Turned Down for volunteering at the Pound

**Michelle** · 07-28-2008, 02:49 PM

I hope he's able to find somewhere to get experience soon

**frugal-fannie** · 07-30-2008, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by itsahumanzoo

I believe that the shelter in Orange next to UCI hospital is a no-kill. That's where my husband's family gets their dogs. I also know that the one near me in Mission Viejo is a no-kill. I would encourage him to keep applying to different places. Just because one rejected him doesn't mean they all will!

Thanks for the info. When he goes back to school I will have him check it out.

**JustMegan79** · 07-30-2008, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by frugal-fannie

My son just finished his first year at UCI as a Biology major. His goal is to be a Vet. He did really well academically got a 3.9 but one of the things he needs to do was get some experience around pets. Last year he couldn't get anything cause he wasn't 18 and no one would let him because the insurance didn't cover him. He still couldn't find anyone this year after contacting the Vets around us. So he decided to volunteer at the pound close to our house.He received a rejection letter to volunteer. When I asked him why, He told me one question asked what did you think of Euthanasia- he wrote it was murder. I guess they do not want anyone that isn't into killing animals. Maybe they thought he was a Peta member.LOL

Perhaps your son could seek out a no-kill shelter? There are many animal rescue operations, the ASPCA or whatnot is not the only one. I too, am an animal lover, and am not in favor of euthenasia. I hope your son is able to find a place that is no kill that supports his own values. I think it is wonderful that such a young intelligent man is seeking out volunteer work.

**justpeachy92** · 07-30-2008, 12:48 PM

I am going to assume that where you live there must be organizations that do adoptathons outside of places like petsmart. My dd is 14 and she has volunteered with the animal shelters that sponser those. She works at the adoptathons as a dog handler and answers questions about the dogs they have up for adoption. The organization she does this through also has cats for adoption that are housed at a nearby petco, she goes in there a few times a week to clean the kennels, feed and water the cats and play with the cats. The organization she volunteers with gets most of their animals from the humane society before they are euthanized.

**champagnium** · 07-30-2008, 01:07 PM

After thinking about this a bit over the last few days, I think your son should go around to some of the vet offices and approach them about job shadowing so he can get a true feel for what it will entail. Nothing hands-on, just observing. I really strongly feel that if your son thinks euthanasia is "murder", he may not have a realistic view of what being a vet entails, and maybe this will help him discover whether being a vet is what he actually wants to do.

It's great to think about helping all the puppies, kitties, and other animals out there, but the reality of the day to day is that there are many animals euthanized everyday for many different reasons. Vicious animals who attack, animals who are sick and for quality of life the kindest thing to do is put them down, there are endless reasons WHY euthanasia occurs. There are animals who cannot and should not be rehabilitated and while I applaud your son's wilingness to help, he needs to know the whole job. If his feelings are that strong, it's simply not the job for him.

Maybe he could use his passion to do veterinary technician and work in a no kill shelter and try to forward spay/neuter awareness. There is always more than one way to work your passion into your everyday life.

**GiddyMoon** · 08-31-2008, 04:11 PM

Did your son find a place to volunteer?

I wish more people understood that euthanasia is a fall out from severe abuse and lack of concern for animals and a necessary evil in the way our society works right now. There will never be enough money, time, energy or space to be no kill in this country if nothing is done about people who refuse to spay and neuter or breed in most situations. It would be like putting a band aid on gangrene...the illness will not go away until the illness is treated.

In California alone, over half a million pets were put down last year...from March to May of this month, over 7000 kittens were brought in to the 3 area shelters and over 70% were euthanized due to lack of homes, lack of rescue space, no money, no volunteers...it is a true disgrace to humanity. I can look in the pet section of my local paper and find over 400 BREEDERS selling pets at any given time. No kill will continue to be a fantasy until people are made responsible for the lives they carelessly create.

I hope your son finds a place where he can share his time...we need more pet people in this world.

**frugalfriend** · 08-31-2008, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by itsahumanzoo

I believe that the shelter in Orange next to UCI hospital is a no-kill. That's where my husband's family gets their dogs.

That's where I got my dog! Went looking for my missing cat and came home with a dog! Have had him for 9 years now, he's the best!

frugal-fannie ~ hope your son found a place to volunteer, let us know.

**ladykemma2** · 08-31-2008, 07:06 PM

he needs to get vet experience, not at a shelter.

as a UC Irvine biology/applied ecology double major (1985) I applaud the 3.9 gpa. that is well done!

did he get past general chemistry?

**cissylu** · 08-31-2008, 08:32 PM

I hope he finds something soon , and his dream to be a vet happens.

**madhen** · 08-31-2008, 11:21 PM

How about assisting a farrier or a pet groomer? Maybe volunteering some hours at a riding school or a ranch?

Unfortunately, as a vet STUDENT, he may be required to euthanize or at least be responsible for an animal being euthanized. Most vet classes require students to dissect animals as part of their studies. There was a move afoot a few years ago by some vet students to raise funds for a computer simulation that would theoretically be as good as the real thing, but I think the cost was prohibitive.

**Mo-BayMom** · 09-02-2008, 05:58 PM

Find a no kill shelter in your area and have him apply there.

Sadly, as a vet, there will come a time when he has no choice but to put a dog down when it becomes evident that it's suffering. That doesn't mean he can't refuse to put down a dog just because the owner decides it's time...as a vet...he can make the decision when the time is right..and sometimes..putting them down is the right thing to do. And right doesn't make it any easier.

**khaski** · 09-03-2008, 06:51 AM

Have him search petfinder.com for a rescue or shelter that would be HAPPY to have a volunteer (and might be no kill and open to his being against euthanasia- the sad reality is, many places HAVE to put animals down to to the sheer #s). Good luck to him!

**mombottoo** · 09-03-2008, 08:44 PM

In our area we have a lot of no kill shelters, if there are any in your area maybe he could volunteer for one of them. The Humane Society might be a good place to start.

**frugal-fannie** · 09-10-2008, 04:18 AM

Originally Posted by ladykemma2

he needs to get vet experience, not at a shelter.

as a UC Irvine biology/applied ecology double major (1985) I applaud the 3.9 gpa. that is well done!

did he get past general chemistry?

I think he has finished 2bios and 1-2 chems. I think he is up for organic chem this fall. I have been encouraging him to possibly sign up for research. Not necessarily animal research, but to get an idea of what is out there. He will also check into volunteering at the no kill animal shelter. I would like him to check out what else is available out there.My uncle is a biologist, but has done some cancer research before recently retiring. I have been working to get the cash to pay for fees next week. around $2700 now.

**ATLCheap** · 09-17-2008, 09:53 PM

Maybe he should try volunteering at a no-kill animal shelter. They'll share his philosophy. You can find them in some vets' offices, too. I worked for a cat-only vet, and she had about 40 cats and kittens that lived in the office.
Jenn