Gaining experience hours?

[sally24]

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Hi, I'm 16 years old and have recently started looking for volunteer opportunities and need some help.

I've recently started volunteering at a local cat rescue, and am hopefully going to join the ASPCA soon as well. Are these both things that I could potentially use as small-animal experience in the future? Also, should I start keeping track of my hours now?

Thank you so much! 🙂

 

[Wildlife woman]

Hi, I'm 16 years old and have recently started looking for volunteer opportunities and need some help.

I've recently started volunteering at a local cat rescue, and am hopefully going to join the ASPCA soon as well. Are these both things that I could potentially use as small-animal experience in the future? Also, should I start keeping track of my hours now?

Thank you so much! 🙂

Yes and yes. You are starting early like I did and that's great but don't do what I did. I didn't keep a good record of my hours so I had to estimate. Also write down skills you gain there and what procedures you witnessed/helped out with. You'll need that stuff when you apply. Also don't forget to keep in touch with any vets/ supervisors you work with and create relationships with. You can use them for a letter of rec in the future too but if they can't remember you your letter will suck. Good luck!

 

[SnowyRox]

+1 to the above poster!

If you're interested, try volunteering with a local therapeutic riding center. Or really any sort of large animal experience too. No need to stress about it, but if you have extra time and find it fun, do it! I have volunteered off & on at my local therapeutic riding center for almost 10 years and learned a ton.

 

[sally24]

Aww, thank you guys. That's exactly what I needed to know. Honestly, I was starting to feel pretty confused about the whole thing. I appreciate it. 🙂

 

[abbercadaver]

I've recently started volunteering at a local cat rescue, and am hopefully going to join the ASPCA soon as well. Are these both things that I could potentially use as small-animal experience in the future? Also, should I start keeping track of my hours now?

Yes and yes.

Yes to keeping hours logged, yes to this cat rescue being animal experience.

Unless you are working directly with/under a vet, it cannot be used as veterinary experience, and those are the hours that people tend to struggle with getting.

Also, while being a part of the ASPCA can certainly be a good thing, I don't think it'll get you any actual hands-on experience, will it?

Be careful mentioning this in interviews and stuff (when that time comes)...I was told that vet schools can get really weird when you're big into ASPCA/no-kill shelter/etc., because they "don't want to get a PETA freak." Just a thought on that one. Not a personal experience, but was from someone who DID have a personal experience with it.

P.S. I know you aren't applying or worrying about your application to vet school right now, this is just how your experience will affect that application. Just letting you know. 🙂 Of course it's great to get animal experience, then tell a vet you've had great experiences and are familiar with working with [insert animals here], and would they pretty please hire you as an assistant/kennel tech.

 

[NStarz]

Be careful mentioning this in interviews and stuff (when that time comes)...I was told that vet schools can get really weird when you're big into ASPCA/no-kill shelter/etc., because they "don't want to get a PETA freak." Just a thought on that one. Not a personal experience, but was from someone who DID have a personal experience with it.

Just wanted to comment on this. No Kill and ASPCA (if you're talking about the one in NY) are about as opposite as you can get. They are not synonymous and have pretty different views. Just do your research on each before aligning yourself with either organization 🙂 PETA is a whole 'nother can of worms (different from ASPCA and No Kill). LOL.

 

[PetPony]

Also want to add that I found some stuff that says that PETA doesn't really like "No Kill" anyways. They're against it. (I've been reading up on them and that is one thing I found of the many)

 

[abbercadaver]

PETA is a whole 'nother can of worms (different from ASPCA and No Kill). LOL.

It is different, but my friend was not associated with PETA, but with her local Humane Society.

 

[catlady816]

I wouldn't be too concerned about mentioning the ASPCA in your interviews or apps. Most of the pre-vets students I know volunteered there and got some great hands-on experience. I agree vet schools get leary about people who look like animal rights freaks (not that I have a problem with animal rights! Some people just take it a little too far...), but your other experiences, personal statement, and general personality in your interview should show them that you're not like that.

One more bit of advice, try getting ANY kind of large animal experience as early as you can. I had trouble finding someone to let me work with horses because I didn't have a lot of experience and they're a bit harder to handle than some other animals. The sooner you start looking the more likely you are to get something. Good luck!

 

[PetPony]

One more bit of advice, try getting ANY kind of large animal experience as early as you can. I had trouble finding someone to let me work with horses because I didn't have a lot of experience and they're a bit harder to handle than some other animals.

I think that depends on the person. To me, cats are much harder to handle than horses.