Working for the HSUS???

[CarpeDiem89]

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Ok, so I applied for several internships this summer and the one I wanted I got accepted to.... So it looked great, I would be going around places and helping give free medical care for animals that need it.

All they wanted was a background check and I was officially spending 2 weeks doing free spay and neuter work in rural parts of the US.

So I clicked on the background check and it brought me to the HSUS background check page!!!!!!!!

I do not want anything to do with the HSUS or any other veterinary animal rights association. But this internship would be great so I don't know what to do.

If I accepted this internship and put it on a resume would it look badly because I worked for an association owned by the HSUS???

I don't know what to do now! I wanted to do this internship so badly but I just don't want to be associated with the "owners" of this group.

Any advice from the wonderful people on SDN?

 

[josenoah]

As far as I know, RAVS is a well respected group that's been doing awesome work for a long time (including many years before they became affiliated with the HSUS, and I don't know why that happened). They're just providing a great service, not being political about it. I think you should be proud to put it on a resume, and don't need to say that they're affiliated with HSUS if you don't feel good about that. I did a trip with them last year and it was awesome--great people, very organized, providing a wonderful service.

 

[elisamce]

RAVS is a great organization, and I know that some of the vet students that go on trips are as conflicted as you are about the association with HSUS. As far as I know, RAVS is the only arm of the HSUS that is involved in direct contact with animals. You should be proud that you were accepted for their internship and not have misgivings. I thought their association with HSUS was a little odd when I went on a trip but there are wonderful vets who participate every year, and the purpose of the trip is to train veterinary students. You will get great surgical experience (and a lot of it!), as well as experience with client communication and exposure to diseases that you may not see in your home state. The thing that I took away from RAVS is that it is possible to practice high quality medicine without paying clients. The doctors and techs on RAVS trips are first and foremost concerned about the patients welfare and take all the necessary precautions to ensure that every surgery goes as safely and smoothly as possible. Congrats, and I hope this helps you make your decision.

 

[david594]

What exactly are you doing with RAVS? Are you a veterinary student just going and doing a 2 week trip with them? If so, I wouldn't worry about it at all. I did one of their trips last year and really loved the experience. It was a great opportunity to get exposure to high quality medicine practiced in non-traditional setting. RAVS is not about animal rights. Its about educating people, and providing much needed veterinary care for their animals. And one of the best parts(in my opinion) was how appreciative the people were.

 

[CarpeDiem89]

What exactly are you doing with RAVS? Are you a veterinary student just going and doing a 2 week trip with them? If so, I wouldn't worry about it at all. I did one of their trips last year and really loved the experience. It was a great opportunity to get exposure to high quality medicine practiced in non-traditional setting. RAVS is not about animal rights. Its about educating people, and providing much needed veterinary care for their animals. And one of the best parts(in my opinion) was how appreciative the people were.

Yes, its one week in one spot and another week in different spot. Small animal spay and neuter. I just saw that they were owned by the HSUS and my heart sunk....

I guess I just really have no idea what to expect and if the actual vets are cool then I am good with it. I just don't know much about the group really. But if you say they are cool then I am defiantly feeling better about doing it.
Thanks!

 

[david594]

All the vets on the trips are awesome! I really wouldn't worry about it. Where are you going? I did the small animal trip in Washington state last summer.

 

[CarpeDiem89]

Ok so I filled out all the needed information. I guess I will be doing the trip!

 

[Ben and Me]

You will love it, as long as you're prepared for very long days and hard work. Agree with all David said re: the vets. They really are awesome and certainly don't try to force any sort of agenda on you. 🙂 My trips to the reservations have been some of the most meaningful and educational of my vet school career thus far.

 

[MeowDr]

Which one are you going on??? I was accepted to the Washington state trip in August! I'm so excited!

 

[RadRadTerp]

I applied but I didn't get a spot. Hoping to be on a waitlist, but I'm applying to some research summer programs, too. If I don't get those, I'm just going to work retail.😕

 

[CarpeDiem89]

I applied but I didn't get a spot. Hoping to be on a waitlist, but I'm applying to some research summer programs, too. If I don't get those, I'm just going to work retail.😕

Retail!! ewww. Jk!!

I actually may not take the spot any more because of some other opportunities that have arose. So if I end up not going I hope you take my spots. It would be much better then working retail!! 🙂

 

[Katie8]

Okay so upfront apologies if this is already a dead issue, but one pro for HSUS, though I in know way have a lot of knowledge of the pros and cons for HSUS.

I am very proud of the tiger rescue I volunteer with, and they just recently rescued, with the help of HSUS, two leopards and a cougar! http://www.humanesociety.org/news/p...c_01252012.html#id=album-126&num=content-2388

So there's one positive for being associated with HSUS.

 

[NStarz]

Okay so upfront apologies if this is already a dead issue, but one pro for HSUS, though I in know way have a lot of knowledge of the pros and cons for HSUS.

I am very proud of the tiger rescue I volunteer with, and they just recently rescued, with the help of HSUS, two leopards and a cougar! http://www.humanesociety.org/news/p...c_01252012.html#id=album-126&num=content-2388

So there's one positive for being associated with HSUS.

I think the HSUS can help bring positive change in terms of larger legislative and animal welfare issues. I believe they also have huge anti-puppy mill campaigns which is awesome. However, my issue with them is that they are deceiving the public by pretending they fund local animal shelters (or at least they don't correct the public by not telling them they are wrong when they assume this), when they largely don't. So, at least IMO, HSUS is okay in bringing about legal changes and bringing animal issues to light, but their donation scamming is not cool, and takes funds away from a lot of local shelters who happen to share the name "humane society." Just my $0.02.