Museum of Life and Science Veterinary Technician's Role in Animal Care
Laurel serves as the registered veterinary technician for the Museum of Life and Science's Animal Care Team, a position she has held for approximately four years. With 13 years of professional experience, including 11 years working with exotic animals in zoo settings, she performs diverse duties including animal welfare monitoring, coordinating veterinary visits, administering treatments, and managing quarantine procedures for new arrivals. Her responsibilities extend to preparing animals for medical procedures, assisting during examinations by taking vital signs, collecting samples, and monitoring anesthesia, followed by post-procedure care and treatment administration. Laurel also socializes program animals like Dash the chicken and oversees recovery for patients such as Jax the ferret. She works from one of the museum's two veterinary care rooms, where program ferrets occasionally play. Laurel expressed that her work is rewarding because it allows her to help animals live their best lives.
Key facts
- Laurel is the registered veterinary technician for the Museum of Life and Science's Animal Care Team
- She has 13 years of experience, with 11 years specializing in exotic animal care in zoos
- Her duties include animal welfare monitoring, coordinating vet visits, administering treatments, and quarantine management
- She assists with medical procedures including sample collection, anesthesia monitoring, and post-operative care
- Laurel has worked at the museum for approximately four years, caring for animals from turtles to black bears
Entities
Institutions
- Museum of Life and Science