They may not prescribe treatment or perform surgery, but veterinary technicians are an integral piece of the animal health puzzle. From radiography to anesthesiology, "Vet Techs: Stories from People Who’ve Done It” examines the various responsibilities that veterinary technicians fulfill toward the care of animals. The settings in which they perform their duties, author Mary Avant notes, extend beyond veterinary clinics, to zoos, research laboratories, even government-run agriculture programs. Using the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Labor, describing areas of specialization, and detailing education requirements, Avant surveys the landscape of today’s profession. Additionally, veterinary technicians Kyle Wendy Skultety, Barbara Swartzfager, Shalom Milani, and Heather Shaub candidly share the experiences that led them to embark on their careers, discuss the challenges and rewards to which their choices have led, and offer intimate — sometimes keenly felt — accounts of their day-to-day work.Excerpt from the Book:“(There’s) a secret weapon to help vets handle the demands of the job. These animal-loving team members are veterinary technicians — and they play a huge role in your pet’s vet visit, working alongside veterinarians to perform medical tests and treat illnesses and injury for animals of all breeds and sizes. And they don’t just work in vet clinics. Vet techs can perform these responsibilities and more in places ranging from zoos and research laboratories to animal hospitals and even for government-run agriculture programs.”Highlights:Learn how the profession has evolvedFind snapshots of pay, job conditions and the profession’s outlookGet an overview of the areas vet techs specialize in and what each requiresReal-life stories from those on the jobAnd much more!Includes:1.History and Overview of the Profession2.The Profession Today3.Words from a Tech Just Starting Out4.A Vet Tech Pro Speaks5.Life in the Pet ER6.The Wild Calls: Beyond Household Pets7.Resources and Tips for Making the MoveAbout the Author:Mary Avant is a magazine and Web writer based out of Chapel Hill, N.C. She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in May 2011 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication and a minor in Russian literature and culture. After working for a trade magazine publisher in Manhattan, she returned to Chapel Hill to cheer on her beloved Tar Heels and to take up an associate editor position with a national trade publication. Mary has worked for a number of regional, national and international magazines and websites and specializes in fashion, beauty and home decorating. Her bookshelves and coffee table are always piled high with the most recent issues of Vogue, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Elle Decor and House Beautiful, as well as her trove of treasured 19th-century Russian and British literature. Mary loves sports and most days is hard at work managing her fantasy football league (and simultaneously counting the days until the start of the next college basketball season). Her weaknesses are chocolate (or cupcakes, or cake, or candy), beautiful clothes and her adorable beagle’s sweet eyes. While she plans to stay put in Chapel Hill for the next few years, she hopes to one day travel the world with her best friend, learn Russian and own her own women's magazine.