World Vets

This is a wildlife/exotics veterinary field project. As part of this project, World Vets team will provide direct veterinary services and care to wildlife/exotic and avian species. To aid in the delivery of such assistance, we have volunteer opportunities that not only facilitate quality veterinary care but also enable individuals to be a part of the work that we do around the world.

For this field project, volunteer opportunities are open to vets and techs (who have previous experience working with wildlife/exotics) as well as students. This project will also allows for teaching/training opportunities for fellow volunteers. Read more about volunteer positions below.

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How much will it cost?

The project fee associated with this veterinary field service project is $1250 USD. The full amount will be due at the time of registration. Before you register, please ensure you do not have any scheduling conflicts that may impact your participation as project fees are non-refundable and/or non-transferrable to other trips and/or persons.

What’s Included:

World Vets logo scrub top*, volunteer kit, pre – trip planning and coordination per the project itinerary, accommodations for 7 nights, lunch on vet work days, airport transfers per established meeting times on official arrival/departure days, ground transportation related to veterinary work, a group activity as well as all supplies and full participation on the project.

*Purchase additional World Vets logo gear for your trip, including extra scrub tops, here 

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What will I be doing?

This is a wildlife/exotics veterinary field project. For this particular project, World Vets has partnered with Maya Key to help them maintain a healthy animal collection. At their facility they house and care for animals that were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, were previously owned pets or zoo residents and/or come from other undesirable circumstances. You can anticipate to work with both small and large cats, various avian species, up to three monkey species, crocodiles and more.

Volunteers will perform annual health checks, which provide the basis for the medical records that Maya Key has on each species.  Anticipated work for this includes performing physical exams, taking blood, fece and skin samples, administering vaccinations, deworming,TB testing in monkeys and more. All samples are flown to mainland Honduras for testing.

Veterinarians

As a veterinarian, you will assist World Vets field service veterinarian by providing instruction and guidance to students in relation, though not limited to, the following tasks;

• Calculating dosages for anesthetic to be administered to animals, and administering anesthetic via blow gun and/or dart gun
• Performing physical exams, patient monitoring, blood draws and other samples to be taken, administering vaccinations, de-worming etc
• Proper and safe handling techniques for wildlife/exotics and avian species
• Performing monkey castrations (if/when needed)
• Assistance in filling out the appropriate paperwork for each animal to be used as part of their medical records

The veterinarian volunteer category may be filled by a licensed DVM who has previous experience in relation to zoo medicine, working with wildlife/exotics (monkeys, small and large cats ideal) and/or avian species. 

Veterinary Technicians (Licensed and Non-Licensed)

As a veterinary technician, you will assist World Vets field service veterinarian by providing instruction and guidance to students in relation, though not limited to, the following tasks;

• Calculating dosages for anesthetic to be administered to animals, and administering anesthetic via blow gun and/or dart gun
• Performing physical exams, patient monitoring, blood draws and other samples to be taken, administering vaccinations, de-worming etc
• Proper and safe handling techniques for wildlife/exotics and avian species
• Assistance in filling out the appropriate paperwork for each animal to be used as part of their medical records

The “Tech” volunteer category may be filled by both licensed and non-licensed veterinary technicians who have previous experience in relation to zoo medicine as well as working with wildlife/exotics and/or avian species 

Students

As a veterinary student, pre-veterinary student and/or veterinary technician student, you will work in small groups under the instruction and guidance of a veterinarian and/or veterinary technician to perform annual health check ups on animals. This may include, though is not limited to;

• Calculating dosages for anesthetic to be administered to animals, and administering anesthetic via blow gun and/or dart gun
• Performing physical exams, animal handling, patient monitoring, blood draws and other samples to be taken, administering vaccinations, de-worming etc
• Performing monkey castrations (Veterinary students only) if and/or when needed
• Filling out the appropriate paperwork for each animal to be used as part of their medical records

The student volunteer category may be filled by veterinary students, pre–veterinary students, and/or veterinary technology students. When registering, select the “Student” category and further classify your position on the registration form to reflect the student type that you are filling. 

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A few special notes:

• The gloves provided on World Vets projects are made with latex. Volunteers who have a latex allergy will need to provide their own gloves for this project.
• Caps and masks are required to be worn by all surgeons as well as those assisting within the sterile field of the surgical patient. World Vets provides disposable caps and masks on field service projects, however, volunteers have the option of using their own surgical cap.
• World Vets is able to accommodate vegetarians on this project. However, we will not able to accommodate any specialty diets such as vegan, kosher and/or gluten free etc. Those who have strict dietary restrictions will need to bring their own supplements and/or snacks for the program.
• World Vets is not able to provide medical advice. Volunteers are encouraged to consult with their family physician, nearest travel clinic and/or center for disease control regarding recommended immunizations and/or health precautions prior to the trip. It is recommended that volunteers be vaccinated for rabies, though is not a requirement for this particular project.
• We understand that sometimes unexpected things can happen to stop a volunteer being able to participate in a project. For that reason, we highly recommend that you obtain some form of insurance for your trip.  Affordable travellers insurance can be found here, which can also cover trip cancellation in some circumstances and covered reasons. You must read the policy wording to ensure the policy is a fit for your needs. World Vets project fees are non-refundable and non-transferable (to another person or to another project).  We encourage volunteers to make sure the dates of our projects do not conflict with any prior engagements before signing up.
• Please read and make sure you understand World Vets Terms & Conditions

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Itinerary

Day 1 (March 16): Official Arrival Day

Arrive at Juan Manuel Galvez International Airport located in Roatan, Honduras. Airport Code: RTB. Upon arrival, the team will be transferred to accommodations. One airport transfer will be provided for those arriving on this date for afternoon arrivals (no later than 5 PM).

Once the flight for the field service veterinarian is booked, it will be shared with you via email. Once you have booked your flight, please send your flight itinerary to info@worldvets.org. If you wish to be included on World Vets provided airport transfers, please send your travel information to us no later than February 16th, 2019.

Day 2 (March 17): Group Activity | Free Time

This morning the team will take part in a group activity  – more information to follow!

The afternoon is set aside for free time where volunteers will be responsible for making their own arrangements. Special note: For those who are interested in doing night diving, the best time to schedule this would be for tonight or on the other free day (March 20) so as not to impact the vet work schedule.

Accommodations

The team will stay at a rustic inn that is centrally located on the West End of the island. The property is steps from the local beach and within walking distance to local restaurants, shops and more. Sea kayaks and snorkel gear are also available for rent, and there is a restaurant on-site. Rooms have A/C and hot water for showers, as well as kitchenette facilities. Accommodations will be shared.

General Packing List

*NOTE:  This is a general packing list.

Please research your project's forecast information for weather permitting items.

 

• Shoes (anything comfortable w/ covered toes for clinic days)
• World Vets scrub top (required during clinic days)

• Scrub pants (optional)
• Pants
• T-shirts (weather permitting)
• Shorts (weather permitting - shorts are ok for surgery)
• Bandana/hat
• Swimsuit (weather permitting)
• Sweatshirt (weather permitting)
• Light jacket (weather permitting)
• Pajamas
• Underwear
• Socks
• Sunglasses
• Water bottle (highly recommended)
• Headlamp (highly recommended)
• Camera
• Tote bag

Toiletries:

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo
• Prescription medications
• Over the counter meds (Tylenol, Imodium, cold meds etc)
• Personal bottle of hand sanitizer (highly recommended)
• Soap
• Sunscreen (highly recommended)
• Bug spray (DEET) (highly recommended)
• Brush
• Band-Aids
• Glasses/contact lenses

Extras:

• Beach Towel (if applicable)
• Ear Plugs
• Flip Flops/Shower shoes/Water shoes