Real-Life Decision Making
Animal health technologists handle many difficult situations every day. They may have to decide which patients get to see the veterinarian first, depending on the seriousness of the problems. Or they may have to decide how to best handle a difficult client.
Lydia Beswick, animal health technologist, says that in her case, "the most difficult decisions of all deal with euthanasia."
You're an animal health technologist working in a small veterinarian clinic. The clinic employs three people: the veterinarian, a receptionist and you, but the receptionist is home sick for the day.
As an animal health technologist, part of your job is helping with euthanasia, though it's something that's personally very difficult for you. You've always handled it well in the past, though, by maintaining a mental distance between you and the pet and client.
Mrs. Smith, your next door neighbor for as long as you can remember, just passed away, and her little toy poodle, Marmaduke, has nowhere to go. The dog is old, but you've taken care of him for Mrs. Smith many times in the past, and even played with him in Mrs. Smith's backyard. He's always been crazy about you.
Mrs. Smith has one daughter, Kathleen, who doesn't like pets, and she wants nothing to do with Marmaduke. You can't take the dog yourself, because your huge dog, Bowser, would cause it harm during play. You haven't heard what Kathleen plans to do with Marmaduke.
The clinic door squeaks open, and in walks Kathleen, holding Marmaduke in a pet carrier. She marches up to you and tells you that she has no choice but to put Marmaduke to sleep. She has to leave to return to her own home. He's too old, he bites children and no one wants him. So she hands him to you and leaves.
What do you do?