DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Jamie Bates
Jamie Bates
Watching her furry friends run out of the hospital doors after a long road to recovery leaves a lasting impact on Jamie Bates’ heart.
Bates is a certified veterinary technician in the rehabilitation service at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine clinical sciences department. She works with dogs that have diseases or injuries that affect their mobility.
Some patients have severe issues causing them to stay in the clinic for months, but others may only have to stay a few days. While at the hospital, patients are treated using the underwater treadmill, endless pool, therapeutic laser, electrical stimulation, exercise balls and a variety of physical exercises.
Bates said the best part of her job is the one-on-one time with the patients.
“Dogs are very resilient creatures that can overcome almost anything life throws at them. Nothing compares to seeing a dog who is unable to walk learn how to walk again,” she said. “Then, seeing that same patient run out of the hospital doors after weeks of therapy, leaves a lasting impact that I will always remember. This is the reason I do what I do.”
A pit bull named Dirty inspired Bates to pursue rehabilitative services.
“During my rotations to become a vet tech, I spent two weeks in the rehabilitation service. I fell in love with the patients and their recovery process so much that I volunteered for another two weeks,” she said. “During this time, I met Dirty, a pit bull that had a ventral slot and had become completely immobile. He spent close to six months at the vet school before he was able to walk on his own. He was the first dog I had ever cried tears of joy over after seeing him run out the door. He inspired me to look into this profession. Today, because of him and other cases like him, I am working on getting my certification in canine rehabilitation.”
Bates could not imagine doing anything else because of her passion for her job.
“My profession requires endless hours of patience and laborious work,” she said. “No patient is turned down due to size or difficulty. It is because of this that my job is so rewarding.”
Bates is a first lieutenant in the Army Reserves. When she is not at work or drill, she enjoys spending time with her husband of five years, Jonathon Bates, and their four furry friends.
Editor's note: The Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine Spotlight Employee profiles are provided by the Office of Agricultural Communications at Mississippi State. For more information, please click here.
