RANT HERE thread

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My mom just told me that if I don't get into vet school, I won't be able to afford to move to PEI and gain residency. If I don't get in, I'll have to live at home for a year and work at the call center to pay off my loan. My mom and I don't get along very well, so this would kill me.

So I'm freaking out a lot now.

I really don't want to apply for a masters. But I'd do a masters over living at home for a year... that's how much I don't want to go home!

My second choice would be vet tech. But if I apply my mom's logic, I'm still going to be living at home when I graduate. Techs make minimum wage to $14 an hour and instead of being $45 000 in debt, I'll be $65 000 in debt.

Am I really this bad off???

A lot of people on here don't bat an eye at applying OOS... and they can't all be independently wealthy. There must be a student loan or a bank loan out there somewhere that will let me apply internationally.

If I didn't get into vet school, my plan was to move, work, and think research back-up plans. I'm going to have to start looking into other programs now... and I really don't have the time. My courseload and my thesis is KILLING me.

One of the reasons why I'm $45 000 in debt is because of our stupid student loan program. They gave me $10 000 my first year. That covers tuition and living expenses. It does not cover food, transportation, trips home, clothes, ect. My parents are supposed to give me $3 000 towards that and they don't. So I got a job. I make about $2 000 during the school year at my job. YAY. Instead of giving me $10 000, student loan starts giving me $7 000. D'oh. So now I have $31 000 in loans and $15 000 on my line of credit. I really have no sweet clue how it got so high. I don't drink it away or buy designer clothes. But I guess books, cabs to and from work, trips on the bus home, personal items, monthly bus passes, gifts, school supplies, furniture, internet, gerbils, bowling... could add up over three years?

I'm not sure if this made any sense, but it felt kinda good to get off my chest.

I should really be asleep now, but I have a lab quiz in biochem that I have to study for... and I'm chemistry illiterate, so it's going to take me a while.

ETA... my wording kinda sucks, but I got less than 6 hours of sleep last night and I feel like a zombie. I'll get around to fixing it October 9... which will be the next time I get to sleep in.

I can sympathize more than you know. I am well into my debt already from undergrad, since I graduated in May 09. I started paying a lovely sum of 400 bones a month, which naturally forced me to live at home when that started. I had an amazing wildlife internship the summer after my graduation, but it was almost unpaid. So once that was over I was scrambling for work and am now a vet assistant making a sad sorry little hourly rate. I am living at home, and it does suck, I will not lie about that. But it was so wonderful to have this as a home base during this crazy application time. Trust me when I tell you, you don't want to have to worry about bills on top of loans. The freedom of living on my own haunts my thoughts every single day, and if I don't get into vet school this time around, I am going to have to consider other options to move out. Lucky for me, my pre reqs I am taking currently have knocked my monthly loan payment to 40/month, but the overall amount is hugeeee.... and I know I am not alone in this! I know the prospect of living at home seems horrid, but it is very practical, at least for the first year, and don't let your parents scare you! Just hide in your room like I do, or make weekend trips to go see friends, or defy them and get a dog. All things that help! haha
 
I can sympathize more than you know. I am well into my debt already from undergrad, since I graduated in May 09. I started paying a lovely sum of 400 bones a month, which naturally forced me to live at home when that started. I had an amazing wildlife internship the summer after my graduation, but it was almost unpaid. So once that was over I was scrambling for work and am now a vet assistant making a sad sorry little hourly rate. I am living at home, and it does suck, I will not lie about that. But it was so wonderful to have this as a home base during this crazy application time. Trust me when I tell you, you don't want to have to worry about bills on top of loans. The freedom of living on my own haunts my thoughts every single day, and if I don't get into vet school this time around, I am going to have to consider other options to move out. Lucky for me, my pre reqs I am taking currently have knocked my monthly loan payment to 40/month, but the overall amount is hugeeee.... and I know I am not alone in this! I know the prospect of living at home seems horrid, but it is very practical, at least for the first year, and don't let your parents scare you! Just hide in your room like I do, or make weekend trips to go see friends, or defy them and get a dog. All things that help! haha

I feel a little better that someone is in the same boat as me. The idea of having to make huge payments scares me. My independence is also going to be gone if I have to stay with my folks. If I want to go shopping, I hop on the bus and go to the mall. There is no bus in my hometown. If I move home, I won't be allowed to buy a car or use their car whenever I desire. I have to depend on them to get me around. The thought of that sucks.

Also, I'm not allowed to have any animals because animals cost $$$. My mom is already quite upset that I have gerbils. "What are you going to do with THEM if you get into vet school?" "They'll go with me." "How are you going to get them to PEI?" "They're really easy to transport-" "Uh huh, you're just going to stick me with them." I made the mistake of telling her that I want to get a cat once I'm in vet school if I have the money, the time, the room, the transportation... "Well, I guess you won't be coming home at Christmas time! They won't let you take a cat on the bus!" "Well, if I'm friends with someone who owns a car and is willing to drive me home, then the cat will come with..." "Oh yeah, and then you'll leave it here and we'll be stuck with it!" 😡

I really miss my kitty 🙁 If there is a kitty heaven, she's looking down at me and giving me the evil eye.

I just realized I don't have to go home... I have relatives in BC and Ontario who would let me stay for free. If PEI didn't work out, I could always try applying there, even though the odds of getting in are similar.

I created a blog for little grievances like this... I should start using it more frequently.
 
Also, I'm not allowed to have any animals because animals cost $$$. My mom is already quite upset that I have gerbils. "What are you going to do with THEM if you get into vet school?" .

I adopted a dog, and its been a year since I got him. My parents hated him at first now they love him. I also applied to Edinburgh, because you know, its so easy to take dogs back and forth to Europe. But sometimes you just have to go with the flow. BC is incredible and I have a good friend who lives there... WSU is the closest I am going to get to there!
 
I work for a vet who is eating my soul.

Slowly, over the past 2 1/2 years he's been chipping away at it - I came from working at an AMAZING vet for 3 years, but had to leave as I moved for vet school. I would not be working for the vet I currently do if I did not desperately need the money.

He's just generally crap and has poor ethics, and doesnt seem to really like animals, and if he doesnt think he can make a buck out of something, well, tough.

So, a lady brings in a possum the other day, which is really, really ill. Just drops it off to us, because, you know, its wildlife, not her pet, gives it to us in good faith we'll do the right thing by it, ie. assess it and euth it if in pain.

This possum is not far from the great tree of heaven, and so when my boss walks through the door, I just say "hey, can you euth this possum for me?" Which he did. (I've been there so long and am so used to this situation it now only kills my soul a tiny bit that he would euth wildlife straight away without performing his own assessment. gah).

Anyway, about half an hour later, he comes up to me and asks who brought it in. I tell him, and he goes "in the future, you really need to charge people for things like that"

THINGS LIKE WHAT?!?!?!? Being a good samaritan and bringing the suffering wildlife to us to be helped on its way??? If you start telling people they're going to be charged for being good people, they are going to STOP being good people!!! ARRRRGHHHHHH!!!! Another chunk of soul gone.

So yeah, at this stage, I think I would be happier selling clothes and waiting tables... I dont need the experience, its not like the vets there are good teachers or anything, and I already have 2 other veterinary jobs. I cannot WAIT to find another job so I can quit!!!
 
I work for a vet who is eating my soul.

Slowly, over the past 2 1/2 years he's been chipping away at it - I came from working at an AMAZING vet for 3 years, but had to leave as I moved for vet school. I would not be working for the vet I currently do if I did not desperately need the money.

He's just generally crap and has poor ethics, and doesnt seem to really like animals, and if he doesnt think he can make a buck out of something, well, tough.

So, a lady brings in a possum the other day, which is really, really ill. Just drops it off to us, because, you know, its wildlife, not her pet, gives it to us in good faith we'll do the right thing by it, ie. assess it and euth it if in pain.

This possum is not far from the great tree of heaven, and so when my boss walks through the door, I just say "hey, can you euth this possum for me?" Which he did. (I've been there so long and am so used to this situation it now only kills my soul a tiny bit that he would euth wildlife straight away without performing his own assessment. gah).

Anyway, about half an hour later, he comes up to me and asks who brought it in. I tell him, and he goes "in the future, you really need to charge people for things like that"

THINGS LIKE WHAT?!?!?!? Being a good samaritan and bringing the suffering wildlife to us to be helped on its way??? If you start telling people they're going to be charged for being good people, they are going to STOP being good people!!! ARRRRGHHHHHH!!!! Another chunk of soul gone.

So yeah, at this stage, I think I would be happier selling clothes and waiting tables... I dont need the experience, its not like the vets there are good teachers or anything, and I already have 2 other veterinary jobs. I cannot WAIT to find another job so I can quit!!!

Take this for what it is worth since this may not be the case in OZ..
possums are dirty creatures and taking them in exposes everyone in the clinic to whatever they carry (including possibly rabies here in the US). If I owned a practice, I would have directed the lady to a local wildlife rehab, and would have been pissed if a tech took one in while I was not there (although this would be known well ahead of time). This probably does not help you, but things to think of if(when?) you come back to practice in the US (the land of sue happy people).
 
Take this for what it is worth since this may not be the case in OZ..
possums are dirty creatures and taking them in exposes everyone in the clinic to whatever they carry (including possibly rabies here in the US). If I owned a practice, I would have directed the lady to a local wildlife rehab, and would have been pissed if a tech took one in while I was not there (although this would be known well ahead of time). This probably does not help you, but things to think of if(when?) you come back to practice in the US (the land of sue happy people).

Isn't the Australian possum different than the American oppossum?

These guys look really cute, and I'd be really heartbroken if they were full of rabies:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Possum
 
Take this for what it is worth since this may not be the case in OZ..
possums are dirty creatures and taking them in exposes everyone in the clinic to whatever they carry (including possibly rabies here in the US). If I owned a practice, I would have directed the lady to a local wildlife rehab, and would have been pissed if a tech took one in while I was not there (although this would be known well ahead of time). This probably does not help you, but things to think of if(when?) you come back to practice in the US (the land of sue happy people).

Here in Australia, people take injured/sick wildlife to their vets, as wildlife rehab centres are few and far between, and veterinarians are required (under the veterinary surgeons act) to relieve any suffering of wildlife. What irks me most about this case is that just a few weeks earlier, there was an article in our local paper regarding a possum that another veterinary clinic rehabilitated, and my boss called up the paper and made them put an amendment in stating that all vet clinics in the area take in wildlife. Yeah, they all might, but not all will give any a chance to rehabilitate - its actually policy at this clinic to euthanase all wildlife - and now, we're going to charge well meaning members of the public to do it. And yes, while I know wildlife often cannot be rehabilitated, when otherwise healthy animals get brought in with minor injuries (think seagull with simple fish hook puncture) get euthanased, because the people at the clinic are too lazy to call a wildlife carer, yes, it eats your soul.

In that case, I think it is different here - vet clinics are meant to be a haven for wildlife, the first port of call. From there, animals get assessed as either viable, and THEN passed onto carers, or euthanased.

(And to be honest, I think the argument that "possums are dirty" is a really bad one. I mean, I know we dont have rabies over here, but domestic animals present a lot of communicable diseases to humans too ie dogs and giardia and rabies. And possums are cute! And native!)

Oh, and I'm not practising in the US! I'm Australian, and living in the best country in the world 🙂
 
This thesis is STRESSING ME OUT.

To make a LONG story short:
- I asked my supervisor when my proposal was due waaay back in August. He told me yesterday that it was due October 4th. So I'm struggling to finish it on no sleep because I've been sick. My mom came up this weekend and I couldn't spend any time with her because of this stupid proposal. Mom wants to go have a talk with him because I'm so stressed out lol.

- I've put about 200 hours into the project and my supervisor thinks I'm not putting in enough time. I've been spending at least two hours a day since school started collecting data, getting presentations ready for the other honours students, and working on this damn proposal.

- I now spend 10 hours a day at the university during the week. I'm running out of clean clothes, food, my apartment is a mess and I desperately need to go to the bank because when you're sick and your honours supervisor is breathing down the back of your neck, these things get put on hold.
 
I hate to say it, but this is good practice for vet school.

👍👍

I LOVE vet school, but this is absolutely true. I spend about 12 hours in class and studying at school on most days. More before exams.
 
I've converted to microwave meals because cooking takes well over an hour, and it's not enjoyable enough to lump into my free time.
 
I've converted to microwave meals because cooking takes well over an hour, and it's not enjoyable enough to lump into my free time.

Great I am still finishing up my undergrad and I have already converted to this..... only 6 more years!
 
I've converted to microwave meals because cooking takes well over an hour, and it's not enjoyable enough to lump into my free time.

👍👍👍 Ditto this - I like cooking, but not enough to waste my very little free time doing it!
 
I don't have a microwave. Mine broke about 7 months after I bought it. I didn't want to shell out another $60 and didn't have a ride to Walmart so I kinda forgot about it.
 
I want to rant about how it is FREEZING in the library!!

How am I supposed to concentrate on studying when I'm shivering and my hands are turning blue??

I've taken to holding my laptop battery to provide me with a small amount of warmth but then I can't write anything!

I'm not asking for sleep-inducing warmth here. Just something above frigid.

Oh and I'd also like to rant about studying. I just don't enjoy it. And after 6 years of not studying, I'm just not good at it. Down with studying!
 
Oh and I'd also like to rant about studying. I just don't enjoy it. And after 6 years of not studying, I'm just not good at it. Down with studying!

Preach on!

Our library is a good temp, though (that's where I am now too, haha!). Our classroom on the other hand, for the first three weeks it was either frigid or sauna, no in between. Ick..
 
Ok I have never posted on this rant thread but an unexpected $1500 bill to replace 8ft of sewage line in our house warranted this rant. Ouch...not a fun way to spend money 🙁
 
I don't have a microwave. Mine broke about 7 months after I bought it. I didn't want to shell out another $60 and didn't have a ride to Walmart so I kinda forgot about it.

Craigslist and/or freshman move-out/in can generally net you a free microwave.



Our library is a good temp, though (that's where I am now too, haha!). Our classroom on the other hand, for the first three weeks it was either frigid or sauna, no in between. Ick..

Our primary lecture room is at least sub-60. Not comfortable at all. It started off alright and then one day it was just freezing cold and has been since.

Sitting in that amount of cold for 3 hours a day can't be conducive to good health.
 
We actually had a class vote (turned into an argument) over what the temperature should be set at. It is so cold that people bring blankets to class. Apparently the guys get really hot in their long sleeved shirts and ties...and girls get cold in their dresses/skirts. Can't please everyone I guess
 
We actually had a class vote (turned into an argument) over what the temperature should be set at. It is so cold that people bring blankets to class. Apparently the guys get really hot in their long sleeved shirts and ties...and girls get cold in their dresses/skirts. Can't please everyone I guess

ummm... let's see... maybe changing the dress code is the answer.
 
Yeah, I hope the code allows slacks for ladies or I'm withdrawing my app right now. I don't do skirts, period.

Painful enough making us leave our jeans, tshirts converse, hoodies, etc etc behind...

*grumble*

Anyway, I'm kind of having a hard time adjusting to the fact that I just paid $1600 to commit to leaving my husband behind for four years.
 
Yeah, I hope the code allows slacks for ladies or I'm withdrawing my app right now. I don't do skirts, period.

Painful enough making us leave our jeans, tshirts converse, hoodies, etc etc behind...

*grumble*

Yeah, first Mississippi makes it so that you have to leave the ultra-cool UCDavis and Ohio State people out of the VIDA trip, then they make you do this if you get in....blech, why apply there again? 😉

Anyway, I'm kind of having a hard time adjusting to the fact that I just paid $1600 to commit to leaving my husband behind for four years.

Not necessarily! No reason to think that way yet...
 
Anyway, about half an hour later, he comes up to me and asks who brought it in. I tell him, and he goes "in the future, you really need to charge people for things like that

THINGS LIKE WHAT?!?!?!? Being a good samaritan and bringing the suffering wildlife to us to be helped on its way??? If you start telling people they're going to be charged for being good people, they are going to STOP being good people!!! ARRRRGHHHHHH!!!! Another chunk of soul gone.


Ok, I'm going to play devil's advocate here. Someone takes a wild animal into a vet clinic. This costs the clinic - technician time, syrings/needles, euthanol, disposal etc etc. Before graduating I would have been in your shoes. However, after you have worked as a veterinarian and exposed to the business side of how a clinic is run your perspective may change. Mine has. I would gladly have euthanized the animal. But I also would have requested a small fee to cover my costs. I would bet that the majority of clinic owners on VIN would feel the same way.
 
I had a client at work today that I was very close to punching in the face...

He brought in his constipated cat and explained to me that his cat had this same issue a year and a half ago, then it stopped eating, and ended up with hepatic lipidosis....he is lucky his cat is still alive.

So I give him an estimate to leave the cat with us so we can give it sq fluids, take x-rays (the dr. felt the blockage up really high closer to the stomach wanted to make sure it actually was stool), and give it an enema or two.

As soon as I give him the estimate he says, "Ok. This is ridiculous. This is NOT human medicine. Human medicine is FAR superior to this. This is much, much lower and you guys can't be charging these outrages prices ($375 for all above services including exam and lactulose (which he declined the lactulose and decided to use the expired stuff he has at home as that will still work)). And I am not doing x-rays because they only show you what you CAN'T do. 🙂confused🙂 And I am not leaving my cat here I will sit with him in the lobby or in the car if I have to if the first enema doesn't work. Or I will just bring him back for another one later tonight or tomorrow, unless you will charge me for another exam when I am bring him back, if the first does not work. And do I really need to do sq fluids too?" 😡----> :boom:

He said all of that above without me being able to get a word in. I told him let me go talk with the doctor and see what we can do for you (In my mind I was actually thinking let me get out of here before I punch you in the face and get myself arrested and fired.)

So, he is unwilling to spend $375 on his cat to be sure it gets better. So instead we will just let the cat get worse until he stops eating and gets hepatic lipidosis again...BRILLIANT IDEA...then you can spend around 750-1200 dollars to try to save your cat's life.

:boom: :bang: 😡
 
Yes Mississippi allows slacks. I have not worn a skirt or dress yet 🙂 It's not bad for girls at all. I wear gray, black, or navy pants basically every day (and not even dress pants! chinos baby!)
 
Alright, what is with that freakin' disgusting anti-meth ad that keeps playing across the top of my screen. Is anybody else getting that? It's by some Colorado-based organization so I don't know if only people living in Colorado are seeing it. It's making me nauseated! C'mon SDN, stop creeping me out!
 
Alright, what is with that freakin' disgusting anti-meth ad that keeps playing across the top of my screen. Is anybody else getting that? It's by some Colorado-based organization so I don't know if only people living in Colorado are seeing it. It's making me nauseated! C'mon SDN, stop creeping me out!

i don't see it, and i'm in colorado...

but how about those anti-meth commercials, like that one with the girl seeing her bloody meth-addicted self lying crumpled at the bottom of her shower? i saw that one late at night when i first moved here last year and it totally freaked me out
 
ummm... let's see... maybe changing the dress code is the answer.

How on earth did the guys win that argument anyhow? Outnumbered against women and they still won. I must know their secret!



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Ok, I'm going to play devil's advocate here. Someone takes a wild animal into a vet clinic. This costs the clinic - technician time, syrings/needles, euthanol, disposal etc etc. Before graduating I would have been in your shoes. However, after you have worked as a veterinarian and exposed to the business side of how a clinic is run your perspective may change. Mine has. I would gladly have euthanized the animal. But I also would have requested a small fee to cover my costs. I would bet that the majority of clinic owners on VIN would feel the same way.


Ok... I'm starting to think it must be some strange North American/Australian divide... having worked at 5 different clinics here, and being friends with many other practice owners and vets, no other vet/practice owner I know would even think of charging for euthanasia of wildlife. Over here we are required BY LAW to relieve the suffering of wildlife if required... to me, whoever it is who brings the animal in is just a middleman, they have nothing directly to do with it. Its not their animal. They are not asking you to save it - they are just asking you to do the right thing. Expensive rehabilitations can be forwarded to wildlife care groups - but euthanasing wildlife is going to cost no more than a few dollars, and it is part of your responsibility as a vet. I see it as one of those things you take on as part of being a vet. And really, most members of the public are going to be pretty put off if you ask them to pay for the euthing of wildlife - they have nothing to do with that animal! They are just being the kind person trying to get it put out of its misery. And it may make people leave the animal to suffer, instead of bringing it into you. Almost every vet I know would rather they lose a couple of dollars here and there (which a good practice should be able to absorb) rather then let suffering wildlife suffer.

Seriously, does no-one in North America take wildlife to vet clinics?!?!?
 
Ok... I'm starting to think it must be some strange North American/Australian divide... having worked at 5 different clinics here, and being friends with many other practice owners and vets, no other vet/practice owner I know would even think of charging for euthanasia of wildlife. Over here we are required BY LAW to relieve the suffering of wildlife if required... to me, whoever it is who brings the animal in is just a middleman, they have nothing directly to do with it. Its not their animal. They are not asking you to save it - they are just asking you to do the right thing. Expensive rehabilitations can be forwarded to wildlife care groups - but euthanasing wildlife is going to cost no more than a few dollars, and it is part of your responsibility as a vet. I see it as one of those things you take on as part of being a vet. And really, most members of the public are going to be pretty put off if you ask them to pay for the euthing of wildlife - they have nothing to do with that animal! They are just being the kind person trying to get it put out of its misery. And it may make people leave the animal to suffer, instead of bringing it into you. Almost every vet I know would rather they lose a couple of dollars here and there (which a good practice should be able to absorb) rather then let suffering wildlife suffer.

Seriously, does no-one in North America take wildlife to vet clinics?!?!?

No. We rarely have people bring wildlife to us. We will have people call occasionaly to ask what they can do for injured wildlife and we refer them to the appropriate people. We did once do a courtesy euth on an injured squirrel a client had brought in, but we don't tend to get that very often. I would much rather people leave injured wildlife alone...I know it seems mean, but people can sometimes do more harm than good to the animal when trying to catch them and they put themselves at risk of getting bit or scratched and landing in a hospital from severe bite wounds or scratches. It just isn't worth the chance...call out people who are trained to handle wildlife.
 
Seriously, does no-one in North America take wildlife to vet clinics?!?!?
We do! But I think that a wildlife rescue contracts us...and I don' t know if our hospital is getting money or how much. I do know over the past year we have had a coyote, opposum, and fox come and leave our hospital.
 
Seriously, does no-one in North America take wildlife to vet clinics?!?!?

The clinic I worked at did all the time, but I think we were only one of a handful of clinics in town that would. Most of the other vets knew we did, and if somebody just showed up at their clinic, they'd direct them our way. We euthed severe cases, but if it looked like they had a chance, we'd fix them up, and keep them until they were able to go to a re-habber. The owner kept a folder of all the charts for the wildlife so she could write it off on her taxes, but I don't think she ever actually did. But she certainly never charged people for bringing in wildlife.
 
Seriously, does no-one in North America take wildlife to vet clinics?!?!?

There are huge liability issues with wildife, though, as I'm sure you know. When I was a kid, my father and I found a fawn with a compound fracture in one of the hind legs. We brought it to my dog's vet and they wouldn't even let us bring it inside. They directed us to a wildlife rehab center where the fawn was euthanized immediately. I volunteered at that same wildlife center last spring and its well enough known that they get a lot of animals, either to just be euthanized or to rehabilitate and release.

I think, as a vet, my personal inclination would be to euthanize the animal on the spot, but the large risks associated with handling and having wildlife present are just too much in many situations. Wildlife rehabbers have the experience and knowledge on how to handle the animal immediately (restrain, etc) as well as the facilities to do so that don't put any non-wild animals at risk of "wild" diseases. Staff members are also more likely (I would guess) to be vaccinated for rabies, as well as be knowledgable about certain species quirks (like the bacteria that raccoons carry that can get into human brains and such). I understand that you want to alleviate the suffering - as would I! - but the potential consequences are pretty big.
 
I will never forget that young lass on the streets of Oxford with the small diamond stud in her left nostril wearing the sweater/mini skirt and tights combination that all the college girls wore back then.

You can find that 'look' right here in Edinburgh. I'm not sure if the fashion is so bad it's good, or just really bad....pretty sure it's fantastically horrible... tights with everything, especially skirts. Bad, bad shoe combos..it's all just baaaaaad. 😱
 
And for the rant: I'm over walking my dogs on a Saturday/Sunday AM and having to literally hoist them into the air (numerous times) as they try and dive into a pile of fairly fresh vomit sitting on the sidewalk for their breakfast snack-a-doodle.
 
rant: i hate being sick. i get bronchitis at least once a year and so here it is. i got sent home from work today because my coworkers thought i was going to die. hopefully, after a few days of my meds i'll be feeling a lot better, because right now i'm having a hard time staying awake enough to study for the tests i have this week.
 
Ok... I'm starting to think it must be some strange North American/Australian divide... having worked at 5 different clinics here, and being friends with many other practice owners and vets, no other vet/practice owner I know would even think of charging for euthanasia of wildlife. Over here we are required BY LAW to relieve the suffering of wildlife if required... to me, whoever it is who brings the animal in is just a middleman, they have nothing directly to do with it. Its not their animal. They are not asking you to save it - they are just asking you to do the right thing. Expensive rehabilitations can be forwarded to wildlife care groups - but euthanasing wildlife is going to cost no more than a few dollars, and it is part of your responsibility as a vet. I see it as one of those things you take on as part of being a vet. And really, most members of the public are going to be pretty put off if you ask them to pay for the euthing of wildlife - they have nothing to do with that animal! They are just being the kind person trying to get it put out of its misery. And it may make people leave the animal to suffer, instead of bringing it into you. Almost every vet I know would rather they lose a couple of dollars here and there (which a good practice should be able to absorb) rather then let suffering wildlife suffer.

Seriously, does no-one in North America take wildlife to vet clinics?!?!?


I respectfully disagree. Sure, the person who delivers the animal has nothing to do with the injured animal. But neither does the vet clinic! Just because we went to vet school, we should be obligated to euthanize any and all injured animals - and have to pay to do it?? That does not make sense to me. The only winner is the middle man who can walk away with a fuzzy feeling inside that they did the 'right' thing. Sorry if I sound jaded - 1.5 yrs of practice under my belt and I've become more black and white about these issues...
 
I respectfully disagree. Sure, the person who delivers the animal has nothing to do with the injured animal. But neither does the vet clinic! Just because we went to vet school, we should be obligated to euthanize any and all injured animals - and have to pay to do it?? That does not make sense to me. The only winner is the middle man who can walk away with a fuzzy feeling inside that they did the 'right' thing. Sorry if I sound jaded - 1.5 yrs of practice under my belt and I've become more black and white about these issues...

How about asking for a donation? I was required at the wildlife rehab center I worked at to ask EVERY caller/good samaritan for a $25 donation to help cover the costs for the animal's care (even if it's euthanasia). Most people agreed to the $25. Some gave less, but an overwhelming majority gave a fair amount. Many even went over and gave us $50 or $100.

I think that makes it more fair in that the good samaritan understands that the vet/clinic is doing just as much of a good deed as they are. And many will decide to share that responsibility.
 
My wildlife place did the same thing. Some people couldn't give anything, which was fine, and some gave a lot, but we had to ask everyone.

Once we were complaining about how hot it was and the guy whipped out $100 and was like here buy an air conditioner.
 
Once we were complaining about how hot it was and the guy whipped out $100 and was like here buy an air conditioner.

haha, that's awesome!

(If people said they couldn't afford to give any, I'd tell them over the phone that it was fine, but we'd appreciated if they could bring any extra rolls of paper towels, old towels + t-shirts, etc... When I said they could even bring some food that we could feed to the monkeys, some people would get really excited and bring a lot of food!)
 
Let me just say that my brain is about to explode from neurology terms. Who cares about the cranial nerves, their functional components, what they do, and their nuclei 🙁 I guess I should care, but it is all so hard to memorize
 
Ahhhh Luplodw, I feel your pain! neuroanatomy was defs the worst thing I have encountered in vet school so far! So atleast know that!

I went to wash my car today, for the first time in a year, and almost straight away, the nozzle on the tap broke off. And I cant unscrew it to put another on. So the hose wont connect, and I cant wash my car! Now it will be another year! 😡
 
You can find that 'look' right here in Edinburgh. I'm not sure if the fashion is so bad it's good, or just really bad....pretty sure it's fantastically horrible... tights with everything, especially skirts. Bad, bad shoe combos..it's all just baaaaaad. 😱
I suppose it depends on where you are from. Works for me, which is probably why it's a good idea that I stay in the US - even after 20 years, I still like it. The tights with the skirt and the clunky shoes combo straight out of 1992 is awesome. Considering all the American girls in my high school dressed basically the same as all the guys, it was a nice change of pace.


Switching gears, we had a vaccination clinic last Saturday in a pet store. We had about 3 people ask us if we were doing spays or neuters that day as well. Like we could just clear off the picnic table and start cutting. People scare me.
 
My mom ended up in the hospital tonight with complications from a stupid stomach bug. 🙁
 
Sending positive thoughts, NStarz. Hope she gets better soon!
 
I am piled under so much homework right now, I think I will have to pull 3 all nighters just to catch up... :scared:
 
I had an exam yesterday, and have a midterm today, online homework due tonight, homework due in class tomorrow, and a lab practical tomorrow. I think I'm going to shoot myself. Thankfully, after I finish my practical tomorrow, I'm on fall break until next Thursday 🙂
 
I just read an article on UGA c/o 2014. On the supplemental, they make you pick one area (and only one) that you are interested in.

They accepted 0% who wanted to go into small animal practice! Will I get rejected because of all of my small animal and wildlife experience (and lack of LA)?

Also, I found it to be a bit hypocritical since ~50% of UGA graduates start small animal internships.

Here is the accepted class interest breakdown:
46% mixed animal
9% Zoo animal and wildlife
7% Food animal
4% Research
2% Public health
 
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