Winter Internships

[Janie9117]

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I'm looking to gain some experience this Winter break, any ideas???????

 

[Cypress]

Contact local vet clinics to see if they are willing to take on volunteers - the clinic that I work for has students that come during winter and summer breaks - help with stuff around the clinic - usually handling and restraint and cleaning

For equine experience - maybe look for non profit therapy centers - they usually take on volunteers to help handle and clean up the barn and horses.

Local shelter - call up your local animal shelter - see if any of them take on volunteers short term - help walk dogs - spend time with cats - help clean cages

Pet sit - find family or friends that need a pet sitter over the holidays - gives you exposure to different animals and is something you can use for experience

Shadow different vets - maybe instead of volunteering at a clinic you can spend a few hours with different vets in different specialities - gives you exposure to the different fields and if you find someone you like and work well with then maybe it could turn into a long term relationship and you can volunteer for them.

Know anyone that has a farm? Ask to spend the day helping them on the farm with the different animals

 

[Janie9117]

Thanks!!! I didn't think about the shelter, ours yes a vet volunteer program and since its only available to students they'll probably plenty of opportunities to volunteer during break!.

 

[Minnerbelle]

Thanks!!! I didn't think about the shelter, ours yes a vet volunteer program and since its only available to students they'll probably plenty of opportunities to volunteer during break!.

Just remember to contact them well ahead of time. Many shelter volunteer programs have necessary orientations/trainings that are scheduled at regular time intervals and can take a while to actually get involved.

 

[Cypress]

If you aren't able to make the trainings and the timing doesn't work out for you to actually volunteer during your winter break - you could always see if they have special event volunteering opportunities available - may not be actual animal experience but gets your foot in the door and gets you involved during the short time frame you have available during winter break.

 

[jemappellejane]

Also, try your local zoo! An excellent way to gain wildlife experience is to work alongside a zoo keeper. I had to have an "in" to volunteer at my zoo, but it was an amazing experience. They were flexible about my schedule. Not sure if it will be the same for you, but it's worth a try!

 

[starboardzor]

I don't mean to hijack your post, but I've been looking for similar ideas (mainly for summer) and I've been looking into farming internships (sustainable agriculture type farms) and I've been finding a lot of opportunities there for possible large animal experience. I was wondering if anyone has ever done anything like this? There are tons of small, independent dairy and cattle farms all over the country offering (often paid) internships. Many don't require a lot of experience either, just that you're in decent physical shape and have a desire to work/learn.

A lot of places seem to require you live on the farm for the duration of the internship and some require so many weeks or months as a minimum stay. I've found one or two actually owned or co-owned by a veterinarian. Just a thought! This is actually my first post and saw an opportunity to chime in 🙂

 

[FutResearchVet]

Work/volunteer in a research lab if you don't already have experience doing that. Most school can hire you as a student worker or you can take credits for it. If you find a lab that works with research animals, all the better.

 

[Psorophoraferox]

There are also lots of non-profit rescues/sanctuaries that LOVE interns. Here's one that rescues and cares for exotic cats:
http://www.insyncexotics.com/Internship.html

Not sure when the winter internships start/end, but (if I remember correctly) they're available for fall, winter, spring, and summer if the winter dates don't work for you.

If you're interested in zoo med, also periodically check the AZA website:
http://www.aza.org/joblistings Tons of internships (some even paid!! haha) get posted there.

 

[Trematode]

There is also this program: http://www.wwoof.org/

You volunteer on an organic farm for a minimum amount of time (I think it is 2 weeks) and you stay with the farmers for free. I came across a local farmer on Facebook who is part of this organization. He has several different species of pig which he breeds, highland cattle, sheep, goats and several dogs. I told him I was interested in gaining farm animal experience and he invited me to stay with him for as long as I wanted. I am looking at doing it maybe next summer for some added experience. He gets people from all over the world coming to help him on his farm. He post pictures in his facebook of them lambing and doing chores around the farm. He had wanted me to come over and help trim some hooves, but it didn't work out for the summer. Anyway, to me, it sounds like a neat experience.