VHA Graduate, Alexandra Starker shares her experiences working at a local animal hospital after graduation.  

After completing their program, graduates are often focused on finding a great position and in this blog, you’ll meet one such grad, Alexandra Starker who landed her dream role at a local animal clinic. We caught up with Alexandra recently who took the time to fill us in on everything from why she chose CAT, what she gets up to at work, and what personal pets this animal-lover has. Dive into the full blog below! 

“The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on.” – Oscar Wilde 

Q: How did you hear about the College for Arts and Technology and what made you choose us? 

A: I heard about the College for Arts and Technology through a friend who had recommended the VHA program to me after she learned about my dream to work with animals. She had completed the VHA program previously and had only great things to say about it! 

Words of Wisdom

Q: Any advice to share with someone considering a career in animal care? 

A: My advice to someone considering a career in animal care would be to follow your heart and believe in yourself. If you dream of working with animals there are so many incredible job opportunities out there with your VHA diploma at veterinary hospitals, rescues, farms, conservation centers, breeding facilities, and zoos. You just need to believe in yourself, get your education, and keep applying for the jobs that you dream of doing! 

A Place to Belong

Q: Where are you working now and what is your role?  

A: I currently work at Pandosy Village Veterinary Hospital as a Vet Assistant. My role includes a variety of duties ranging from assisting during surgery, running tests like bloodwork or urinalysis, taking histories of patients, filling prescriptions, preparing surgical instruments and drapes, booking appointments, and responding to client emails. Every day I get the opportunity to work closely with clients, veterinarians, technicians, and assistants to help animals live healthy and happy lives. 

Q: What is the best part of working in animal care? 

A: I love getting to meet all the kittens and puppies and watching them grow up; along with getting to be a part of a team that is helping animals get better when they’re sick. It is so rewarding to see a sick pet get better through our care! 

Q: What is the most difficult part of working in animal care? 

A: Seeing animals that are hurt or sick is the most difficult part of working in animal care. The silver lining is knowing that they are in the right place to get help and start feeling better and that I have the ability to help them! 

“The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.” – Charles Darwin

Q: Do you have any pets and if so, tell us about them! 

A: I currently have a family of crested geckos, a mouse, and a shrimp aquarium. My crested geckos love hanging out with their tropical plants and eating their fruit paste. My mouse loves to take shoulder rides and hang out with me while I’m relaxing at home. And my shrimp brighten up my desk and I love watching their silly antics as they zoom around their aquarium. 

The Future is Bright 

Thank you for sharing your journey and experience with us Alexandra, we are honoured to have been a part of your journey!  

You can see more of Alexandra’s journey by following her clinic on social media, linked below.  

(Alexandra now works at the Pandosy Village Veterinary Hospital and we thank them for agreeing to participate in this blog post. You can see more of the amazing work they do on their website at https://pandosyvet.com/ or on their Instagram (@pandosyvet), or Facebook (Pandosy Village Veterinary Hospital) 

If you’ve been thinking of a career in animal care, make sure to check out the complete details on our Veterinary Technician Assistant program page.