In this Edition. Are you on Facebook? Check out our Facebook page: Florida Veterinary Technician Association. What can this association do for you?

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1 Florida Veterinary Technician Association Newsletter Summer 2016 What can this association do for you? No doubt our Association has seen some good growth over the past few years; membership and certification numbers have increased, regional CEs and meetings are up and running, and FVTA has presented booths at many conferences and community events. We even have representatives from our executive and advisory boards working alongside the national organization in the push for national credentialing standardization and nomenclature. This is all great progress; in order to continue to grow, we must always look to the future and continue to support one another as changes begin to materialize. We all have to find what we re most passionate about in this profession; hopefully this Association is a resource that helps members to do just that. In order for us to sustain this growth we need you, our members, to let us know what you need from your professional association. Please feel free to submit your suggestions and comments to info@thefvta.net. We look forward to hearing from you! Are you on Facebook? Check out our Facebook page: Florida Veterinary Technician Association In this Edition Members of our Executive and Advisory Boards weigh in! College program updates from Eastern Florida College Creative Submission by Christopher Moderson Raccoons! An Educational Q & A with Brenda S. Green, JD, MBA

2 Executive and Advisory Board Members Weigh in on the Future of our Profession FVTA Board members are constantly working behind the scenes to advance our professional as sociation. Previous, present and future Executive and Advisory Board members should be commended for their hard work and support. For the summer edition of the newsletter we asked some of our board members what their aspirations are for our growing and evolving profession. What is the Executive Board? The Executive Board are the officers of the Association; this is a cohesive team of individuals wh ose work keeps the association running. Each position has a specific station and duties unique to that position. Past President: Karen Moss, CVT To be recognized professionally by the Veterinarians in Florida as a viable profession that should be licensed and recognized in the state s practice act. Karen works at Miami Dade College and enjoys her position as an advocate for the education and training of our newest up and coming veterinary technicians.

3 Recording Secretary: Taylor Stallings-Pinnick, CVT A national standardization of credentialing will allow the profession to unify and uphold consistent expectations. With that in place, the focus can shift to public awareness of the profession and growing advancement opportunities as well. Taylor works at Aloha Pet and Bird Hospital in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida. She is currently completing her coursework to become a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Assistant (CCRA) and is pursuing her VTS in Nutrition. Corresponding Secretary: Bianca Graves, CVT I would love to see not only [compulsory credentialing] in Florida but nationally. I look forward to continued elevation in animal care.

4 What is the Advisory Board? The Advisory Board is a group of well rounded individuals including some previous executive board members and current active association members. They attend monthly members meetings, participate (non voting) in monthly Executive Board meetings, and are the first line of volunteers for Association related projects. Michelle Earltinez, CVT National and standardized recognition and credentialing for the educated veterinary technician. Michelle has served on the Executive board as Past President (2003, 2004), and is now an active member of the Advisory Board. Michelle is the Clinical Coordinator for the Veterinary Technology program at Eastern Florida State College, located in Cocoa, Florida. She recently published an article for the NAVTA Journal and is part of a collective of veterinary technicians supporting a new veterinary technician specialty (VTS) in education.

5 Brenda S. Green, JD, MBA I would like to see a standard credentialing system in Florida, and vet techs recognized by the public as vital parts of the veterinary team, like nurses are for human medicine. I believe this could lead to higher pay and better benefits for vet techs. Brenda currently works for the Wildlife Center of Venice, Inc. as a Part-time Rehabilitator, assists at an equine vet one day a week, and holds a non-paid position at the Brandon Equine Medical Center. She is also a student in the Purdue University Distance Learning Veterinary Technology Program. She is very active with attending meetings and is a regular contributor to the FVTA newsletter. Brenda plans to keep busy this summer with a project that will have her working on the editing and drafting of CE provisions for our association. Mary Ellen Goldberg, BS, LVT, CVT, SRA, CCRA I wish to be a writer/publisher, speaker, lecturer, teacher in pain management and physical rehabilitation. Mary Ellen works at VetMedTeam, LLC, Canine Rehabilitation Institute, and Mannheimer Foundation, Inc. As a Surgical Research Anesthetist and Certified Canine Rehabilitation Assistant, Marr Ellen is also a part of the Proposed Organizing Committee for the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (APRVT), Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians, and Academy of Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians and Nurses.

6 Regional Meetings Having a regional group will help keep the FVTA network open and visible. When I asked to hold my own regional meeting in Gainesville, I had the vision of a regular group meeting and providing a place where technicians in the region could go to get news and updates related to the profession. I hope that many more will be inspired to hold a meeting in their own backyard. ~ Chiquitha D. Crews BS CVT What is an FVTA Regional Meeting? CE meetings that are also a great way to get an Association update and network with other veterinary technicians in and around your community. Who can come to Regional Meetings? We strongly encourage our members to come to these meetings. However, the meetings are open to students, on the job trained veterinary assistants, and support staff of any of your local veterinary clinics, shelters or specialty hospitals. Who can set up a Regional Meeting? Any member can help facilitate a meeting. Some members have already set up regional meetings and they are considered the coordinators for their particular area of the state. If you want to know more or are interested in setting up a meeting, please contact info@thefvta.net. Creative Submission Many special thanks to FVTA student member Christopher Moderson from Eastern Florida College for this contribution. Waking up at the crack of dawn, dragging myself out of bed. Thoughts of pets that need my help, rushing around my head. Skipping breakfast to get to work, one thought on my mind; what if someone needs me; what if that pet was mine. Cleaning cages, scooping poop blood and gore and pee and puke. A glorious job, mine is not, but at the end of the day my only thought is of those I helped to heal and move on. I think of the past and those already gone. Today was rough, I shed a tear, seeing a puppy who was only a year. Come in skinny, dehydrated and hungry. Pleading eyes, begging whimper. I held him as he lost his glimmer. This job isn t just cuddling puppies, yet every day I consider myself lucky. I can help the weak, reinforce the strong, relieve the suffering, and right the wrong. Placate the angry, comfort the grieving, bury the dead and hug the breathing. We hold your hand, and help your pet. A Vet Tech is all of that. ~Christopher Moderson~

7 Raccoons! Q & A With Brenda S. Green JD MBA We are all familiar with the cuddly-looking, mask-faced animal with the bushy, ringed tail the raccoon. Raccoons are highly adaptable, intelligent, and ubiquitous, living in a variety of habitats including forests, marshes, prairies, tropical islands and cities. They are also inquisitive, dexterous, clever and scrappy traits which sometimes land them in trouble with homeowners in urban areas! Nevertheless, many people find that raccoons make fun and entertaining pets as long as they are properly socialized and trained. Whatever your view, as veterinary professionals, we may well come into contact with this exotic species as pets or in a rehabilitation context. -Brenda S. Green Question Is it true that when a raccoon is out during the day, it is probably rabid? Answer It is true that raccoons are generally nocturnal, however they may be active during the day to take advantage of food sources. Unless they are also showing signs of abnormal behavior such as agitation, snapping at imaginary objects, drooling, circling, wobbling or no fear of humans, raccoons seen during the day may simply be looking for food. Question Don t all raccoons have rabies? How can someone protect themselves and their pets from contracting the disease? Answer The likelihood of a human contracting rabies from a raccoon is very low. However, to be safe, do not approach or handle wild raccoons. If you see a sick, injured or abandoned raccoon, call the local wildlife rehabilitation center or animal control for pick-up; do not try to handle it yourself. If you or your pet is bitten, immediately scrub the wound with antiseptic soap and water, flush it thoroughly, and call your doctor or veterinarian, as appropriate. Pets should be vaccinated and not allowed to roam freely in areas also inhabited by raccoons. Question What about raccoons as pets? Is there any way to protect them and their owners? Answer Captive raccoons (including those brought to wildlife centers for medical treatment and/or rehabilitation) should have regular routine physical examinations. Young healthy animals should be checked biannually. Clinically healthy but geriatric raccoons may be examined more frequently, at the discretion of the animal s veterinarian. The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) recommends the administration of certain vaccinations based on the risk of exposure, which varies by location and management practices, and the consequences of contracting the clinical disease. Raccoons are susceptible to the same parasites as domestic carnivores, and treatment is generally the same as for the dog or cat. Ectoparasites such as ear mites, fleas, lice and ticks can be detected during a routine physical examination. Want to know more about raccoons? Check these resources out: University of Florida's IFAS Extension EDIS webpages, edis.ifas.ufl.edu, type raccoons in the search bar. Florida Fish and wildlife conservation Commission Species Profiles,

8 Florida Veterinary Technology Program Updates Eastern Florida State College s Veterinary Technology Club Submitted By: Maryann Vanciel, Veterinary Technology Student FVTA Liaison 2016 Hello Fellow FVTA Members! The students at Eastern Florida State College s Veterinary Technology Club wish everyone a wonderful Our club is dedicated to the pursuit of and participation in opportunities beyond the curriculum that result in our members personal growth and development. Veterinary Technicians are a key asset to any veterinary practice. Our club members share our passion with others on campus and throughout Florida. Here is a list of the many exciting events we have participated in so far this year: January: February: March: April: Past and Future Events - Animals Can Paw-Tect Mother Earth too Through these events, our club members have experienced new networking opportunities, social skill development, professional experience, leadership skills, organization and management skills, and above all else we have been able to educate clients on many pet healthcare issues. As the year continues, we will be participating in many other events and lectures to broaden our skills and promote client education.

9 FVTA Welcomes Student Members! AVMA accredited programs in Florida: Eastern Florida State College Florida A&M University Heritage Institute-Fort Myers Hillsborough Community College City College Hollywood Miami-Dade College Pensacola State College Sanford Brown-Ft Lauderdale Sanford Brown College Jacksonville Sanford Brown College Tampa St. Petersburg College Veterinary Technology Program Updates! Please tell us what your program has going on! Submit notes and photos to

10 Contact Us Website and Facebook: thefvta.net President Carrie Jo Anderson Past President Karen Moss Certification Tricia Gorham Membership Pam Brachmann FVTA meetings are held online in the VSPN General meeting room, the last Thursday of the month at 8pm EST. You will need a VSPN log in to access the forum. VSPN membership is free, but does take a day or two to set up. Please visit to learn more. Questions & Comments info@thefvta.net