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International Voluntary Veterinary Medicine & Animal Care Placements with Projects Abroad
If you have a passion for working with animals, either in the field of Veterinary Medicine or in a more general animal care-oriented role, then our voluntary projects are a perfect way for you to gain some knowledge and put your skills into practice in the developing world.
Placements are suitable for anyone interested in volunteering abroad, including college students and those taking a gap year or career break. No matter what your age or experience, we have a placement for you!
Volunteer Veterinary Medicine & Animal Care in the Developing World
Attitudes to animals in the developing world are different from those that exist in the developed world, for a variety of reasons.
In poorer societies a great deal of dependence is placed on many types of animals for the completion of necessary tasks, particularly in farming, where people do not benefit from the labor-saving devices that are taken for granted in many developed countries. Working animals are therefore valued in terms of their strength and speed, and livelihoods depend on them being fit and healthy.
Attitudes to other types of animals are also often very different. A dog might be ‘man’s best friend’ and considered another member of the family by a family in the First World, but it is hard to feel affection and empathy for such an animal when you live below the poverty line and struggle to feed your children. In many developing countries there is a much higher rate of animal neglect, and therefore also a great need for volunteer help.
Volunteering Overseas with Animals as a Vet or Animal Care Worker
Working as a volunteer on a Veterinary Medicine or Animal Care project with Projects Abroad, you will gain some fantastic work experience which would simply not be possible in your own country. You are likely to see many exciting types of animals, such as snakes, big cats or even elephants! Volunteers will also get to see cases that have been virtually eliminated in the developed world, such as rabies, and you will develop a better understanding of the problems that people are faced with in both urban and rural areas of the third world.
Whether you work as a Veterinary Medicine or an Animal Care volunteer you will be given a placement supervisor who is responsible for giving you a full and varied introduction to the kinds of work done by people in this field. You will shadow local professionals and gain hands-on experience which befits your level of previous experience. You will be able to ask questions and learn from your local colleagues.
You may work in a hospital or an animal center, and your work is likely to involve going out on visits in the local community. Whether you are rehabilitating an injured falcon in Mexico or vaccinating a Nomadic family’s herd of yaks in Mongolia, you will gain some fantastic experience and make a big difference to the lives of the animals and people you work with.