I am currently questioning my carrer path and I need help. I have always always wanted to open up a Humane Society for homeless animals. I want to be able to spay and neuter cats and dogs, but I don't want to be a ful fledge veterinarian. Is that possible? I have heard of veterinary specialists. Could I do that?
How many years of school does a vetrinarian have to go to school? Thanks!
2006-12-30 13:31:00 · 8 answers · asked by -Veggie Chick- 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Without being a veterinarian, you cannot spay or neuter legally. If you want to run a reputable rescue, that is something you should want to offer (legal safe veterinary care *heh*). Realistically though, if you have a degree in animal science, you could open the rescue and do the PR, fund raising, and financial end of it and hire a vet if you are not interested in going to school. To be a vet it involves at least 3 years of undergrad (some schools will let students in without having obtained a Bachelors if they have obtained their pre-requisites), and then vet school is 4 years. If after you graduate you want to specialize, there are a variety of post-graduate (usually paid) experiences you can go through to get experience and certification. If you want to do basic care, you can technically open a clinic straight out of school, though you don't learn everything you need to know from school, and will likely have to have a mentor or other source to go to for information (for example, our last "new" vet never did a spay, neuter or castration in school until her last year, only doing one spay and neuter, and observing the castration). If you wanted to be a technician it usually involves only an associates or bachelors (depending on the program) and will give you the background to assist with alot of procedures, and to do some of the basic care yourself (though you will need a vet on staff to supervise you). I hope this information was helpful....
2006-12-30 17:21:52 · answer #1 · answered by skachicah35 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi, I'm a vet, and the practice I work in has a relationship with the local animal shelter. We do routine vaccinations, health checks, medical care, and spey/neuters at a markedly discounted rate. If you're looking at getting started straight away, rather than waiting until you become a vet tech, that might be an option. We see it as not only supporting homeless animals but as a way of meeting prospective new clients when they come in for spey/neuter. We hope that they'll like us :-) and will come back for future vet care. So, it can be a win/win situation. you won't be able to do spey/neuters yourself unless you're a registered vet.
You'll need local government approval as here we have noise/smell/traffic issues to comply with, you'll also need insurance, and the space to get up and running. There's a neat piece of software called SitStayFetch Pro (link in my sig) which will keep all your medical records in the one place, very affordably. There are others, if you do a yahoo search, but either way, you'll need good records to give potential adopters confidence.
I wish you the very best of luck, it's such a rewarding thing to do, but there can at times be heartache too.
Scot
http://tinyurl.com/y9cakg
2006-12-30 13:59:37 · answer #2 · answered by Scot 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A vet goes to school for 8 years, but four years has to be intern work under a certified veterinarian. You'd have to get a degree to spay and neuter animals, but you could open a veterinary clinic and shelter, so you could help homeless animals and get income by your clinic.
2006-12-30 13:43:52 · answer #3 · answered by Em 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no you can not perform surgery without having a doctorate in veterinary medicine. you should plan that the average vet has gone through at least 6-8 years of schooling plus real world training afterwards. find your closest veterinary college and call them for information.
a vet tech goes through an average 2 year plan and can do everything their vet allows them to do except surgery, diagnose patients, and write prescripts. it is very rewarding and less schooling and less school loans to pay back.
2006-12-30 13:51:20 · answer #4 · answered by cagney 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do not have to be a Vet to open a shelter/Humane Society. You DO have to be a Vet to do surgery though.
A veterinary SPECIALIST is a vet that had gone even further than a vet and specialized in something....like a veterinary cardiologist.
The are vets that specialize in shelter medicine, but they are VETS!!!
Bottom line....to do surgery, you need to be a vet.
If the dude below is a VET, why can't he spell SPAY????????
I think he is trying to sell you some SOFTWARE!!!!
2006-12-30 13:52:42 · answer #5 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
you have to go through 4 years in vet school. there are other jobs dealing with animals. you could be part in an animal rescue organization or something. you could also be a vet tech, they don't have to go through vet school and you will be able to work with animals and learn from vets and you'll make a living. being a vet would be awesome though you just got to put in alot of work, plus not everyone gets accepted to vet school.
2006-12-30 13:35:17 · answer #6 · answered by freedom from dumbness 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you can be a veterinary assistant you have to go for 2-4 years
2006-12-30 13:39:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well there is vetranary technition, thats kinda like what im thinking about being when I get older but I wanna do it at the zoos
2006-12-30 13:32:59 · answer #8 · answered by Skittles 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋