work experience

[elerrina]

ive wanted to be a vet since the age of six and its coming up for work experience i went to my local vet surgery and was gutted to find it was fully booked and has been since xmas :( so could anybody suggest somewhere i could go for work experience around ledbury herefordshire as thers probs some place i dont know about vet surgerys would be preferable but anything to do with animals apart from farming would be great thanks

[andy-hughes]

Try your Yellow Pages for your local area, under Vets and have a ring around to see if anyone can take you.

If you have access to transport, check your local reference library who will have Yellow Pages for the areas around your home, and try the same with them.

Good luck.

[derekpara]

I am a Work Experience Officer for an Education Authority and I can tell you that placements in vets are very scarce and get snapped up very quickly, as you have found. The trouble in my area is that most schools do work experience at the same time and vets can't cope with the demand . I have a couple of suggestions.

Try looking for animal sanctuaries or Blue Cross surgeries for start. If you don't have any success do your work experience at a placement where you can achieve your Key Skills ( Communication, Use of Number etc ) which are transferrable to any occupation - and essential in the World of Work. Then ask your vets if they can take you during the school holidays. This will demonstrate your keeness.

You will still be protected by their Insurance but your school and local authority will have no responsibility in the arrangement.

Ask your Careers teacher for help, or ask me on this thread. Good Luck.

[wee_angel]

What about trying a local animal sanctuary, these places are usually looking for voluntary workers and will probably be glad of the help.

[Why??]

how about trying a boarding kennels/cattery or a pet shop. It may not be what you want to do, but it shows you have a keen interest in animals and working with them.

[Noweia]

Seconding what many others have said - go to an animal sanctuary where they're usually short of staff, or try the Cats Protection League or other organisations like that! Stables might also be able to give you a place.

Have you tried all the veterinary practices in your area? The big ones might be booked up, but some of the smaller ones might still be able to take you!

I know you said you didn't want to do farming, but experience with large animals is required to get into vet school as much as experience in a vet practice, so you could try farms in your area! As it's coming up to lambing time, you might be able to get some good experience on a sheep farm!

Hope this helps!