Career Spotlights: Volunteering, Here & Abroad

Ever wanted to travel, experience a different culture, but also wanted to serve the community? Did you know you can utilize your knowledge, skills, and expertise to provide veterinary care to animals all over the world??

Countless organizations arrange opportunities for veterinary paraprofessionals to travel abroad - either to provide veterinary care, assist in research, or to serve the community in other ways. Larger nonprofits and corporations may pay the way or provide compensation for their associates to encourage these efforts.

Organizations like Vet Techs Without Borders (https://vettechswithoutborders.org/volunteer-opportunities) “partner with other animal welfare organizations and connect you with the partner that’s the best fit for you. Each volunteer is independent and travels on their own”. They also “offer financial aid to qualified applicants whenever possible” (https://vettechswithoutborders.org/volunteer).

Images from: https://www.instagram.com/vettechswithoutborders/

There’s also World Vets (https://worldvets.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/), that “operates multiple international field service projects throughout the year, many which have volunteer opportunities for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, students and assistants”.

Images from: https://worldvets.org/more-about-assistant/ & https://worldvets.org/volunteer/opportunities-for-veterinary-technicians/

Corporations like MARS, Inc. host the MARS Ambassador Program for their associations to apply for projects in the US and worldwide while being compensated for their time. Board member Sophie was a MARS Ambassador in 2022, teaming up with The Rozalia Project (https://www.rozaliaproject.org/) to clean ocean debris in Maine with several other MARS associates from across the company. An avid scuba diver and marine biologist at heart, who knew veterinary medicine could give her such an opportunity! Under their umbrella, the Banfield Foundation offers grants (https://www.banfieldfoundation.org/Banfield-Foundation-Grant-Programs) such as “Care Knows No Boundaries” that “Any certified veterinary technician within any Mars business segment in the United States is eligible to apply for funding to assist with travel expenses in the form of a CKNB grant. This grant enables global volunteer work that supports Mars Petcare’s purpose of A Better World for Pets.”

Images from the 2022 Mars Ambassador Yearbook

Other places that offer connections to volunteer opportunities are HSVMA (https://www.hsvma.org/volunteering) and the AVMA (https://www.avma.org/education/international). Oh the places you could go 📖

There are also smaller non-profits with missions to serve animals & their communities aboard, such as Dogs of Otavalo (https://dogsofotavalo.com/). These non-profits lean heavily on donations, and through teamwork they make the dream work ❤️ board member Sophie accompanied the Dogs of Otavalo in 2023 to help spay, neuter, vaccinate, and care for over 484 animals over just THREE DAYS. Talk about a speed run 🏃‍♀️ these non-profits can be harder to find and connect with, so if you know of any please share! We would love to spread the word 📣

Your skills are priceless, your presence is powerful, and you have opportunities far and wide outside your hospital ❤️ Shine bright like a diamond 🎶 out there 💎