SPCA Aiken Center for Animal Welfare, SC

EXTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

SPCA ALBRECHT CENTER FOR ANIMAL WELFARE

LOCATION: SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare 199 Willow Run Rd Aiken, SC 29801

The SPCA Albrecht Center is an Adoption, Education and Training Center, Dog Park, and High Volume Spay and Neuter Clinic, and full service Veterinary Care Center. www.LetLoveLive.org

Externship Objectives: To provide a 4th year veterinary student with the opportunity and training to become proficient and confident at performing high quality spays and neuters. Typical students will finish the externship having completed 50-60 spay/neuters, as well as assisted doctors in several orthopedic/soft tissue surgeries. Students will become familiar with and understand the aspects of successfully operating a shelter facility including: intake protocols, animal housing, infectious disease control, and medical management in a shelter. Students will also participate with staff doctors in working up client owned patients through our full service veterinary care center.

Housing: No Charge, provided by Board member.

Transportation: Must have own transportation.

Recommendation: Keep a surgery and case log throughout externship.

Equipment: Stethoscope, penlight.

WHO SHOULD APPLY: Enthusiastic, dedicated, and hardworking 4th year students who wish to gain significant surgical, shelter medicine experience.

Hours: Monday – Friday  7:45 am – 5 pm,  Saturday 9 am -3 pm.  Students will work 5 days/week, schedule can be arranged to accommodate travel. There is a one hour lunch break during weekdays.

Responsibilities:

1. On time, dressed in clean surgical attire, and prepared for each day.
2. Performing safe and efficient spay/neuter surgery.
3. Safely induce patients for surgery following established anesthetic protocols, including IV catheritzations and tracheal intubation.
4. Work up clinical and shelter patients alongside doctors and develop diagnostic and therapeutic treatment plans.
5. Perform medical treatments of hospitalized patients.
6. Understanding concepts and control of homeless pet population management.
7. Recognizing common infectious diseases and understand outbreak avoidance/management in a shelter setting.
8. Behavioral evaluations –participate with the Director of Enrichment and Training to evaluate new animal intakes for adoption criteria.
9. Exposure to public education programs meant to help the community understand issues related to homeless pets, sheltering, and need for veterinary care.
10. Shadow Pres/CEO in discussions and meetings with Legislators to learn political strategies and decorum when working in the political arena to further the cause of animal welfare.
11. Presentation of a case to staff and veterinarians.

Digital rads and digital dental rads, brand new ultrasound unit.  In house CBC/CHEM analyzer. Multimodal anesthetic monitoring with ETCO2. Two veterinarians, one LVT, 5 unlicensed assistant staff.

Full shelter staff including CEO actively involved in state legislation board, shelter manager, enrichement director, community outreach and volunteer coordinators. 

Responsibilities:

1. On time, dressed in clean surgical attire, and prepared for each day.
2. Performing safe and efficient spay/neuter surgery.
3. Safely induce patients for surgery following established anesthetic protocols, including IV catheritzations and tracheal intubation.
4. Work up clinical and shelter patients alongside doctors and develop diagnostic and therapeutic treatment plans.
5. Perform medical treatments of hospitalized patients.
6. Understanding concepts and control of homeless pet population management.
7. Recognizing common infectious diseases and understand outbreak avoidance/management in a shelter setting.
8. Behavioral evaluations –participate with the Director of Enrichment and Training to evaluate new animal intakes for adoption criteria.
9. Exposure to public education programs meant to help the community understand issues related to homeless pets, sheltering, and need for veterinary care.
10. Shadow Pres/CEO in discussions and meetings with Legislators to learn political strategies and decorum when working in the political arena to further the cause of animal welfare.
11. Presentation of a case to staff and veterinarians.

Provided no charge. Not pet friendly. Typically it is a room provided by one of the Board of Trustees members in their homes. 

199 Willow Run Rd.
Aiken, SC 29801
United States