This article was originally printed in the Nov/Dec 2025 issue of the California Veterinarian magazine.

If you ask a zoo registered veterinary technician how they got to where they are today, you’ll likely hear a different path each time. The details vary, but one theme is consistent: they never gave up. For me, the dream started early. As a little girl, I told my parents I wanted to work in a zoo nursery. Frequent trips to the San Diego Zoo and Los Angeles Zoo fueled that fascination, and over time, my passion only grew stronger.

In high school, I became deeply involved with dogs, cats, and livestock through Future Farmers of America. In college, I worked as a veterinary assistant and technician, gaining valuable small-animal experience while also volunteering with marine mammals. I sought every possible opportunity to work with a variety of species—but zoo animals still felt out of reach.

That changed in my last year at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, when I secured a zookeeper internship at the Santa Ana Zoo. For the first time, I worked hands-on with primates, birds, reptiles, and exotic livestock, assisting in veterinary exams and applying my small-animal skills to a completely new set of patients. After graduation, I was hired as a zookeeper and continued refining my technical skills.

The pivotal moment in my career came when I joined the Sacramento Zoo and eventually became part of the veterinary team. Under the guidance of exceptional zoo veterinarians, I was able to assist in advanced medical procedures. Another turning point was joining the Association of Zoological Veterinary Technicians (AZVT), whose members became invaluable mentors and colleagues. Their shared expertise and encouragement helped me grow as a professional and reminded me that even the most winding paths can lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.

Over my 15 years as a zoo RVT, I’ve experienced both challenges and deeply rewarding moments. The work is physically demanding and emotionally intense, but the rewards are immeasurable.

Some of my most memorable cases include:

• A Sumatran tiger with partial bilateral ureteral obstruction, where a large team successfully placed a stent.
• A giraffe with arthritis and fetlock supination, treated with therapies ranging from laser treatment to custom orthopedic shoes.
• Finding a side passion for clinical pathology and providing differentials and cytologies that help our veterinarians diagnose and treat the animals in our care, such as our chimpanzee with oncocytoma or toxic changes to blood cells in a bird with coelomitis.
• Gaining the trust of animals that allows us to do voluntary veterinary procedures, including blood draws on our ostrich, rhino, orangutan, lion, and cheetah; ultrasounds on our red panda and Wolf’s guenon; and radiographs on our okapi and giraffe.

Perhaps most fulfilling is seeing animals grow from birth or early life through adulthood and into geriatrics, knowing we’ve provided the best care at every stage. That’s when you truly see the impact of your work—not only on the individual animal but also for the conservation of their wild counterparts.

As for that little girl’s dream of working in a zoo nursery? It came true—just in a way I never could have imagined, and far richer than I ever expected.

Whenever students or fellow RVTs ask how to enter zoological medicine, I share the same core guidance:

1. Know it’s possible: Any credentialed veterinary technician can work in zoo medicine with the right experience and determination.
2. Be adaptable: Familiar skills often need to be applied in unfamiliar ways. Each species has unique anatomy, behavior, and handling requirements.
3. Volunteer strategically: Get involved with local zoos, aquariums, or wildlife rehabilitation centers. Hands-on experience is invaluable.
4. Diversify your background: Work or volunteer with large animals, exotics, or mixed-species practices to build confidence and versatility.
5. Pursue internships: Both student and post-graduate internships can provide direct pathways into the field.
6. Use professional resources: AZVT maintains a list of zoos offering internship programs—an excellent starting point.
7. Stay persistent: Keep applying and seek feedback when opportunities don’t work out.

Breaking into zoo medicine isn’t always easy, but with passion, persistence, and a willingness to learn, it is absolutely possible. I’ve seen it—and lived it—firsthand!