Dog, cat, rabbit, iguana. Name a pet and Genesis Rendon has likely cared for it! She works as a veterinary technician, or vet tech, at an animal hospital in Los Angeles, California. She helps veterinarians treat pets that people bring in from home.

But when she leaves the hospital, her work is not done. Rendon keeps her car stocked with pet food, blankets, and medical supplies. As Rendon drives around the city, she looks for pet owners who are experiencing homelessness. She asks if they need supplies—or medical care—for their pets.

Dog, cat, rabbit, iguana. Name any pet. Genesis Rendon has likely cared for it! She’s a veterinary technician. That’s vet tech, for short. She works at an animal hospital. It’s in Los Angeles, California. She helps veterinarians treat pets. People bring them in from home.

But her work isn’t done when she leaves the hospital. Rendon keeps her car stocked. She carries pet food, blankets, and other supplies. She drives around the city. She looks for pet owners going through homelessness. She asks if they need items for their pets. She also gives medical care to the animals.

Ever since I was a kid, my mission in life has been to save animals. Growing up in Long Beach, California, I had a mini farm in my backyard. I would take in stray sick or injured animals all the time, like rabbits, chickens, and—of course—cats and dogs. I would rehabilitate them with help from my parents and then find homes for the animals. Once I took in a pregnant cat so she wouldn’t have her babies outside in the cold. All the kittens were adopted!

I’ve had a mission since I was a kid. It’s been to save animals. I grew up in Long Beach, California. I had a mini farm in my backyard. I would take in stray, sick, or hurt animals all the time. They included rabbits, chickens, cats, and dogs. I would rehabilitate them with help from my parents. Then I’d find homes for the animals. Once I took in a pregnant cat. I didn’t want her to have her babies outside in the cold. All the kittens were adopted!

A vet tech examines an animal before the veterinarian sees it. We take measurements called vital signs. For example, we check the pet’s temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. Blood pressure measures how strong the blood moves through the body’s vessels and arteries. And heart rate is the number of times a heart beats per minute. These measurements help us know if a pet is healthy. For example, low blood pressure could indicate a disease.

We also give the correct dose of medicine to animals that need it. We take X-rays and clean teeth too. Vet techs help bandage broken legs and help with surgery. We do everything that a nurse does for human patients, but we have to know how to do it for many kinds of animals. I mainly work with dogs and cats, but I’ve also handled ferrets, rabbits, and other animals.

A vet tech examines an animal. I do this before the veterinarian sees it. I collect data called vital signs. I take the pet’s temperature. And I check its heart rate. It’s the number of times a heart beats per minute. We also check the pet’s blood pressure. It’s the force of the heart pumping blood through the body. All of this helps us know if a pet is healthy. For example, low blood pressure could mean the pet has a disease. 

We also give medicine to animals that need it. We take X-rays and clean teeth too. Vet techs help bandage broken legs. And we help with surgery. We do everything a nurse does for human patients. But we have to know how to do it for many kinds of animals. I mainly work with dogs and cats. But I’ve also handled ferrets, rabbits, and other animals.

It’s not always easy. Sometimes I need to set up an online fundraiser to collect money for a pet’s surgery. Other times we can’t save an animal. Things like that can be hard and make you feel sad or frustrated. But for me, doing this work is so worth it. It’s a beautiful thing to be a voice for animals who are innocent and helpless.

It’s not always easy. Sometimes I need to set up an online fundraiser. That helps raise money for a pet’s surgery. Other times we can’t save an animal. Things like that can be hard. They can make you feel sad or upset. But for me, doing this work is so worth it. It’s a beautiful thing to be a voice for animals who are helpless.