Animal lover, Megan, started working at her local PDSA Pet Hospital as a Receptionist in 2023. When a VCA job came up in February 2025, Megan applied for that position. Megan tells us about how she came to work at PDSA and what a typical day looks like for her.
What made you want to become a VCA?
It may sound cliché, but I have always loved animals. I remember telling everyone at school that I wanted to be a vet one day.
It has been through having my own pets, I realised how much I really do love caring for animals, whether it be day to day jobs or intense treatment. One of my guinea pigs, Kevin, was unwell a few years ago and we didn’t know if he would pull through. He was having medication round the clock; critical care feeds every few hours and needed to be moved into a separate cage as he was having neurological and movement issues.
After a few weeks of intense care, he turned a corner and is continuing to thrive. I had always wanted to be hands on with animal care and through watching the VCA team over my time on reception, I decided that when a job came up, I would go for it.
Do you have any pets?
I have a cat called Sheila (1) who I took on as a stray last year. I also have two guinea pigs, Kevin (4) and Bobby (3), who were both rescues from RSPCA.
Why did you want to work for PDSA?
What initially drew me in was the ethos the charity has for putting pets first. I have grown up having family pets and it really instilled my passion for animal care. I had been studying Zoology at university but left after two and a half years as the lack of hands-on animal experience was not for me.
That is never an issue here, and a pair of hands are always needed. Being able to support and show care to pets in this environment really means the world to me, and being able to help and educate owners is something I massively enjoy too.
What does a typical day at PDSA look like for you?
Depending on which shift I am on, every day is different for us as VCAs have five possible shift patterns. We are the hidden fairies who keep everything cleaned, stocked and organised so the hospital can run as efficiently as possible.
My favourite day would be an ‘early’ shift as I arrive at 7:30am to take over the out of hours phone from our Animal Care Assistant’s (ACA) who have worked the night shift. I then get the hospital arranged and ready for the day which includes:
- Writing all the admits and operations for the day on the whiteboard.
- Making sure everything is cleaned and stocked.
- Setting up the kennels.
- Ensuring all the rooms are consult ready.
After the operations have started for the day, I start training on monitoring anaesthetics with a Veterinary Nurse. This is possibly my favourite part of the day, as learning new things is something I find incredibly rewarding.
What do you enjoy the most about working as a VCA?
The team I work with are the thing I enjoy the most as our team at Derby Pet Hospital are really second to none. No matter how hard a day has been, how many emergencies we have come down or how thin we get stretched, we all keep each other going.
Nobody is shy of helping out and we all look out for one another. Having a team behind you recognise if you are struggling or who pull together to treat some of the sickest pets in our area, is what keeps most of us going.
What are the most common problems that pets come in for?
We see a lot pyometra infections in dogs and a few in cats. Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be enough education out there on how they occur, so it will continue to be an issue. The other most common thing we see is skin issues in a variety of pets.
Why do you think PDSA is an important charity?
The PDSA proves time and time again how much of a lifeline it is for people and pets in need. Without the charity, many pets would go without treatment due to everything rising in cost. We can give pets the care and treatment they need and deserve.
What would you say to someone who was thinking of working at PDSA?
There are many highs and lows, but with a good team behind you, you can all ride through them. A lot of the cases that are seen on a day-to-day basis are urgent and emergency cases. Sadly, there are some pets that pass over the rainbow bridge.
Despite this, it’s extremely rewarding to work in a place where you are really helping people. Most of the clients we see cannot afford to go anywhere else and we are a lifeline for them. The feeling you get when they are reunited with their pets after emergency surgeries is like no other.
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