Clinic Name: America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College
- Location: 7075 Campus Rd
- Opening hours: 6 am
- Website
- Services: Our vet and RVTs care for the medical needs of over 110 animals at our zoo! We have 100 students learning from all of our staff.
About America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College
William Brisby started the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program at Moorpark College and it became a major in 1974. Each year we graduate 50 more students to work in the animal industry including vet clinics.
Our Vet Dr. Leah Greer and our RVTs Lauren Nickerson and Lory Palmer have been here since approximately 2010.
I realize we are not your average clinic but I know that our Vet Dr. Leah Greer and our two RVTs Lory Palmer and Lauren Nickerson do the most amazing, tireless work here with over 90 exotic species and 100 students. Exotics will hide their medical issues until it’s almost too late to do anything because in the wild if they show any vulnerability they may be prey.
These three staff members have to know all the behaviors of all the animals and respond quickly. They are just amazing and even though we do not have a regular clinic I wanted to nominate them and their work with both the animals and students.
About the staff
We have 1 Veterinary and 2 RVTs.
Volunteering and internships possibilities
Currently, we are not open to volunteering and internship possibilities.
Working pace
Each day our employees do rounds on the zoo and check in on each animal!
Which events do you celebrate at your clinic?
We celebrate Vet Tech Week where the staff at our zoo buys them lunch, gives them presents, and makes them posters throughout the week. Unfortunately, we do not celebrate World Veterinary Day. We are like a small family so yes, we celebrate all the birthdays and holidays together!
Most common vet cases
We are well known for our geriatric collection. Many of our animals have retired from other facilities or are confiscated illegal pets.
What is the most remarkable case that came to your clinic, one that the whole staff remembers to this day?
Because our students are training the animal collection for husbandry behaviors we have been able to train our hyena to cooperate with a voluntary jugular blood draw making our Vet and RVTs job much easier!
What do you, or the management team do to maintain a healthy work environment?
We try to meet once a week and iron out any issues we may have. This is a very emotionally charged business so everyone here cares deeply for the animal and their care. This sometimes results in things getting heated but we always remember that we are a team and not against each other!
Do many of your clients take advantage of pet insurance?
No insurance in the zoo world!
