The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is evolving. New veterinarians are hopefully taking to heart the new changes, how may you ask? The AVMA has changed the sacred oath said by new invoked veterinarians "Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge (Vetlearn.com, December 2010)." The change is in adding the protection of animal welfare.
As a Licensed Veterinary Technician, future veterinarian, this was a wonderful addition. Animal health and welfare are one in the same. An animal that is not being cared for in a way providing all its needs (food, shelter, etc.) is simply not being cared for. Treating an animal involves the whole animal, the welfare of the animal is as important as the sophisticated medicine we now apply. If the entire animal and its environment is not taken into account, what are we otherwise doing...treating the animal with anticipation of future health challenges? An unnecessary shortened life span? And, gasp for saying, but a long term financial vicious circle for pet owners?
Kudos to the AVMA.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
The Simple Pleasures
On July 25th of this year I hit a big milestone...I am no longer in my 20's, I officially turned 30 years old. I got up at the same time I have just about every morning I am scheduled to work on the farm, the only difference was I was feeling a little older. I dont know, there's something startling about leaving your 20's behind.
I had no intentions of telling anyone that it was my birthday, however I gave in to two people I was working with in livestock. They wished me a "Happy Birthday" however they sensed that I was not necessarily celebrating. However it was a pleasant surprise to hear the chorus "Happy birthday to you..." over our radio later in the day. The remark I found to be the most humorous was when I told a 19-year old co-worker that I was 30 she said "That's great! There's a certain level of maturity or like being ripe you attain when people are in their 30's." At first I wanted to gasp but then I had to laugh...I'm ripe.
Through my on again, off again mourning I found an awesome amount of joy in my work. When I was cleaning out the watering bucket for the llama's and alpacas one of the alpacas had done something I hadnt seen since working at Overlook Farm...he climbed half way into the water bucket and was playing in the water less than one foot away from me! It was absolutely hilarious! He loved it even more when I started spraying him down with the hose. And when his alpaca buddy seen all of the fun he was having, he came over and joined the party too. I felt like I was hosting a alpaca slip n' slide party. Was this my only awesome moment? Absolutely not!
After leaving the llama/alpaca enclosure I made my way to the water buffalo's, sisters Hope and Joy. One was laying down under some shade and the other was looking content in your wallowing hole. As I was cleaning the watering container one of the sisters came over to me practically begging me to spray her down (and if you've never seen a water buffalo beg its quite a site, lol). So I would spray her down attempting to avoiding her ears and eyes and in between scratch her on her head. Well, she kept lowering her head I thought for me to keep scratching (my water buffalo was a little rusty), actually she wanted me to spray her head. As I sprayed her down from the tip of her nose to the tip of her tale I swear I saw a smile pop up on her adorable face.
The 30th birthday I was dreading ended up being one for the record books. I had some amazing critter moments and some words of wisdom from those around me.
I had no intentions of telling anyone that it was my birthday, however I gave in to two people I was working with in livestock. They wished me a "Happy Birthday" however they sensed that I was not necessarily celebrating. However it was a pleasant surprise to hear the chorus "Happy birthday to you..." over our radio later in the day. The remark I found to be the most humorous was when I told a 19-year old co-worker that I was 30 she said "That's great! There's a certain level of maturity or like being ripe you attain when people are in their 30's." At first I wanted to gasp but then I had to laugh...I'm ripe.
Through my on again, off again mourning I found an awesome amount of joy in my work. When I was cleaning out the watering bucket for the llama's and alpacas one of the alpacas had done something I hadnt seen since working at Overlook Farm...he climbed half way into the water bucket and was playing in the water less than one foot away from me! It was absolutely hilarious! He loved it even more when I started spraying him down with the hose. And when his alpaca buddy seen all of the fun he was having, he came over and joined the party too. I felt like I was hosting a alpaca slip n' slide party. Was this my only awesome moment? Absolutely not!
After leaving the llama/alpaca enclosure I made my way to the water buffalo's, sisters Hope and Joy. One was laying down under some shade and the other was looking content in your wallowing hole. As I was cleaning the watering container one of the sisters came over to me practically begging me to spray her down (and if you've never seen a water buffalo beg its quite a site, lol). So I would spray her down attempting to avoiding her ears and eyes and in between scratch her on her head. Well, she kept lowering her head I thought for me to keep scratching (my water buffalo was a little rusty), actually she wanted me to spray her head. As I sprayed her down from the tip of her nose to the tip of her tale I swear I saw a smile pop up on her adorable face.
The 30th birthday I was dreading ended up being one for the record books. I had some amazing critter moments and some words of wisdom from those around me.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Off and running...
Hello...I know its been a long time but school has a way of sucking you in and keeping you busy (lol)...
I have exciting news to share...its the last second and I wanted to do my initial post earlier but it just didnt happen that way...
I received an offer from Heifer International (http://www.heifer.org/) for a volunteer position of Livestock Assistant. I was suppose to start on Monday (arriving via Amtrak on Sunday, May 16th) however Amtrak, to avoid giving the long, dragged out story, screwed up my reservation. I'm leaving tomorrow, May 18th at 7:30A from Michigan and I'll be arriving at 6:57P on May 19th (Wednesday) in Massachusetts. I have a eight/nine hour layover in Chicago and then then a 20 and a half hour ride from Illinois to Massachusetts. I enjoy train rides, I just wish the reservation part was more efficient, accurate, and friendlier.
Words cannot describe how excited I am! This is my first official step towards my career goals of working in sustainable agriculture in third world countries...
I want to put how enthusiastic and motivated I am into words however I have two things against me...1. my excitement is preventing the descriptive part of my brain and 2. my laptop is running out of juice (both are working against me at the moment). So for now, I'm going to call this entry to an end....
When I arrive in Massachusetts I'll be blogging my trip (hopefully it went better than the reservation process). My goal is to enter in my experiences at least weekly. I want give my readers the feeling of being at my side seeing the sights of Hiefer International, overlook ranch.
Not to mention I can keep in touch with my family too (love you Mom!).
Until we meet again...
I have exciting news to share...its the last second and I wanted to do my initial post earlier but it just didnt happen that way...
I received an offer from Heifer International (http://www.heifer.org/) for a volunteer position of Livestock Assistant. I was suppose to start on Monday (arriving via Amtrak on Sunday, May 16th) however Amtrak, to avoid giving the long, dragged out story, screwed up my reservation. I'm leaving tomorrow, May 18th at 7:30A from Michigan and I'll be arriving at 6:57P on May 19th (Wednesday) in Massachusetts. I have a eight/nine hour layover in Chicago and then then a 20 and a half hour ride from Illinois to Massachusetts. I enjoy train rides, I just wish the reservation part was more efficient, accurate, and friendlier.
Words cannot describe how excited I am! This is my first official step towards my career goals of working in sustainable agriculture in third world countries...
I want to put how enthusiastic and motivated I am into words however I have two things against me...1. my excitement is preventing the descriptive part of my brain and 2. my laptop is running out of juice (both are working against me at the moment). So for now, I'm going to call this entry to an end....
When I arrive in Massachusetts I'll be blogging my trip (hopefully it went better than the reservation process). My goal is to enter in my experiences at least weekly. I want give my readers the feeling of being at my side seeing the sights of Hiefer International, overlook ranch.
Not to mention I can keep in touch with my family too (love you Mom!).
Until we meet again...
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
The official start of my journey...
I received news that was exciting!!! I am going aboard with Heifer International at their Overlook Ranch operation in Rutland, Massachusetts as a livestock assistant. I do not have the greatest amount of experience in large animal however I am will (and would love) to learn. The livestock coordinator explained that tasks would include everything from working with livestock on various herd health tasks to mending fences and driving tractors. The experience I have strictly pertains to veterinary care, which involves deworming protocols, vaccinations, TB testing, etc. To have the opportunity to learn and participate in the everyday workings of a farm is awesome!
If you have read my earlier entries, you’ve read my future goals of becoming a Veterinarian and working in sustainable agriculture to help however I can with not only the food shortages in third world countries but also the quality of food in those countries. This if the formal start of my education explorations. My goals have included becoming a Veterinarian for as long as I can remember, but after going to Niger (West Africa) with the Peace Corp my professional goals took a turn.
Heifer International (http://www.heifer.org) has a wonderful philosophy of eliminating world hunger and it starts with a breeding pair of animals (or in some cases a colony). The breeding animals could be cattle, goats, pigs, guinea pigs, rabbits, etc. A pact is made that once those animals begin reproducing they give a breeding pair to a neighboring village or family, and so on. Each family or village is given not only a food source, but their helping to feed others as well.
The position is very competitively attained; many applicants from all over the country and one position. When I was told I was being offered the position I was on cloud nine (I’m still on cloud nine). Every aspect of this experience is exciting from learning something new to knowing this is the start of everything that is to come.
I plan on blogging about my experience…if you have questions, email me at michlvt@gmail.com. I hope you enjoy the experience alongside me…
If you have read my earlier entries, you’ve read my future goals of becoming a Veterinarian and working in sustainable agriculture to help however I can with not only the food shortages in third world countries but also the quality of food in those countries. This if the formal start of my education explorations. My goals have included becoming a Veterinarian for as long as I can remember, but after going to Niger (West Africa) with the Peace Corp my professional goals took a turn.
Heifer International (http://www.heifer.org) has a wonderful philosophy of eliminating world hunger and it starts with a breeding pair of animals (or in some cases a colony). The breeding animals could be cattle, goats, pigs, guinea pigs, rabbits, etc. A pact is made that once those animals begin reproducing they give a breeding pair to a neighboring village or family, and so on. Each family or village is given not only a food source, but their helping to feed others as well.
The position is very competitively attained; many applicants from all over the country and one position. When I was told I was being offered the position I was on cloud nine (I’m still on cloud nine). Every aspect of this experience is exciting from learning something new to knowing this is the start of everything that is to come.
I plan on blogging about my experience…if you have questions, email me at michlvt@gmail.com. I hope you enjoy the experience alongside me…
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