More Than a Job: What It’s Like to Be a Veterinary Technician at South Dakota’s First Nonprofit Vet Hospital

Godiva is helping Abby with some charting after her recheck appointment.

At Pet Wellness Veterinary Hospital (PWVH), the day starts early. Machines warm up, surgical packs are checked, and charts reviewed. A nervous dog seeks comfort from a technician. This is the work of a veterinary technician at South Dakota’s first nonprofit veterinary hospital, where it’s more than medicine—it’s a mission.

Technicians are the backbone of the hospital, assisting in surgeries, running lab tests, administering medications, and educating pet owners. While technical skills are similar to traditional clinics, PWVH’s purpose is different: to keep pets with families who love them. Revenue beyond costs is reinvested into patient care and financial assistance through the Hanson Family Foundation.

PWVH helps families manage care costs by syncing expenses with payday schedules and providing resources like pay-over-time options or the ARC Pay-It-Forward Fund for clients receiving government assistance. We are comfortable discussing financial matters with our clients; it's part of our job. Our team offers a solution for families unable to afford regular care, allowing pets that might otherwise never see a veterinarian to be brought to our hospital. Families who can afford veterinary care also visit us, choosing to join our mission and support our efforts simply by being clients.

Each week presents notable cases, but one especially memorable family came to us with Godiva for a second opinion. Godiva, a critically ill pit bull with a pyometra, was stabilized and prepped for surgery, while we also supported her worried family who were preparing to say farewell. Due to the nonprofit model and her family's commitment to her well-being, Godiva received life-saving surgery and went back home. She has even returned for a couple of follow-up visits, giving us the chance to become better acquainted with her family.

PWVH operates at a fast pace, offering advanced medicine and high expectations. Technicians assist in surgeries, vaccinate at outreach clinics, and support grieving families. This weekend, in coordination with the Hanson Family Foundation of South Dakota (HFFSD), I will have the opportunity to provide veterinary care to an underserved population on the Crow Creek Reservation.

Working as a veterinary technician at PWVH is challenging yet meaningful. We strive to prevent anyone from surrendering a cherished pet because of financial difficulties. Our success is defined by the lives we save and the second chances we provide, such as Godiva's recovery. At this hospital, veterinary medicine is delivered with compassion, purpose, and a sense of community. I am proud to be a member of the PWVH team and to support the HFFSD's mission at South Dakota's inaugural nonprofit veterinary hospital.