Gary

Why I Do What I DO!

My name is Gary and when I was in junior high school I realized that I wanted to be a veterinarian. Although I never achieved that goal, I have come close. All of my education was focused in that direction through the rest of junior high, high school and nearly 3 years of college. I worked in a veterinary hospital from the beginning of my 10th grade year until I went in the service 6 years later. I had many pets ranging from hamsters and snakes to dogs and cats and once even a bat. I have always loved animals and cared for them as best I could.

I tried to get into the veterinary corps in the Army, but because of my color vision and only a two-year enlistment due to the draft, I was not allowed to work in my area of preference. Instead, I was lucky and went to Germany (Vietnam was at it’s height of conflict) and was an administrative specialist.

Upon returning home, I went back to work at the veterinary hospital and started college again. Other things got in the way, like money, and I began driving truck and dropped out of school. 15 years later I began to suffer with arthritis from jumping in and out of trucks many times a day and I had to find another career.

I was able to land a position as an entry-level cage washer with a large university because of my background. In one year I worked my way to the admin area as an animal procurement specialist. As time passed, I wanted more and began studying for the AALAS LATg exam. After passing that very difficult exam, I left the university and went into the private sector as a facility manager. I attended the Institute for Laboratory Animal Management to further my knowledge and expand my networking base. I now manage two animal facilities with just mice and rats. We concentrate on cancer research.

I mentioned earlier that I have arthritis. Well that is one of the reasons, beside the physical restrictions, that I am in this business. I have had 3 major surgeries for joint replacement. All of these procedures were developed and refined using animal models. I am also heavy and do not have diabetes, but I volunteered as a subject for diabetes research at a VA hospital so they could try and find out why I don’t have it and some other people do. Both of my parents had cancer and survived into their eighties after successful treatment of the disease. The treatment methods used to save them were all created using animals in research.

Who better to take care of animals used in research, than someone who has benefited from that research? Who better to look after their welfare than someone who has taken an alternative route that leads to a final result very close to what I wanted in the first place? Who better than someone who loves animals and understands the need for research? I have shed tears when, after along study I have had to say good bye and thank you, to one of the research subjects, but I know, because of the quality of care I gave them and that the people I trained are giving their charges, the research is valuable and the animals were in good health and happy during their time with us.

I am currently studying for more management certifications, attending continuing education classes, teaching my employees how to care for the animals that help us so much and studying for my bachelors degree. It will always be an on going process. Weather you continue on to college, (which I recommend) or decided to just jump in with both feet at an entry level position as I did, this field can be very rewarding, but be aware that learning and caring never stop.

Someday I hope that I am out of a job and that we can do everything on a computer or some other model, but until then, I will strive to give the animals in my charge, the best care possible. Without that commitment, research results are suspect and more animals than necessary would be used. It makes good sense to give them the best of everything.

Gary, Vivarium Manager