Qualifications sorely needed by the animal protection movement include medicine, nutrition/dietetics, veterinary medicine, law, education, and supporting specialisations, such as graphic/web design and fundraising/marketing. The advantages of acquiring a professional qualification and career include increased expertise and credibility when campaigning on issues, considerably increased funds for campaigning, the ability to take charge of one’s own campaigns, and increased ability to travel internationally as required (including well-earned rest breaks in exotic locations, which may be required often). These topics, including several suitable exotic locations, will be reviewed.
1. Professional Careers in
Animal Advocacy:
Veterinary Medicine
ANDREW KNIGHT
DipECAWBM (AWSEL), DACAW,
PhD, MANZCVS, MRCVS, SFHEA
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. Professional animal advocacy:Professional animal advocacy:
key qualifications/skillskey qualifications/skills
MedicineMedicine
Nutrition/dieteticsNutrition/dietetics
LawLaw
EducationEducation
Veterinary medicineVeterinary medicine
Photography/videographyPhotography/videography
Graphic/web designGraphic/web design
IT supportIT support
Fundraising/marketingFundraising/marketing
Business managementBusiness management
AccountingAccounting
• Movie/rock star!Movie/rock star!
7. Professional advocacy:Professional advocacy:
benefitsbenefits
Expert knowledge Expert knowledge
Credibility with legislators, media, scientists, consumers, Credibility with legislators, media, scientists, consumers,
etc.etc.
Money for campaigningMoney for campaigning
Increased ability to decide strategyIncreased ability to decide strategy
Satisfying employment, professional working Satisfying employment, professional working
environmentsenvironments
Ability to travelAbility to travel
28. Types of veterinary practiceTypes of veterinary practice
Types of practice: community spay/neuter clinics, shelterTypes of practice: community spay/neuter clinics, shelter
medicine, wildlife practice, small animal practice, equine,medicine, wildlife practice, small animal practice, equine,
farm animal, laboratory animal medicine, public healthfarm animal, laboratory animal medicine, public health
(e.g. USDA), slaughterhouse inspection(e.g. USDA), slaughterhouse inspection
29.
30. Realities of veterinary practiceRealities of veterinary practice
Attitudes towards animals can be poorAttitudes towards animals can be poor
Working conditions can be poorWorking conditions can be poor
31. Costs of a veterinary educationCosts of a veterinary education
Tuition: $20-40k. Varies with ‘in state vs out of state’Tuition: $20-40k. Varies with ‘in state vs out of state’
Student living costs: $15-20k + x 4 yearsStudent living costs: $15-20k + x 4 years
Total (mid-range estimate): $190,000Total (mid-range estimate): $190,000
Loss of earning potential for 4 years (undergrad degreeLoss of earning potential for 4 years (undergrad degree
takes 4 more years)takes 4 more years)
Cheaper overseasCheaper overseas
32.
33.
34. Veterinary salariesVeterinary salaries
$65k new graduate$65k new graduate
$97k median small animal practitioner$97k median small animal practitioner
$more for specialists (ophthalmologists, surgeons$more for specialists (ophthalmologists, surgeons
highest)highest)
UK average: £40k = $65kUK average: £40k = $65k
35. Gaining admission to vet schoolGaining admission to vet school
Undergraduate subjects: chemistry (inorganic &Undergraduate subjects: chemistry (inorganic &
organic), biology, microbiology, physics, English.organic), biology, microbiology, physics, English.
Possibly also: physiology, nutrition, calculus.Possibly also: physiology, nutrition, calculus.
Undergrad degrees normal, but not necessarilyUndergrad degrees normal, but not necessarily
essentialessential
Grades: ~3.5+ GPA to be competitive, GRE mostGrades: ~3.5+ GPA to be competitive, GRE most
schools, MCAT someschools, MCAT some
Veterinary work experience: as much diverse vetVeterinary work experience: as much diverse vet
experience as possibleexperience as possible.. US: minimum 180 hrs; 2,500US: minimum 180 hrs; 2,500
hrs to be competitivehrs to be competitive
3 letters of recommendation: 1-2 from veterinarians;3 letters of recommendation: 1-2 from veterinarians;
one from a faculty memberone from a faculty member
36. Personal statement/letter: reasons why youPersonal statement/letter: reasons why you’re likely to’re likely to
succeed, qualities/interests you can offer the professionsucceed, qualities/interests you can offer the profession
Admission interviews decreasing?Admission interviews decreasing?
DoDo NOTNOT express any animal rights sympathies untilexpress any animal rights sympathies until
safely enrolled!safely enrolled!
Admissions formulae vary with schoolsAdmissions formulae vary with schools
Easier admission abroad?Easier admission abroad?
37. Animal use in vet schoolAnimal use in vet school
Non Harmful: animal handling, clinical experienceNon Harmful: animal handling, clinical experience
including beneficial surgeriesincluding beneficial surgeries
Harmful: preclinical (physiology, biochemistry,Harmful: preclinical (physiology, biochemistry,
pharmacology, parasitology, anatomy), surgical, largepharmacology, parasitology, anatomy), surgical, large
animal rotations, farms, slaughterhousesanimal rotations, farms, slaughterhouses
Poor attitudes towards animal use/alternatives veryPoor attitudes towards animal use/alternatives very
commoncommon
38. Humane alternativesHumane alternatives
Preclinical:Preclinical: computer simulations, videos, plasticizedcomputer simulations, videos, plasticized
specimens, models, ethically sourced cadavers, non-specimens, models, ethically sourced cadavers, non-
invasive self-experimentationinvasive self-experimentation
Clinical/Surgical:Clinical/Surgical: surgical simulators, ethically-sourcedsurgical simulators, ethically-sourced
cadaver surgery (usu. via body donation programs),cadaver surgery (usu. via body donation programs),
supervised surgical experience, animal sheltersupervised surgical experience, animal shelter
sterilisation programssterilisation programs
39. Humane Society Veterinary Medical AssociationHumane Society Veterinary Medical Association
www.hsvma.orgwww.hsvma.org
41. Surviving vet schoolSurviving vet school
Gaining admission: organised, focused, patient andGaining admission: organised, focused, patient and
persistent. Will probably take yearspersistent. Will probably take years
Will have to work with animal researchers, staff andWill have to work with animal researchers, staff and
students with poor ethical attitudes towards animals.students with poor ethical attitudes towards animals.
You will be vastly outnumberedYou will be vastly outnumbered
SupportSupport
Friends/familyFriends/family
InterNICHE email listInterNICHE email list
HSVMA email listHSVMA email list
42. Hours:Hours: >40-50 hrs/wk class/lab time for first 3 yrs; 80>40-50 hrs/wk class/lab time for first 3 yrs; 80
hrs/wk clinic work 4th yr. Also 14-24 hours of homehrs/wk clinic work 4th yr. Also 14-24 hours of home
study. Social/personal life severely compromisedstudy. Social/personal life severely compromised
““4 years of very hard work (put social life on hold), ~ $160,000 in4 years of very hard work (put social life on hold), ~ $160,000 in
costs, experience frustration, taking exams every week, sleepcosts, experience frustration, taking exams every week, sleep
deprivation, caffeine”deprivation, caffeine”
- Armaiti May DVM- Armaiti May DVM
43. The rewardsThe rewards
Expert knowledgeExpert knowledge
Credibility with legislators, media, scientists, consumers,Credibility with legislators, media, scientists, consumers,
etc.etc.
Money for campaigningMoney for campaigning
Increased ability to decide strategyIncreased ability to decide strategy
Satisfying employment, professional workingSatisfying employment, professional working
environmentsenvironments
Ability to travelAbility to travel
Editor's Notes
Sean Wensley is senior veterinary surgeon for communication and education at PDSA and a member of the Companion Animal Welfare Council; he is a trustee of the BVA Animal Welfare Foundation and a committee member of the BVA Ethics and Welfare Group
Problems with working for animal protection organizations: lack of jobs, poor pay and conditions, commonly a lack of professionalism and intelligent strategic thinking.
Solution: have an ethical professional career part-time to provide access to jobs, money, long term sustainability, ability to travel, and a professional working environment; and be an activist part-time, with the power to make your own campaign decisions.
Problems with working for animal protection organizations: lack of jobs, poor pay and conditions, commonly a lack of professionalism and intelligent strategic thinking.
Solution: have an ethical professional career part-time to provide access to jobs, money, long term sustainability, ability to travel, and a professional working environment; and be an activist part-time, with the power to make your own campaign decisions.