You keep the practice running, and we know it.

The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) knows it, too, maybe better than anyone: They’ve proclaimed October 13–19, 2019 National Veterinary Technician Week (NVTW) to honor veterinary technicians for their contributions to pet healthcare.

“NVTW recognizes and celebrates veterinary technicians,” NAVTA President Kara Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition), VTS-H (Internal Medicine, Dentistry), told NEWStat, “This celebratory week aids in educating the public about the invaluable role of the veterinary technician on the veterinary healthcare team. This week is also aimed at providing an opportunity for colleagues and the veterinary profession as a whole to reinforce the value of vet techs and celebrate this value.”

“To my fellow veterinary technicians, thank you for all that you do for our veterinary colleagues and patients,” Burns added. “Each and every one of you bring a unique perspective and skill set to the team and your role is unparalleled and vital to an efficiently run hospital, and to the care of pets and the people who love them.”

AAHA values veterinary technicians every day of the year, and we join NAVTA in taking this week to honor their commitment to compassionate, high-quality veterinary care for all animals.

“It’s so fitting to have a week set aside to honor the hard work and dedication of veterinary technicians,” said AAHA Chief Executive Officer, Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, DABVP (Emeritus). “They’re essential to the delivery of excellent patient and client care in every veterinary practice and therefore essential to AAHA’s mission. We must always remember to thank these amazing professionals for the endless love and care they devote to their work, and never take for granted the amazing contributions they make.”

To help your practice celebrate NVTW, NAVTA put together a National Veterinary Technician Week kit, which includes:

• Event ideas
• Sample NVTW proclamation
• Sample NVTW press release
• Sample NVTW public service announcement

You can download this National Veterinary Technician Week cover photo to use on your Facebook page, and AAHA-accredited practices have access to new NVTW social media images in the Publicity Toolbox as well as a Facebook frame.

Promoting NVTW to the general public helps spread the word about the role of veterinary technicians in the profession and all the incredible care they offer to all species—whether they have feathers, fur, or scales. NAVTA provides direction, education, support, and coordination for its members and works with other allied professional organizations for the competent care and humane treatment of animals.

Thank you, veterinary technicians. Enjoy your week—you’ve earned it!

And don’t forget to check out AAHA’s annual Techs@Work photospread in the October issue of Trends magazine.

Photo credit: © iStock/kadmy