Meet Madeleine, Licensed Vet Tech at BAH
Made is a favorite nurse of patients and their people. Her passion and love for animals shows in the way she greets and cares for every animal who comes through our door.
Do you have pets - tell us about them.
I have one cat, Julien, who is the love of my life! I have spoiled him with his own huge cat tower, and he LOVES when I put his favorite freeze-dried chicken treats all over it for him to find while I’m at work.
If you have a pet who came to you in an interesting way, tell us about that.
I got Julien from a feed store in Eastern Washington in 2009, when I lived there. I was supposed to get a little grey and white female kitten, but the day I went to pick her up the owner had given her to someone else. He showed me a new batch of barn kittens who all came to the front of the cage to lick my fingers. Then I saw Julien. He was hiding in the back and looked very scared. The owner said he didn’t think anyone would want that cat. That struck something in my heart, and I knew he was mine.
Time in vet industry?
I’ve been in the field for about 3 1/2 years. Ballard Animal Hospital is by FAR the best place I’ve ever worked. I have the GREATEST boss in the world, and some pretty great coworkers!
What inspired you to work with animals?
I’ve always loved animals. A few years ago, Julien got sick. He wouldn’t eat or drink. He wouldn’t move! He stayed on a pillow on my bed 24/7. I was giving him food and water through a syringe several times a day. I brought him to the animal hospital every day. I wished so much that there was more I could do. I started school to become a licensed veterinary technician shortly after that.
Favorite activity of your job?
Maybe it’s my OCD, or just my attention to detail, but I could literally trim nails all day long! I get so much satisfaction from a perfectly short nail trim. I also really enjoy drawing blood.
Do you have an all-time special pet - that “heart” animal, and what makes or made that animal such a soul mate?
I got Julien during a really hard time of my life. He filled my empty spaces and helped get me out of a depression. I can’t even imagine what I would have done without him. He means a lot to me - my most special boy.