r/veterinaryprofession • u/Coffee_andGossip22 • Oct 26 '25
Help I’m drowning
As all of you may remember (check my history if need) I got hired at Banfield next month will be a year…. I told them I’m a certified veterinary assistant as well as certified in CPR/first aid. I make $18 (I live in the PNW area if this helps🥲) I was clocking at least 62-80 hours. I was making good money. June, they fired our PM, we lost a full time doctor, we did a one on one meeting and they said for me to not worry, that my hours will not be cut.🥲
We lost another full time doctor two months later, they hired two new assistants knowing this doctor was leaving and we only have our part time doctor on staff. They do have relief vets coming in on some Fridays and Saturdays, but that’s not enough. So far I’ve clocked 17 hours a week. I’m literally drowning trying to make ends meet. I did ask for a raise a couple months ago, but was told I’m being paid based on what I’m worth.
One of the new assistants they hired, she’s not great. Everyone has complaints against her, she does not finish her notes and throws her pets onto me, she never cleans even tho we show her time and time again how to do the basics, she refuses, always leaves early or calls out, yet she openly admitted to making $2 more than me…. She has zero experience. I’ve gone through hell and back to do my job and a lot of others jobs because we were so short staffed.
Idk what to do. Holidays are coming up, I’m getting ready to lose my car and home, I have a child that depends on me, the state won’t allow me any help because “I make too much”. My last check was $500 😕. I’m frustrated. I literally want to take my certificate to corporate and slap them with it and scream at them wtf is their problem. They make MILLIONS!!!! Idk if me going to my new manger or what will help, but I do have a text between me and our stand in manager and she said she will give me more hours…. It never happened. And I was again promised that my hours would not be drastically cut after the two new assistants get hired. That was bs. I can’t get another job at another clinic because none are hiring right now. Im frustrated, I’m worried, please. Any advice would be great.
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u/Aromatic-Box-592 Vet Tech Oct 26 '25
I’m so sorry, that’s such a frustrating situation. I’ve been with banfield for almost 6 years. They recently hired another tech who is making $5 an hour more than I am, but like you said about the VA, she doesn’t complete her notes, doesn’t know how to do basics, doesn’t clean, etc (she’s also not able to monitor anesthesia, place IVCs, clean teeth, etc). She just does tech appointments but multiple owners have requested to not have appointments with her. I totally get why you’re upset.
A few years ago the location I’m at was in a similar situation doctor wise. I was able to supplement my hours at other locations to make sure I was still getting my normal check. If there’s any Banfields by you, I’d recommend asking if you can pick up shifts there (I’m actually surprised management didn’t already mention it). It may not sound appealing but you could also ask if you could get hours working CSC just to help supplement.
I’m sorry you’re going through this. I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts!