I’ve just been included in Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology’s Top 25 Small Animal Blogs of 2017! Thank you, Bel-Rea! I’m so honored and thrilled!

Bel-Rea is an American school for veterinary technicians. .Taken from their website:

Located in beautiful Denver, Colorado, Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology is one of the oldest and largest veterinary technician schools in the United States.  Since the program’s launch in 1971, over 6000 students have earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Veterinary Technology through Bel-Rea.

When I  take my cats or hamsters in for medical attention, I want the people handling my animals to be knowledgeable, experienced, competent, professional, and well-trained. I also want them to have good people skills, as I have had emotional moments, like when my hamster (Buffy) had to be euthanized and I cried or my new cat (Olaf) was sick and refused to eat or groom himself. Being a pet mommy and taking your sick/injured pet to the veterinarian’s office is just like being a human mommy and taking your sick/injured child to the doctor’s office – it has to happen, the patient doesn’t really know what’s going on, it’s emotional, it’s stressful, and it’s potentially expensive. I’ve seen (and heard) vet techs drawing blood from my screaming cats and shaving areas so they could do tests. Clients and pets often spend more time interacting with vet techs than with veterinarians. I might ask them for tips on how to administer medicine, or how to better care for my animals. As a client, pet mommy, and pet sitter, I need to feel comfortable with health issues clearly explained to me. It’s particularly comforting that Bel-Rea takes an interest in small animal blogs.

Thanks again, Bel-Rea!