Celebrating our Vet techs
With Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week in effect, we wanted to highlight our INCREDIBLE team here at the Zoo. Learn more about the people behind the scenes who care for our animals in a veterinary aspect! We asked our vet techs a couple of questions and here’s what they all had to say.
Meet Jennifer!
How long have you been working at Houston Zoo?
I’ve been at the zoo for five years.
What is your favorite part of being a vet tech at Houston Zoo?
I am learning constantly from everyone here at the zoo, and while doing something I love it stokes an endless fascination and appreciation for all species and a recognition of how important each is. I also feel very fortunate to be surrounded by and contribute to partnerships and projects that work directly to save wildlife both locally and globally.
What has been the most interesting/surprising case you’ve worked on at the Zoo?
I have been particularly interested in crossmatching elephants for blood product transfusions since the first case of EEHV 1 worked with our team on in 2019. Blood and plasma transfusions are currently an important treatment for EEHV, and we crossmatch donors to make sure they are a match. Elephant blood acts differently than your typical dog or cat, so it can be quite tricky to interpret.
What is something most people don’t know about you? OR What do you like to do for fun when you’re not at work?
Most people I work with know this, but I absolutely adore bats of all species, especially Mexican free-tailed bats. You can often find me and my son at Waugh Bridge here in Houston fawning over the bats and their predators! (Fun reminder – bat week starts October 24th!)
Meet Katie!
How long have you been working at Houston Zoo?
Seven and a half years.
What is your favorite part of being a vet tech at Houston Zoo?
The challenges that come with working with such a large variety of species, that each day I come to work is never the same as the day before and the ability to make an impact on saving animals in the wild through our conservation programs.
What has been the most interesting/surprising case you’ve worked on at the Zoo?
It’s really hard to pick just one but a memorable one is when Nelson the elephant was born and had to be rushed to the vet clinic for emergency surgery clinic after we had been up most the night in anticipation of his birth. It was a successful surgery for an umbilical hemorrhage.
What is something most people don’t know about you? OR What do you like to do for fun when you’re not at work?
I love to travel, I taught English in South Korea and I’m a mom of twins.
Meet Jessica!
How long have you been working at Houston Zoo?
Almost 4 and half years
What is your favorite part of being a vet tech at Houston Zoo?
Having the opportunity to work with and learn new skills on a variety of species and helping save some of these animals in the wild!
What has been the most interesting/surprising case you’ve worked on at the Zoo?
A recent case involved giving one of our older elephants IV treatments. She would voluntarily stand still (which is important when injecting intravenously) while we administered these treatments into an accessible vein in her ear. I would guess the process took at least 5-10 minutes. This is not something that most elephants would stand that still for, over that length of time, but she did amazing! I love seeing the trust these animals develop with their keepers that allows us to do things like this.
What is something most people don’t know about you? OR What do you like to do for fun when you’re not at work?
In honor of their reunion: I have met NSYNC! When I was 14, I won meet and greet passes from a radio station by being caller number 9! I used my mom’s cell phone at the time because it hung up and redialed faster than a land line.
Meet Rai!
How long have you been working at Houston Zoo?
About a year.
What is your favorite part of being a vet tech at Houston Zoo?
Being able to do my part in saving species in the wild through medicine.
What has been the most interesting/surprising case you’ve worked on at the Zoo?
I think every case is interesting. We have such a huge and diverse collection of animals here at the zoo, as well as a vet team that is so diverse in how they were trained, I find that I am always finding something new and interesting out with each case.
What is something most people don’t know about you? OR What do you like to do for fun when you’re not at work?
When I am not at the zoo I enjoy reading, baking, and traveling.
Meet Tami!
How long have you been working at Houston Zoo?
Two years.
What is your favorite part of being a vet tech at Houston Zoo?
All the voluntary medical behaviors we are able to do because of our amazing keepers.
What has been the most interesting/surprising case you’ve worked on at the Zoo?
Learning to do anesthesia and medical treatments on fish of all shapes and sizes has been interesting.
What is something most people don’t know about you? OR What do you like to do for fun when you’re not at work?
Things I like to do outside of work: travel, read and scuba dive
