invaluable and nobody knows that better than Animal League America Senior Vice President and Chief of Veterinary Staff, Dr. Mark Verdino.
“Our licensed veterinary technicians are a critical component of our patient care team and work tirelessly to provide the preventative care, medical treatments and compassion that every animal in our care deserves,” Dr. Verdino said. “They are truly the “right hands” of the doctors and we could not do what we do without them. We pay special attention to the work they do during Vet Tech Week, but their value to our patients’ lives does not go unappreciated every other week throughout the year.”