Working at the Bird & Animal Hospital of Pinecrest, 12521 S. Dixie Hwy. (Pinecrest Parkway), is an often interesting avocation, yet staffers at the facility lead equally important lives away from their jobs.

Pictured (l-r) are hospital staffers Vivian Marthell, Maggie James and Colleen Miller.

Vivian Marthell, Maggie James and Colleen Miller all say their work at the animal hospital is rewarding, fun, interesting and often exciting beyond belief.

Miller recalled when a man brought in his pet 200-pound Burmese python, named Big Bertha, with its tail severely cut and fractured about six inches from the end. She said Dr. Thomas Goldsmith, who owns the hospital and is the veterinarian for many zoo and animal attractions in Miami-Dade County, decided that amputation of the snake’s tail was required.

"Vivian had to straddle this animal and hold its head, while I had to try and keep the body coils off of her," Miller said. "Meanwhile, it’s picking me up and sliding me around like I was a featherweight. All the while, the doctor was trying to sedate it, and it takes a long time for a snake to go under."

The three women, who say they love their jobs at the animal hospital, claim that their lives away from their work are equally exciting.

"We lead interesting lives here and also outside the office," said James. "For example, I collect rescued lizards and care for them. I love iguanas, or igwigs, and I have cages full of them at home."

James said people buy the reptiles, decide they don’t want them, then give the creatures to her rather than destroy them. She said she has four of the lizards at the moment and limits her inventory to five at a time.

At the same time, Miller’s life away from the office is equally interesting. She collects and restores vintage automobiles.

"I have a 1966 Ford Mustang completely restored and I just won second place in my class at the Ocean Reef Classic Car Show," she said proudly.

Miller said she has been interested in vehicle restoration since she met her husband 11 years ago and she loves to work on the cars and participate in the restoration process.

"I like the detail aspect of restoration," she said. "I’m a very detail-oriented person. I like finding and replacing such parts as taillight bezels, door handles and trim."

Meantime, laboratory technician Vivian Marthell is an accomplished artist and runs an art gallery away from her day job.

"I have an art studio and art gallery in Little Havana at 1165 SW Sixth Street called Lab 6," Marthell said. "We use it for our own purposes in making art and we also offer it to the community through art shows and cultural events."

Marthell said her gallery has been open since February and she also uses it to show award-winning films by independent filmmakers, for performances by different dance troupes, and exhibits by Afro-Caribbean and Latin American artists.