National Veterinary Technician Week
National Veterinary Technician Week is October 11 to 17, and we are recognizing our incredible veterinary technicians. To help celebrate, we created the below mini spotlights.
But first things first… what is a veterinary technician? Veterinary technicians or vet techs assist veterinarians in diagnosing and treating animals in private clinics, animal hospitals, and research facilities. They take blood, urine, and fecal samples, administer vaccines and other medications, help prepare animals for surgery, and more! Vet techs require specific training and must be licensed. Here at CAC, we have seven vet techs, and they are all equally amazing in their own ways.
Now, without further ado... meet your CAC vet techs. Thanks for all you do. We’d be lost without you!
Leslie Carroll
Hometown: Fairfax, VA
Tenure at CAC: 6 years
CAC location: North and South
“What I love most about my job is working with such an excellent team. Technically speaking my favorite job tasks are drawing blood and helping the scared kitties.”
When did you realize you wanted to go into veterinary care?
In college I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian but after working in a clinic I decided an LVT was a better career path for me.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Helping to care for the patients as they make their recovery.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Chasing after my 2 active boys.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Murder mystery TV.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Thanksgiving dinner.
Alyssa Cary
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Tenure at CAC: 6 months
CAC location: South
“What I love most about my job is the teamwork and collaboration to provide excellent care and education for clients.”
When did you realize you wanted to go into veterinary care?
I have always known I wanted to be involved with animals somehow... I studied wildlife science in undergrad and then got a job as an assistant at another hospital in northern VA to figure out if vet school was right for me. It wasn’t. But tech school was where I knew I was meant to be next!
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Seeing successful treatment, especially with behavior cases.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Running and spending time with my family.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Dark chocolate and reality TV.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Black bean, zucchini and sweet potato enchiladas.
Allie Lundquist
Hometown: Arlington, VA
Tenure at CAC: About 1.5 years
CAC location: South
“What I love most about my job is being part of a force for good in the world.”
When did you realize you wanted to go into veterinary care?
Later in life, when I was 22 and had just graduated college. I couldn't envision myself in a Publishing House, but I could envision myself helping animals. My first job in a clinic made me want to pursue technician school.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Helping a pet wake up comfortable and feeling safe after a procedure.
What do you love most about Arlington and the community?
I recently moved to Rosslyn, and I love how accessible and bike-friendly it is here!
What is your favorite part about working at CAC?
Aside from the fact that it's fear-free, I love the positivity I'm surrounded by.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Just about any Reese's product.
Ashley Terrell
Hometown: Lewisburg, PA
Tenure at CAC: About 1.5 years
CAC location: North
“What I love most about my job is being able to actively participate in facilitating the best care and treatment for dogs and cats; and the people who love them.”
What is the most difficult part of your job?
The emotional toll associated with some cases.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Being involved in the relationship between the animals and their caregivers.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Going to concerts, spending time with family and friends, going on walks, reading, working out, and watching “The Office” reruns.
What is your favorite part about working at CAC?
The culture and coworkers.
What are three things you cannot live without?
Hanson, cats, and pizza!!!
Samantha Anderson
Hometown: Alexandria, VA
Tenure at CAC: Since they opened
CAC location: North
“What I love most about my job is providing personalized care to our patients as if they were my own and CAC makes that very easy to do.”
When did you realize you wanted to go into veterinary care?
I realized I wanted to go into veterinary medicine after meeting Dr. Gloor. She makes everything more interesting and fun to learn.
What is one thing clients and patients may not know or realize is part of your job?
The thing clients may not realize is that being an LVT is like having multiple careers molded into one. We are anesthetists, dental hygienists, phlebotomists, bed sides nurses... all wrapped into one.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Hiking.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Mashed potatoes.
What is one thing you will never do again?
Water Tubing.
Catina Boster
Hometown: Burke, VA
Tenure at CAC: 4 years
CAC location: North
“What I love most about my job are my coworkers!”
When did you realize you wanted to go into veterinary care?
Middle school; I’ve always been interested in working with animals.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Advocating for animals, for their health and being their voice.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Being active with friends! I love hiking, exercising (OTF!), and walking my dog.
What is your favorite part about working at CAC?
Dance parties and jamming to music in treatment!
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Anything cheese!
Alex Leslie
Hometown: Fairfax, VA
Tenure at CAC: 5 years - she started as an intern and then Dr. Gloor told her she wasn’t allowed to leave!
CAC location: North
“What I love most about my job is being able to make a positive difference in animals’ lives.”
When did you realize you wanted to go into veterinary care?
I realized I wanted to go into veterinary medicine after a few years of fostering special needs dogs who required specialized medical care.
What is one thing clients and patients may not know or realize is part of your job?
Most clients may not realize that in addition to being an LVT, I also run all of our social media (including our clinic animals instagrams).
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Spending time with my husband and daughter, training my dogs, and riding horses.
What is your favorite part about working at CAC?
My coworkers; they’re my second family.
What are three things you cannot live without?
I can’t live without coffee, bath bombs, and punk music.