Working -- Dan Resendez

Story by Young Chang; photo by Greg Fry

HE IS

Scarred for life

FIXER UPPER

Dan Resendez gets bitten and scratched by feisty pets who visit the

Mesa West Pet Hospital in Costa Mesa. He doesn’t mind, though. The

veterinarian technician says he’s used to it, because he considers a few

scars here and there a small price to pay to keep animals healthy.

When asked about his favorite part of the job, the 21-year-old

Resendez said it’s “helping animals that are really sick and bad off.”

“I like to make sure they’re going to be all right,” he said.

“Whatever we can fix, we fix as much as possible.”

FLEAS AND SUCH

Resendez, a student at Vanguard University, took courses in becoming a

vet trainee in high school. He learned how to groom and clean the

animals, how to monitor them while they’re under anesthesia, to make sure

the animal’s breathing and to help the doctor during surgery when her

sterilized hands can’t touch anything unsterile.

People most commonly bring in their pets for neutering. Resendez comes

across these patients at least once a day. During the summer, the most

common condition is flea infestation.

“We get to bathe them, to shave them, take care of whatever’s

happening to them,” the Costa Mesa resident said.

Animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and birds stop in

to see Resendez.

ONCE A PET LOVER...

Living in Vanguard’s dormitories, Resendez can’t raise pets of his

own. But he has two dogs and a cat at his parents’ home nearby, and the

self-proclaimed pet lover says he’s always hung out with animals.

“That’s why when I went to high school, the school had a medical

magnet program -- and one of the courses offered was veterinary training.

I’ve liked it ever since,” he said.

The only drawback to his job is the occasional untamed visitor.

“We get animals, like wild cats from the streets, and generally I

don’t like to handle those,” Resendez said.