Technicians deserve more

I was glad to see in "The Truth About the Technician Shortage" (August 2008) that so many veterinary technicians are actually working in the profession. When I graduated magna cum laude in 1991, I found myself overloaded in what was a typical understaffed clinic, scraping along with low wages. After graduation, many of my classmates opted to remain as fast-food employees and gas-station attendants instead of practicing. Others only worked part time at clinics while they went back to college for what they called a "useful degree." And the rest had to job hop from clinic to clinic until finally finding a place that treated them like professionals. The average for job hops: three to four clinics.

I myself am no longer a practicing technician. After 10 years of not being treated or paid professionally, I spiraled into burnout and put in my two weeks' notice. I now work part time as an appointment receptionist at a boarding kennel and live on credit cards. So it's good for me to see that some technicians are doing OK. Although, I wonder how many clinics they had to work at before finding that great job or boss. If only all technicians received the recognition and pay they deserved.

Name withheld