Turned Down for volunteering at the Pound

**frugal-fannie** · 07-26-2008, 11:34 PM

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

**DJ1972** · 07-26-2008, 11:38 PM

That stinks. Could the college help him find someone to volunteer with? One of my friends is a vet and while in college he "shadowed" one of the alumni from the school he was attending. He wasn't allowed to do alot of hands on stuff at first due to insurance, but just observing helped alot.

**blitzen** · 07-27-2008, 08:44 AM

Well, I can see why they would reject him.

Do you have a humane society or any no-kill shelters nearby? The unfortunate reality is that there are very few no-kill animal shelters. If his goal is to be a vet, he'd better get used to the idea of euthanasia--they have to do it all the time. I had a dog that had to be euthanized by my vet because he attacked me for no reason. So, after talking to the vet, the trainer and the humane society where we adopted him from they all agreed he had to be put down. And the vet was the one who did it.

**Dancing Lotus** · 07-27-2008, 09:19 AM

He will need to rethink his opinion on that. IF he is going to be a vet he will have to euthanize. There are clear and human reason for it that can't be avoided in a vets office.
I am sorry they rejected him.

**KKCondrey** · 07-27-2008, 09:22 AM

I hope he is able to find something to help him get some experience.

**Frugal Nurse** · 07-27-2008, 09:38 AM

Oh dear!
He REALLY needs to re-think his position on that.

There are times when euthanasia is a humane thing to do.
To prolong the agonizing suffering of a blessed pet - is not always the way to go.

Talk to your son about that. Being a vet means you may have to that for a family.

edited to add: I am thinking about the philly that broke both her ankles in the Kentucky Derby. Case in point. Euthanize quickly. Poor thing- shouldn't have been forced to run in the first place. Me and PETA

**frugal-fannie** · 07-27-2008, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by blitzen

Well, I can see why they would reject him.

Do you have a humane society or any no-kill shelters nearby? The unfortunate reality is that there are very few no-kill animal shelters. If his goal is to be a vet, he'd better get used to the idea of euthanasia--they have to do it all the time. I had a dog that had to be euthanized by my vet because he attacked me for no reason. So, after talking to the vet, the trainer and the humane society where we adopted him from they all agreed he had to be put down. And the vet was the one who did it.

Actually it was the Humane Society that he got turned down for. I think he knows that sometimes they need to euthanize but one of my friends has a vet that normally won't do it, especially if the animal can be salvaged(ie it is cheaper to euthanize and they don't want the hassle) So I am hoping she can put a good word in for him.Any other ideas would be appreciated. I also told him to go to Cal Poly University, which is 2 miles from our house and see if he can do something around the farm animals.When he goes back to school he also will check out the Zoo. But then I would need to provide a car which is a large expense.

**frugal-fannie** · 07-27-2008, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Frugal Nurse

Oh dear!
He REALLY needs to re-think his position on that.

There are times when euthanasia is a humane thing to do.
To prolong the agonizing suffering of a blessed pet - is not always the way to go.

Talk to your son about that. Being a vet means you may have to that for a family.

I think he knows that. I think he was thinking that they put them down because no one wants them, which bothers him. We have had 2 cats that we got from that same shelter and I have done several pet food drives with the girl scouts for them I am really disappointed.I have only had one cat that I had to put down and it was heartbreaking for the whole family.

**The Muse** · 07-27-2008, 10:00 AM

I volunteer at a no-kill shelter. The application and interview process was long, but since he's studying to be a vet, it would be fairly easy for him to get in. Maybe there's a similar shelter in your area he could try.

I agree with him about killing animals as a means of population control. It is murder. I could never volunteer at a kill shelter. Sounds like he really loves animals.

**frugal-fannie** · 07-27-2008, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by The Muse

I volunteer at a no-kill shelter. The application and interview process was long, but since he's studying to be a vet, it would be fairly easy for him to get in. Maybe there's a similar shelter in your area he could try.

I agree with him about killing animals as a means of population control. It is murder. I could never volunteer at a kill shelter. Sounds like he really loves animals.

He does really love animals. He knows it is going to be hard to get in to a Vet program. He told me he would be a human doctor if he couldn't get in but he loves animals as he says they are so innocent.I would rather he go for his dream. We are looking at vet schools in Canada and Australia if he doesn't make it here. He should make it if he keeps his grades up like this year. He just needs to get some hours now and of course it looks better if you have more hands on experience with animals.

**Ilovesewing** · 07-27-2008, 02:43 PM

I understand how he feels. My dd wanted to be a vet so she got a job at our vets office. A woman came in one day with a baby pug - a couple months old - and her two very young kids. The puppy had a broken leg. She asked how much to fix it, they told her and she said she couldn't afford that and told them to put the dog to sleep. They tried to talk her out of it. They tried to get her to give them the dog and they would fix it and adopt it out. Nope. She wanted the dog put to sleep, and she wanted to wait to take the dead puppy home with her. I suppose she wanted to bury it? Anyway, they ended up euthanizing the poor puppy, and she left with her dead dog in a box and two screaming kids who didn't understand what had just happened. DD decided being a vet wasn't for her.

Humans can be extremely cruel, and when there's nothing you can do about it it's heartbreaking.

I hope your ds finds someplace to volunteer that will foster his love for animals, and goes on to become a great, caring vet.

**Frugal Nurse** · 07-27-2008, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by Ilovesewing

I understand how he feels. ...... A woman came in one day with a baby pug - a couple months old - and her two very young kids. The puppy had a broken leg.
............She wanted the dog put to sleep, and she wanted to wait to take the dead puppy home with her. ........Anyway, they ended up euthanizing the poor puppy, ........DD decided being a vet wasn't for her.

Humans can be extremely cruel, and when there's nothing you can do about it it's heartbreaking.

Holy bazooookas. That is not 'euthanizing'.. that is 'killing puppies!!'
What the HELL!

This would have been a good lesson for dd to explain that her role as a vet would be - maybe.... start a hotline for puppy killers!!
God! That is so psychotic. The poor vet stuck in a place like that.
I have a sneaky suspicion that had that puppy lived in that house with that family some serious abuse would come it's way.

poor puppy

**champagnium** · 07-28-2008, 07:27 AM

Unfortunatly, there are many people who put their pets down because they can't afford the vet bill to fix the ailment. It's sad, but when it's a choice between feeding your kids or saving a dog, unfortunatly the reality is that it's an animal. It's sad that they couldn't accept the puppy to fix it's leg and adopt it out to someone, or fix it pro bono.

I spent two years working at a vet clinic as well as volunteering with a shelter, and the sad reality is, thousands of animals HAVE to be put down because there is no place for them to go. The number of animals FAR outnumbers the amount of homes, and that's NOT going to change until people smarten up and start spaying and neutering all of their pets.

JMHO

**Sonnenwende** · 07-28-2008, 11:24 AM

That's why I don't have pets. I can't afford them and their vet bills. I hope that changes soon, but right now, pets are another one of those 'can't afford it, don't buy it' type things.

**itsahumanzoo** · 07-28-2008, 01:50 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

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!