FORT JACKSON, S.C. (Jan. 15, 2015) -- Army veterinarians and veterinary technicians work behind the scenes every day to make sure that the Army's canine and feline population receives proper care.
"I don't mind getting dirty, and I get a very rewarding feeling when I am able to help an innocent creature," said Sgt. Jeanie Hettler, non-commissioned officer in charge at the Fort Jackson Veterinary Clinic.
The clinic provides services to the military working dogs of Fort Jackson, Shaw Air Force Base and the Charlotte Transportation Security Administration. The clinic also caters to privately-owned pets of Service members.
Hettler said she decided to become a veterinary technician because of her passion for animals.
"Advanced Individual Training School is a two-year veterinary technician program crammed into 11 weeks," said Hettler. "The attrition rate is very high, and you have to be very dedicated and possess good study habits to do well."
Hettler said the course consists of classroom lecture and hands-on training with animals.
"At the end of the course you are given specific animal-related tasks that you must be able to perform in order to pass. Some examples include placing an intravenous catheter, setting up and reading stool and blood samples, anatomy recognition and multiple surgical assistance tasks," she said.
Capt. Alicia O'Toole, chief of the veterinary clinic, said the requirements for becoming a veterinarian are even more extensive.
"To become a veterinarian you must finish your college prerequisite courses, usually a bachelor's degree is preferred (and) then veterinary school is another four years. It's a medical professional school just like getting a medical doctorate. This program is the equivalent to a doctorate in osteopathy."
O'Toole said the Army is now requiring veterinarians to complete a one-year internship.
"The internship gives the new veterinarians an opportunity to become used to being a veterinarian on-site. It's something I think is really helping them prior to going on assignment," she said.
Hettler said the Fort Jackson Veterinarian Clinic sees about 20 pets per day.
"In the military we see dogs, cats and, in same cases, horses. I have worked on goats. I have also worked on rabbits, guinea pigs and animals for the child development centers on-post activities," O'Toole said.
O'Toole said in order to maintain the quality of care for the pets some changes have taken place.
"Recently, the Public Health Command has suspended all anesthetic procedures because we don't have the resources." O'Toole said. "The vet clinic use to do dental procedures, spays, neuters, but since the suspension we can no longer provide those services.
"We have also had a price increase to $37 from $25 (for examinations). That price is set by our headquarters in Texas," O'Toole said. "We are doing the best we can to keep the prices as low as we can, but if we do not raise them then we will have to close our doors. We are trying to maintain a great level of service for a usually low price, but we won't be able to compete with off-post agencies if we stay too low."
Although animal care is their top priority, O'Toole said the clinic has lesser known missions that require their attention.
"We are also involved in public health, for instance rabies reporting," O'Toole said. "If someone is bitten by an animal we get the report and we examine the animal. We check its shot history to make sure that person is not a risk for contracting rabies, and if he or she is then we can make recommendations to the physician."
She said the clinic is also involved in the on-post food inspections process.
"Our food inspectors here inspect the Commissary, the (dining facilities) -- basically anywhere that stores food we are checking to make sure (the place is) doing it appropriately," O'Toole said. "Veterinarians, vet technicians and food inspectors are pretty crucial. We take our jobs pretty seriously."
For more information on the veterinary clinic services, call 751-5158.
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