Q. Alfred State Vet Tech Program

        Alfred State College offers a Veterinary Technology program. There are a lot of hands-on technical, animal, and laboratory experiences to help prepare the students for a licensed veterinary technician. There is a lot a vet tech must know how to do. The Alfred State Website says, “The veterinary technician is capable of providing nursing care, life support, laboratory specimen analysis, physical therapy, surgical assistance, anesthesia, dental hygiene, radiographic imaging, and nutritional management for their animal patients. The veterinary technician is also adept at client education and grief management counseling.” This is a very long list of a variety of things that are all very important in working with animals. The vet tech program is based out of the agricultural building at Alfred State. They have mice, rats, snakes, lizards, tortoises, turtles, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, as well as cat and dog kennels. They also have large animal laboratories at Alfred State farm to learn to care for a variety of farm animals including horses, pigs, sheep, goats, alpacas, and dairy cattle. Students spend about 24-36 hours a week in the classroom and in laboratories. There is a combination of hands on learning and lecture based courses. Alfred State has an Anatomy laboratory and an Animal and anatomy/necropsy wet lab. Alfred State costs about $19,000 per year that is without scholarships and with dorming. The veterinary technology degree does not mean you will have a job working in a veterinary office or at a small animal hospital. There are career options in all of the following:

·         Veterinary Hospitals (Small Animal, Large Animal, Mixed Animal and Exotic Animal)

·         Biomedical Research Institutions

·         Zoological Parks

·         Educational Institutions

·         Specialized Dairy Calf or Cow Management

Overall Alfred State offers a very good Vet tech program that prepares you for a job and to pass the VTNE test with a lot of hands on experience.

Q. Vet Tech Job Overview

            Veterinary technology is a two year program. There is a 30% growth in job opportunity for them between 2012 and 2022 which is much faster than average. Vet techs work under the supervision of a veterinarian to help to diagnose the illnesses and injuries of animals. Vet techs must pass the Veterinary Technology National Exam (VTNE). The VTNE is the New York State licensing exam for veterinary technicians. The median annual wage for vet techs is a little over $30,000. Vet techs have a lot to do on the job. They have to provide nursing care to animals, they must administer anesthesia to animals and monitor their response. Vet techs have to collect samples of blood, urine, or tissue for testing. They also must perform lab tests on the samples they collect. They have to take and develop x-rays. Veterinary technicians have to prepare animals and instruments for surgeries. Vet techs conduct a lot of clinical and laboratory procedures such as postoperative care, dental care, and specialized nursing care.

They give medications, vaccinations, and treatments that are prescribed by a veterinarian. Another thing vet techs must do it collect and record histories of animals. Many vet techs work in private clinics, animal hospitals, and veterinary testing laboratories. They mainly work with cats and dogs but they may also work with animals such as mice, rats, sheep, pigs, cattle, and birds. Veterinary technicians may specialize in dental technology, anesthesia, emergency and critical care, and zoological medicine. The job of a vet tech can be physically and emotionally demanding. They have to work with abused animals, and also euthanize animals. They have a higher rate of injury than the average job because they have to work with aggressive animals and it is easy for injury to occur when they are holding, cleaning, or restraining and animal. Some clinics are open 24/7 so they have variable schedules and some may have to work 7 days a week.

P. Future Career

                No matter what wealth is always considered very important. Throughout history money seems to have ruled everything. Not much has changed. There probably aren’t very many people who wouldn’t want to be rich.

When I started thinking about career paths I always looked at salaries before everything. After a while I realized, all the stuff I’m considering seems interesting, but not like something I would want to wake up and do every day. When I really got to thinking I knew that I have always had a love for animals. So what better is there than working with animals? I looked into veterinary technology. The first thing I noticed was the extremely low pay. This really was frustrating for me but the more and more I thought the more I knew it’s what I want to do. I don’t think there is anything that would make me happier than to work with animals. Yes having a lot of money would be nice, but it isn’t the most important thing in life. I want to live a happy life more than anything. I don’t need to live in a big house in a rich neighborhood. I think that realizing money isn’t the most important thing in life is really important. Sure money makes some things easier, but as my good friend Biggie Smalls say, “more money more problems.” I am very excited to attend Alfred State and get a job as a veterinary technician so that every day I can wake up and do something that will make me happy.

P. My Dream

                Sixth grade was the first year I ever played basketball. I started in the Alden recreation league and I fell in love with the sport right away. I remember in 6^th grade writing an essay about my future and including how it was my dream to play basketball in college. My dream has not changed since then; however, I kind of gave up on it a little bit. When I decided I wanted to attend Alfred State for Veterinary Technology I told myself Alden Varsity Basketball would be my last run playing the game. However, I was looking at Alfred State’s website and came across the woman’s basketball team page. As soon as I saw this I knew I wanted to be on that team. I don’t know how the team is and don’t know anything about it really. What I do know though is I will be working really hard in the next year to try out and hopefully make the team. Seeing the team really gave me a positive outlook because I really do love basketball and I thought I would never play in a game again after high school. I do want to coach once I’m out of college, as much as I think I will like that it won’t be the same as actually playing. With hard work I really hope that I can play basketball in college. It really is my dream and I really am hoping I am capable of getting on the team. And when people don’t have faith in me it makes me want to work that much harder to prove myself.

“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”

Gail Devers

O. Blog 1

                So America is a “free country” and in many ways it is. But when it comes down to it, it seems like you are told what to be. Society tells us exactly what the right thing to be is. We are supposed to graduate high school and attend a four year school, and to be really successful continue on with further education. Don’t get me wrong, I do think college is important. But why does it seem like our choices in life are just told to us. Graduate college, get married, have kids, and work until you retire. Shouldn’t there be more to life? Making a living is important, but if you think about it, that’s all we do. There really isn’t anything you can do about it though. Middle class people have to work full time to be able to survive. It’s just funny when you think about it. We live in a place where when we grow up our parents tell us we can be whatever we want to be, which does have truth to it. People need to make success and opportunity to themselves. However, it feels like we are told how we should live out our lives. Maybe it is wrong, but that is just how I look at it.