Vale Park Animal Hospital highlights registered veterinary technician team

The daily operations of Vale Park Animal Hospital in Valparaiso are powered by its registered veterinary technicians (RVTs). With extensive education and training under their belt, Vale Park’s RVTs are essential to delivering gold-standard medical, surgical and preventative care for domestic and specialty pets in need. To honor the essential work that makes the hospital’s mission possible, Vale Park highlights the unique contributions of three RVTs: Kyra Dabbert, Rebecca “Becky” Stone and Stephanie “Stepha” Perz.

“The most rewarding part of the job is helping the animals, but it is so awesome to see how grateful the owners are for our care with their pets,” Stone said. “I love, love, love my job, and it makes a whole world of difference when you love where you work.”

The RVT path first requires an accredited college degree and passing the rigorous Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE). Following the VTNE, technicians must pass a state-specific jurisprudence exam to secure a license and begin essential on-the-job training. Credentialing requires technicians to earn regular Continuing Education (CE) credits to renew and maintain a license. This extensive training allows RVTs to manage and assist with specialized procedures, including anesthesia, surgical support, dental hygiene, pharmacology and laboratory work. All three RVTs embraced the education and training and answered the call to veterinary medicine.

“If you are going to be in the career, you have to be a good, critical thinker and a multitasker,” Dabbert said. “You have to learn how to prioritize what needs to get done first, even when things are busy and you have a limited team.”

Perz anchors the RVT team with over a decade of dedicated service to Vale Park. Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, the Whiting native earned her degree from the Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology in Denver, Colorado. Perz joined Vale Park after a friend connected her with a clinic manager. Perz broadened her scope within the hospital’s key functions. She regularly runs the surgery schedule, expertly calculating and inducing anesthesia, placing catheters, and performing advanced dental procedures. As a senior technician, Perz also provides essential mentorship to her colleagues.

“There is only so much you can learn from a book,” Perz said. “A lot of it you have to have hands-on and get the feel for things. You have to know what your doctors’ wants and expectations are and how to work well with your team to get everything done in a timely manner.”

Despite earning a bachelor’s degree in music industry management from Ferris State University and working in the Chicago music scene for five years, Stone embraced her true calling.

Returning to school in her mid-20s, she earned her Associate of Applied Sciences from the Vet Tech Institute at Fox College to embrace veterinary medicine. Stone now specializes as a surgical technician, taking responsibility for running the surgery day by managing patients, administering medications, and overseeing critical recovery.

“We make sure that every patient has the gold-standard care that they deserve,” Stone said. “There is a lot of organized chaos some days, but that is what makes the flow of the hospital work. This is how we keep our patients cared for. I do my part to make sure that all of the patients have their anesthetic drugs calculated and induced, and make sure they’re ready for surgery.”

Dabbert is committed to her future in veterinary medicine. The Michigan City native graduated from Purdue University’s Bachelor of Science program. She secured her full RVT licensure after passing the VTNE on her first attempt. She earned her full-time role at Vale Park following a successful externship at the hospital. Her diverse positions include serving as a treatment technician, handling diagnostics like X-rays and lab samples, and actively coordinating the surgical schedule. Dabbert prioritizes client communications with regard to complex medical needs. Her strong aptitude earned her a promotion to shift lead this month, and she wants to focus on specializing in areas like dentistry.

“I absolutely love the atmosphere with the people, the clients, the pets, the beautiful facility — all of it,” Dabbert said. “This externship led me to my full-time position, and I would say I found my forever home in the hospital.”

The hospital fields a large, coordinated team of doctors and technicians who manage heavy caseloads by prioritizing mutual support. This collaboration ensures smooth patient flow from check-in through recovery. The team prioritizes mental health through mutual support systems to process the emotional toll of challenging cases.

“It’s very hard to find somewhere you fit in with everyone and work cohesively,” Perz said. “We socialize outside of work a lot by going to events and having little ‘therapy’ sessions with each other. We use the high-five program to write down a note about the great work of our coworkers, and we recently started this app called Bonusly, where you earn points for gift cards and other cool stuff.”  

For those considering the path to veterinary medicine, Vale Park’s RVTs offer a unified message: success demands more than just compassion. Future RVTs must anticipate a challenging curriculum with extensive math and science courses and a tough VTNE. Beyond academics, the RVT role requires skills to manage the fast-paced, complex demands of patient care coupled with specialized training. The invitation stands for anyone committed to a career of continuous learning and life-saving work.

“What excites me the most is all of the different directions that you can take this career path in,” Dabbert said. “You can specialize in a certain area of veterinary medicine, such as anesthesia, dentistry, cardiology, or many different areas people don’t even think about. Alternatively, you can go into an industry that supports animals, like working at a pet store, selling veterinary supplies, or even working in a lab setting.”

When away from the hospital, the RVTs emphasize relaxation, family and nature. Stone and her husband focus on outdoor activities with their 3-year-old son, including bird watching and family bike rides in the countryside. Perz spends quality time with her boyfriend and his son and enjoys reading. Dabbert is an active outdoor enthusiast, often found camping, hiking and kayaking.

“I have always had a love for animals and a special connection with them since I was little,” Stone said. “I knew that it was my calling. If that is 100% your passion, just follow your dreams and go with it.”

For pet owners in Northwest Indiana, Vale Park Animal Hospital and its RVTs provide gold-standard care across general medicine, surgery and specialized diagnostics. To explore the full range of services, visit valeparkah.com.