Weighing on my conscience...

I'm in school to be a vet tech right now, and I'm in classes with some people who are already in practice in clinics, but just want to get certified.

One of these girls is really rough with the animals... at least in my opinion. I've seen her smack the dogs as punishment when they jump up and things rather than telling them no as we are instructed to do. I've also seen her tightly restrain the cats when it wasn't necessary, which only makes procedures more difficult.

I'm not sure if this is something I should ignore.. she never really hurts any of them and she IS ahead of me in terms of experience. I think she is used to working with hoofstock who can be treated a little more roughly, so she might not realize she's doing it.

I don't want to be a tattletale, but the stray animals that come into our kennel are already frightened. I'm sure she's not helping.

What would you do in my situation?

Is there any way you can do it anonymously?

If not, I think I would still talk to someone in charge.

She is in the wrong business it seems to me.

I would definately say something to the instructor. That is not acceptable.

Definitely talk to someone higher up, I think she needs at least to reminded of exactly where she is - if she's handling larger animals, then she might not realize that her actions are not appropriate for smaller animals.

This is someone who could possibly be working with one of our cats or dogs in the near future, so i'd certainly say something

Originally Posted by rosiemac

This is someone who could possibly be working with one of our cats or dogs in the near future, so i'd certainly say something

Click to expand...

yes I agree. If there is someone you could talk to anonymously then I would. I know that would be a hard thing to do but you need to think of the future for this girl.... AND any animals that she treats.
I think you would be doing the right thing

Yup....I would tell someone higher up. Maybe they could talk to her and not mention who told on her. If she does`nt realize by now that you don`t handle a kitty as rough as you could a horse, then it`s time she either learned that or got out of the business.
(There was a nurse that handled the babies too rough in the hospital when my great grandson was born a few months ago.....and she got reported....not just by my grandson and granddaughter-in-law, but also by a couple of other couple that experienced the same thing. ) She was reprimanded and is now being watched while she is on some kind of probation.
Linda

Smack her when she screws up in class. See how she likes it.

Seriously? Report it...as someone that is a pet owner, if I saw the vet tech smack Luna, I'd file a complaint. I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one. When a student is allowed to get away with something like that, then its a disadvantage and she's wasting her money.

Yeah you're all right.
I hate confrontation, but I do need to think about things in terms of her future treatment of animals.
I know there is another person who has seen her do it too, so maybe she'll be willing to come with me and talk to our instructor.

It doesn't have to be a confrontation. Next class, ull the instructor aside and exlpain to them exactly what you explained to us. That you are just worried, and not trying to be a tattletale, and just want to make sure that the animals are being treated properly. Im sure she/he will understand the need to be discreet and respect the fact that you came to them.

-Jade

Originally Posted by AshleyJade

It doesn't have to be a confrontation. Next class, ull the instructor aside and exlpain to them exactly what you explained to us. That you are just worried, and not trying to be a tattletale, and just want to make sure that the animals are being treated properly. Im sure she/he will understand the need to be discreet and respect the fact that you came to them.

-Jade

Click to expand...

Good idea!

sounds like she doesn't have much patience with the animals, I think the vet tech's main function is to help calm the pet... sounds like her working with animals is like me working with kids! I know that I don't have the tolerance for it so I would never do it! I would definitely talk to your instructor, like after class or something and if you can get the other person to come along even better

I'm going to do it today.

I guess I'm just nervous because I don't want to try to call someone out who has more experience than me, but there is a difference between being in control and being aggressive.

she DEFINITELY doesn't have much patience. I might be a beginner, but even I know that if you get angry with an animal, it will just make the situation worse.

Originally Posted by eupnea

I'm going to do it today.

I guess I'm just nervous because I don't want to try to call someone out who has more experience than me, but there is a difference between being in control and being aggressive.

she DEFINITELY doesn't have much patience. I might be a beginner, but even I know that if you get angry with an animal, it will just make the situation worse.

Click to expand...

I'm really glad to hear that you aren't going to just let this go. Unfortunately a lot of people would turn a blind eye to these things. Good for you for standing up and doing the right thing.

Originally Posted by eupnea

I'm going to do it today.

I guess I'm just nervous because I don't want to try to call someone out who has more experience than me, but there is a difference between being in control and being aggressive.

she DEFINITELY doesn't have much patience. I might be a beginner, but even I know that if you get angry with an animal, it will just make the situation worse.

Click to expand...

Yeah, but if I were an English teacher that had one year's experience, and I was learning from a distinguished English professor that had 40 years more experience than I, and he smacked one of his students around.......it would still be wrong - right? Sometimes even the smartest people with the most experience are still morons.

I would tell someone in charge because i would feel guilty if she did harm them knowing that i could have stopped it.

I would bring it up to your supervisor. Restraint is definitley neccessary but rough handling and hitting is not.

I know what I would do. I would grab her by her collar...and say "come here" as I yanked her to the other side of the room about ten feet, and then abruptly stopped. Then when she said "what are you doing" Id ask her how she liked being handled roughly for no reason.