This is a small animal veterinary field project. As part of this project, World Vets team will provide direct veterinary services and care to animals in need on a large scale. 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, techs (both licensed and non-licensed), students and for general assistants (individuals with no previous vet experience). Read more about volunteer positions below.
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, breakfast provided at accommodations, lunch on clinic 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
What’s NOT included:
International airfare, optional excursions, travellers insurance, health insurance, World Vets membership fee, lunch on non-work days, dinner and snacks, required travel documentation to enter/exit Albania (i.e. a passport that does not expire for at least 6 months from your initial date of travel, visa, if applicable), incidentals and anything not specifically outlined as included.
What will I be doing?
This is a small animal veterinary field project. For this particular project, World Vets veterinary team will execute a high volume spay neuter campaign targeting street dogs. We may also see health consultations, perform other types of surgeries and/or treat injuries on a case by case basis.
Veterinarians
As a veterinarian, you primarily will be performing sterilization surgeries for dogs and perhaps a few cats. You may also be involved in the following:
- Medical diagnosis and treatment and/or in providing health consultations
- Performing other surgeries that may be deemed necessary on a case by case basis (based on your comfort level and/or ability)
- Providing instruction to students, local volunteers and/or local veterinarians
The veterinarian volunteer category may be filled by a licensed DVM who is both competent and comfortable in performing routine spay/neuter surgery.
*Our local partners are interested in having a veterinarian stay on a bit longer past the end date of the project to oversee/tend to any post-op cases and/or complications. They will provide housing.
Veterinary Technicians (Licensed and Non-Licensed) | Veterinary Nurses
As a veterinary technician/nurse, you will lead and/or be involved in running the pre-med/induction station to induce anesthesia and prepare patients for surgery. This includes:
- Administering, monitoring and managing the pre-medication given to surgical patients
- Administering, monitoring and managing the anesthesia given to surgical patients
- Assisting with surgical prep and patient monitoring
The “Tech” (LVT/RVT) volunteer category may only be filled by a veterinary technician that is either certified, licensed and/or registered. For veterinary technicians who are not licensed, they should register under the “Tech/Student” category.
Students
As a veterinary student, pre-veterinary student and/or veterinary technician student, you may be involved in any of the following activities:
- Pre med/Induction: Assisting with prepping patients for surgery (i.e. animal handling/restraint, expressing bladders, assisting with catheter placement, shaving and sterilizing surgical field, positioning patient for the surgeon).
- Surgery: Assisting a veterinarian in surgery, cleaning up surgical area for the next patient and/or observing surgery. Note: Only veterinary students are allowed to participate in performing surgical procedures and only under the direct guidance and instruction of a veterinarian. Veterinary students can expect to assist with surgical procedures however they should not assume that this will be the main focus of their involvement during clinic.
- Recovery: Monitoring patients after surgery, administering appropriate post-op medications per protocol chart and grooming.
The student volunteer category may be filled by veterinary students, pre–veterinary students, and veterinary technology students. When registering select the “Tech/Student” category and further classify your position on the registration form to reflect the student type that you are filling.
Assistants
The assistant volunteer category is open to anyone who loves animals and wants to help. Our assistant position requires no prior experience, just a willingness to learn! Assistants often help in the post operation recovery area and in a variety of miscellaneous duties (based on your skills, experience and comfort level).
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
-
Itinerary
Day 1 (April 23): Official Arrival Day
Arrive at Tirana International Airport, in Tirana, Albania. Airport code: TIA. One airport transfer will be provided and will be based on the arrival time of the field service veterinarian. It is requested that everyone schedule themselves to arrive in Tirana no later than 4 pm. Upon arrival, the team will travel 2 hours to Vlore, check into their accommodations and have the rest of the evening to relax and/or explore.
*Please be advised that volunteers may have to start traveling on April 22 in order to arrive in Albania on April 23 (depending on flight itineraries).
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 information (i.e. arrival/departure time, airline carrier, flight numbers) to info@worldvets.orgno later than March 23rd, 2019.
Day 2 (April 24): Group Activity | Free Time
Following breakfast the team will take part in a group activity – more information to follow!
*Breakfast provided
Day 3 (April 25): Leisure | Clinic Set up
The morning is set aside for free time. In the afternoon the field service veterinarian and a few team members will go to the clinic site with local partners to get orientated and set up for clinic work. Tonight the team will meet up to go over details and plans for the following clinic days.
*Breakfast provided
Day 4, 5 & 6 (April 26, 27 & 28): Veterinary Clinic Days
Hopefully you are well rested because for the next three days you will be operating a field condition sterilization campaign. The team will be picked up by 8:00 AM to be taken to the clinic site.
Bring your scrub top, headlamp and comfortable shoes and be ready to pitch in and help wherever needed to make the project a success.
*Breakfast and lunch provided
Day 7 (April 29): Leisure | Free Time
Today is free for volunteers. World Vets does not have any activities scheduled for today, so volunteers will be responsible for making their own arrangements.
*Breakfast provided
Day 8 (April 30): Official Departure Day
Today is the official end date of the project and signifies departure. For those departing today, one return airport transfer will be provided. It will be scheduled according to the departure time of the field service veterinarian (i.e. 4-5 AM).
For volunteers who wish to extend their stay, this is something that is not included in the project fee. Also, please know that if you stay past the official end date of the project, you will then be responsible for your return transportation to the airport.
Accommodations
World Vets team will stay at a contemporary hotel located within the city center. The property is within walking distance to the beach, local shops and restaurants and features an outdoor pool and on-site bar/restaurant. Rooms have A/C. 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