With trembling hands and red eyes, the veterinarian looked at me pleadingly. “I have 12 pets I never even meant to have. There are IV bags that just stay hung up in my bathroom. I work all day, and then I go home and take care of animals I took in because clients couldn’t pay… Read More
Perspective
Why I’d Rather Do Just About Anything Than Work on My Own Pets
I’ll tell you two secrets: I hate taking care of my own (including my family’s) pets I rarely let anyone else do it. This isn’t an indictment of my family members, their pets, or my pets. It’s an acknowledgement of the pressure (all self-induced) I feel when I don’t have that one step of distance… Read More
Land of Opportunity: What I’ve Learned as a Vet Tech from Working with Americans
Ten years ago I traveled to New York from Japan, by myself, to become a vet tech. I chose America because I believed anything was possible. At least that’s what Nike said. I met a vet tech online who taught me about becoming a tech. I decided to follow her path. She was the only… Read More
“Thank You for Not Judging Me”
The day after Christmas started normally for a day in the clinic… with an emergency. Petey had been vomiting since Christmas Eve. By the time he made it to my exam room, he was looking miserable. “Were there any Christmas parties?” I asked Mom. “Any holiday treats he could have gotten into?” “No,” she said,… Read More
You Don’t Have to See All the Pets
One of my most crushing failures as a vet came one Friday when I was scheduled to work at a tiny satellite clinic with only a single young veterinary technician. It was my first year in practice and I dreamed of being a great doctor to patients, a great champion for staff, and a great… Read More
Managing Massive Moments
Something massive just happened. I mean hugely ginormous. At this moment, it feels like my world has just stopped, changed direction, and will never be the same again. And yet, there are people around me who do not seem to realize anything is different. How can they go on as if nothing happened while I… Read More