Tails from a Vet Tech

This week, Tabitha talks to Miranda Hitchcock about how she created the change she wanted to see in the world.

Miranda began volunteering at animal shelters when she was younger and she was inspired to change her career path and work in animal welfare focusing on behavior for years. In that time, she approached and saw many challenges that the people and animals in her community were experiencing. She identified patterns and ways that she could help on a bigger level and started Every Dog Behavior and Training.

Miranda shares awesome advice for others in similar situations and we discuss small changes that can make a huge positive difference!

Miranda Hitchcock (MS Applied Animal Behavior, CDBC, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, Fear Free Certified) began her work with dogs as a volunteer at an animal shelter in Maryland and then taught puppy classes and reactive/fearful dog classes before moving to Austin. During her shelter work, she was the Shelter Operations Manager for Austin Animal Center and oversaw the shelter's behavior program and animal care. Miranda is a "behavior nerd" who's passionate about equity and access in the dog world. Miranda holds a Master's Degree in Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare from Virginia Tech. (She/Her)

Resources:
Every Dog Behavior and Training https://www.everydogaustin.org/
Donate to Every Dog Behavior and Training https://www.everydogaustin.org/donate
https://yourdogsfriend.org/
https://www.kassidijones.com/instagram

Support Tabitha's work via social media:

• TikTok: @behaviorvettech
• Facebook and Instagram

Support the podcast via social media:

• X: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

Support Tabitha's work via social media:

• TikTok: @behaviorvettech
• Facebook and Instagram

Support the podcast via social media:

• X: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

This episode is a collab with fellow podcaster, Stacy LeBaron of the Community Cats Podcast.

On CCP, Stacy follows up with Tabitha Kucera, a registered vet tech, certified cat behavior training consultant, and former guest of the show (CCP Episode 319)

Stacy and Tabitha discuss numerous cat health and behavioral issues. She provides tips on identifying whether a cat is in pain (which she created a handout for). Tabitha explains that a cat’s physical and mental health are often intertwined. She stresses the importance of minimizing anxiety and stress by employing Fear Free techniques, trap training, and cooperative care.

Stacy LeBaron has been involved in animal welfare for over 20 years. She currently hosts a weekly podcast called the Community Cats Podcast where she interviews nationally and internationally renowned experts helping with the problem of cat overpopulation and cat welfare. In addition to the podcast, Stacy is committed to the model of virtual education by holding three-weekend conferences, the Online Cat Conference, The United Spay Alliance Conference, and the Online Kitten Conference. She hosts day-long sessions covering specific topics around Feline Leukemia, Behavior, and Fundraising.  At the end of 2020, she also partnered with Neighborhood Cats to hold monthly virtual trapper training and certification workshops to better introduce individuals to best practices for trapping community cats.

Previous to starting the podcast, Stacy served for 16 years as president of the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society (MRFRS). Under her leadership, the MRFRS assisted over 105,000 cats and kittens through a variety of innovative programs. Among the MRFRS’s programs are two mobile spay/neuter clinics, known as the Catmobiles, and an adoption center in Salisbury, MA. Stacy ran the MRFRS Mentoring Program, which began in 2011 and assisted 11,000 cats through its work with 77 different animal welfare groups in 14 states.

An expert in her field, Stacy is a current member of the Shelter Medicine Committee at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, an adviser to the Massachusetts Animal Coalition (MAC), President of the Board for PAWSitive Pantry in Vermont, Board member at the Vermont Humane Federation, Treasurer for the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, program leader for the Pet Food Task Force in MA, and program organizer for HubCats Chelsea. She is a past board member of MAC and the New England Federation of Humane Societies. She serves as the current administrative trustee for the LeBaron Foundation.

Stacy graduated from Vassar College. She now lives in VT with her husband and son.

About the Community Cats Podcast:
The Community Cats Podcast is the brainchild of Stacy LeBaron. Stacy has over 20 years of experience working with Community Cats in Massachusetts. She was the president of the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society for 16 years and since 2011, she ran the MRFRS Mentoring program, assisting over 80 organizations with setting up TNR programs and getting funding to support those programs.

Support Stacy & CCP:
Community Cats Podcast
CCP Merch
Donate

Support Tabitha's work via social media:

• TikTok: @behaviorvettech
• Facebook and Instagram

Support the podcast via social media:

• X: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

In this week's episode, Tabitha chats with Tiffany Chen, a social media and content marketing expert who founded Pawsistant. Tiffany talks about her decision to leave her flight attendant job and start her own business that focuses on helping dog professionals grow their businesses.

During our conversation, we delve into how we manage the stress of social media and the importance of setting healthy boundaries. Tiffany also shares valuable insights on creating an online brand, her favorite free online tools, and more.

Tiffany Chen is the founder and owner of Pawsistant, LLC, a business that aims to help dog professionals grow via social media and content marketing. She is passionate about creating informative content using her creative skills. Her mission is to provide credible information from certified pet professionals to educate pet parents. Tiffany holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from the University of Las Vegas. She resides in Las Vegas, NV with her partner and her dog, Sihtric.

Support Tiffany:
Website: https://www.Pawsistant.info
Instagram: @pawsistant 

Support Tabitha's work via social media:

• TikTok: @behaviorvettech
• Facebook and Instagram

Support the podcast via social media:

• X: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

This week, Tabitha is joined by CDBC, CCBC, CSB, CPDT-KA Dot Baisly. 

 Dot and I discuss why and how to approach adoptions with a conversation-based approach. This approach advocates for both the animal and the human. Using this approach helps to reduce the length of stay for the animals in our care, engages match making, can be used to place behaviorally challenged animals, and helps to strengthen the shelters reputation and creates a positive culture. Dot shares her experience as she has implemented this in the shelters she has worked along with some case studies of where this technique was used to adopt a behaviorally challenged animal. 

Dot Baisly  is the Executive Director for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and the Behavior Consultant at Heal Veterinary Clinic in Watertown, MA. Dot also holds a master’s degree in Animal Behavior from Tufts University and is a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA), a certified dog behavior consultant (CDBC), certified cat behavior consultant (CCBC), and certified shelter behavior specialist (CSB). Dot is currently a core member of the Shelter Playgroup Alliance team where she facilitates course content for the on-line program and in-person workshops. Most recently she was the director of behavior for Northeast Animal Shelter where she built a behavior program and transformed the organization’s approach to behavior as a result of her leadership. Prior to this she was also the lead behavior staff at the SPCA of Westchester and then the Animal Rescue League of Boston. 

Dot also worked as a consultant for Paws With A Cause, working with service dogs and the clients they serve for over 10 years.  She has been working in animal welfare, veterinary care and behavior for over 20 years, both in animal welfare and rescue organizations and as a private consultant.  Dot has consulted with private clients since her initial certifications, working with owned cats and dogs on a regular basis.  In her private practice, Dot specializes in working with dogs and cats exhibiting significant behavioral concerns, including human-directed aggression.

Support Tabitha's work via social media:

• TikTok: @behaviorvettech
• Facebook and Instagram

Support the podcast via social media:

• X: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

This week, Tabitha is joined by jack of all trades, veterinary technician Kelly Cronin.  Kelly shares her career path which includes writing a book, obtaining an MBA, and starting a CE on the sea cruise. She shares practical tips that have helped her along the way including finding her passion and leaning into her niche,  resume review,  professional growth and financial fitness. 

Kelly Lynn Cronin, MBA, BS, CVT, PHR, VTS ECC, VSPN Moderator
Kelly Lynn started in veterinary medicine by volunteering. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin Madison with a BS in Animal Sciences (and a few other degrees that cost too much but equate to underwater basket weaving), she became licensed as a veterinary technician in Alaska in 2001, New Mexico in 2006, and Wisconsin in 2016. Kelly became Certified as a Professional in Human Resources in 2010, completing her Masters of Business Administration from Mississippi State University in 2012, and became a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care in 2013. Kelly wrote and published “In the Middle”, a book for veterinary technicians in management. She is a national and international speaker presenting on leadership, management, and emergency and critical care medicine. She serves as an instructor for VSPN, is the CEO of Success Strategies Veterinary Consulting, was the Director of Denovo Operations (it’s ok no one knows what that means…. New clinic startup) for the Mission Veterinary Partners (36 + hospital group) and is currently working as Operations Support Manager for the NVA Spec and ER East Division. Kelly is an organizer of the VetTechLife CE on the Sea events (dumb covid). She offers short courses online in management, emergency and technical topics, marketing, presenting, resume review, professional growth and financial fitness through Success Strategies University. She lives in Milwaukee (the land of beer and brats) with a precocious 9 year old bilingual, ninja, paleontologist princess and a Costa Rican Cur that currently run her life. When she is not bemoaning the lack of pockets in women’s clothing or creating vacation rentals in extraordinary locations to die for, she is busy doing home DIY projects, travel hacking on a shoestring budget (50th state last year), reading or writing sci-fi, riding horses (or wishing she was) or running ridiculous distances at a pace clearly set by turtles stuck in mud.

Kelly Lynn on Social
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn

Book:
In The Middle Book (On Sale Now)

Cronin’s Castle Links
www.croninscastles.com

Financial resources Kelly mentioned
Choose FI: https://www.choosefi.com/
https://millennialmoney.com/
Book: Quit like a millionaire
Book: Your Money or Your Life 

Support Tabitha's work via social media:

• TikTok: @behaviorvettech
• Facebook and Instagram

Support the podcast via social media:

• X: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

Content Warning: This episode does include a discussion of mental illness, depression, self harm, and suicide.

Disclaimer: Discussions about mental health are personal and unique. In this podcast, Meghan is not acting as a therapist or providing therapy in any capacity. This podcast covers broad discussions of topics related to mental health and is not intended to serve as therapy or a replacement for therapy. Views and experiences expressed by Meghan are her own and do not represent the field of counseling.

It’s important to educate, advocate and support people with mental illness and their families. This includes breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide. Suicide is something that affects many of us in the animal welfare field and although, this was a very emotional and challenging podcast for me to record, it is important to talk about. I am joined by my friend and licensed professional counselor, Dr. Meghan Breedlove and we discuss my recent experience with grieving for friends and colleagues I have lost to suicide, address some common myths, and share tips on how to start the conversation with others regarding suicide. 

If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.

Resources: 

• Crisis Text line: Text “HOME” to 741741
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 988 or online chat
• https://nami.org/Home
• https://www.cigna.com/knowledge-center/suicide-warning-signs-what-to-say
• Hope for the Day (HFTD.ORG) - https://www.hftd.org/geteducated
• Hope for the day (HFTD.ORG) (Downloadable Resources) 
• Not One More Vet https://www.nomv.org/ 
• Suicide in veterinary medicine: Let’s talk about it article by Debbie L. Stoewen from the NCBI's National Library of Medicine

Support Tabitha's work via social media:

• TikTok: @behaviorvettech
• Facebook and Instagram

Support the podcast via social media:

• X: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

Teambuilding is crucial to a successful veterinary practice. Each member of the veterinary healthcare team plays an important role that is critical to the overall success of the team and, subsequently, to the overall wellness of the patient and the success of the hospital. The difference between an engaged workplace and a dysfunctional one is teamwork.

On this week’s episode, Tabitha talks to Aaron about teambuilding best practices in vet med. Aarons drops some wisdom on how veterinary hospitals can recruit and retain with compassion and stability, how to train practice leaders for success, and how independent practices can compete in the current atmosphere.

Aaron Davis began his vet med journey 22 years ago at the age of 14 working as a kennel tech after school. From there he went on to spend 12 years in emergency/critical care medicine as a vet assistant, and later onto managing spec/er and GP hospitals and practices. Aaron is a vocal advocate for compassionate patient care, inclusive leadership, expanding access to care, and creating stable and long-term opportunities for clinical staff. Aaron was born and raised in Texas but currently lives in NYC with his rescue dog, Coquito, his foundling cat, Agatha, and his guinea pig, Chickpea. Aaron and his partner enjoy cooking fancy meals, going on hikes, gaming, traveling, and watching Schitt’s Creek.

Support Tabitha's work via social media:

• TikTok: @behaviorvettech
• Facebook and Instagram

Support the podcast via social media:

• X: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

This episode is a collab with fellow podcaster, Marissa Martino of the Paws & Reward Podcast.

I was grateful to chat with Marissa about the Fear Free movement, and the benefits and importance of assessing and scoring body language. We discuss why keeping data about our animals and the animal’s we work with emotional experience is important for their well-being and how we can do it accurately. I also share how keeping data helped me address and improve my mental health. 

Marissa Martino (CDBC) began her career working with canine companions after attending the Academy for Dog Trainers in 2007. She is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). Since then, Marissa has had the pleasure of working for three different animal shelters directing their behavior departments in Colorado and California. Her latest role included offering animal shelters and rural CO communities the education and resources needed to expand their animal welfare impact. 

Currently, Marissa offers behavior consulting for animal shelters by helping them implement evidence-based, positive reinforcement best practices to reduce the stress and behavior concerns of the animals in their care. In addition to her animal welfare career, Marissa operates her private practice, Paws & Reward, in Boulder, CO. She offers in-person behavior consulting and online programs. She is the author of Human-Canine Behavior Connection: Building Better Relationships Through Dog Training and hosts the Paws & Reward Podcast. 

Paws & Reward:
https://pawsandreward.com/

Check out the Paws & Reward Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paws-reward-podcast/id1527938147

Resources:

If you are interested in implementing body language scores at your organization. I (Chirrups and Chatter) offer consulting and education services for animal welfare and veterinary organizations including veterinary hospitals and animal shelters.
 
Consulting would include body language education, implementation of body language scores in your organization, and assessing the needs of the org, working collaboratively to create an action plan, and provide training and support throughout implementation.

• Chirrupsandchatter.com
• Fearfreepets.com
• Fearfreehappyhomes.com 
• FAS Scale https://sunrivervet.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/fas_scale.pdf

Support Tabitha's work via social media:

• TikTok: @behaviorvettech
• Facebook and Instagram

Support the podcast via social media:

• X: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/TailsFromAVetTechPodcast
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech

In this episode, I chat with Stephen NiÑO Cital (RVT, SRA, RLAT, CVPP, VTS-LAM) and lead editor for Cannabis Therapy in Veterinary Medicine: A Complete Guide. Stephen is an expert in the field of veterinary cannabinoid usage and in this episode, we go over product differences, legal implications, as well as the basics of what you need to know about cannabis in Vet-Med.

Spoiler alert: Anxiety is not currently included in first line applications of CBD use in animal care!

Stephen NiÑO Cital RVT, SRA, RLAT, CVPP, VTS- LAM (Res. Anesthesia)
Stephen is a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) with certification as a Registered Laboratory Animal Technician (RLAT) through the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science. He is specialized in anesthesia and pain management by qualifying and passing the certification exams as a Surgical Research Anesthetist (SRA) through the Academy of Surgical Research, is one of a handful of Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioners (CVPP) in the country through the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, where he was also a board member. He also became a member of the VTS community with a focus in Laboratory Animal Medicine (LAM) in research anesthesia from the Academy of Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians and Nurses, where he also serves as the Executive Director. He is employed by Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Stanford University School of Medicine in the Department of Neurobiology. In addition to conducting research, Stephen is an award-winning international lecturer on anesthesia, pain management, cannabis, and best practices. He is on the DVM360 Editorial Advisory Board, has contributed to numerous textbooks/articles, and was also a column coordinator for one of Nature's journals. Stephen serves on multiple boards/committees, is a key opinion leader for pharmaceutical/device companies, COO for the Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds, and Veterinary Cannabinoid Academy. He believes strongly in promoting diversity and veterinary technician elevation within the industry.

Resources

• https://www.stephencital.com
• https://veterinaryanesthesianerds.com
• https://vetcannacademy.com

Cannabis Therapy in Veterinary Medicine: A Complete Guide 1st ed. 2021 Edition

Support Tabitha's work via social media:

• TikTok: @behaviorvettech
• Facebook and Instagram

Support the podcast via social media:

• X: https://twitter.com/TailsFromRVT
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• IG: https://www.instagram.com/tailsfromavettech