Free Post: "Elephant Painting a Picture"

As you can tell, this video shows an elephant painting a picture. However, he is not painting just any picture, but he is painting a self portrait. Although this is not necessarily concerning veterinarian medicine, it is still very important. In order for this elephant to be capable of drawing a self portrait, he needs to be trained, and in order to train an elephant, the trainer must really understand him and how his mind works. Understanding animals, especially undomesticated ones is not an easy job. Animal trainers and zookeepers need a lot of training, but they’re not the only ones. Wildlife Veterinarians also need to understand animals by the way they think, learn and act. Although this video might not seem very necessary or relevant, it opened my eyes to an entirely different aspect of wildlife that I didn’t pay much attention to in the past. As I watched and was amazed at this elephants ability to paint himself, I thought about all the other amazing things animals are capable of. I started searching google and youtube for other videos similar to this and realized that now-a-days people use videos and social media to show and help the world to understand these wild animals. These methods are a quick and simple way for people like me to get a better understanding of the life of working with wild animals.

Week #7: Contemplating Controversy

When treating a sick animal, the ending is not always a happy one. Sometimes, especially while dealing with undomesticated animals, it is too late and they are too sick to be treated. What to do in that situation is what leads to controversy. One of the biggest controversies in wildlife medicine is the use of euthanasia. 
Euthanasia is used to put animals to sleep by causing them to go in and out of consciousness followed by cardiac arrest. Using Euthanasia is meant to lower the stress and discomfort of the animal while it is being put down. However, there are many different opinions on this topic. 
First of all, many people believe that Euthanasia is better for the animal and that it is more humane. Some people who live in areas that have high populations of undomesticated animals believe that lethal methods are good for population control. By using Euthanasia, people have a better sense of controlling numbers and amounts of animals in certain areas. However, many people believe that killing an animal, even with euthanasia is wrong. Most of Americans think it is a better idea to simply relocate these animals. New York residents were surveyed and most believed it was a better idea to trap the animals and relocate them while not harming the animal. While this in theory is a good idea, translocating is not always problem-free. In fact, there are many problems with translocating like the low survival rates of the animals and spread of disease. Also, while moving animals to a different location does have a positive outcome for the New York residents, there is no way to guarantee that the overpopulation of animals will not pick up again in a different place.
          Because wildlife euthanasia is so controversial the NWCOA (national wildlife control operators association) decided to review their guidelines and evaluate the different outcomes of different euthanasia. They interviewed and experimented the impacts of many different types of euthanasia and came up with results indicating both negative and positive effects. The NWCOA decided that wildlife professionals must consider the welfare of the animal in any and every of their activities. Along with the basic laws and regulations of wildlife veterinarians, this controversy ended in a new guideline which basically says that wildlife professionals need to use their professional and best judgment to determine the best method for each individual situation. 

References

Julien, Timothy J., Stephen M. Vantassel, Scott R. Groepper, and Scott E. Hygnstrom. "Human Wildlife Interactions." Euthanasia Methods in field Settings for Wildlife Damage Management (2010): 158-64. Academia. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.

Week #6: Evaluating Sources

The Effects of Veterinary Fences on Wildlife Populations in Okevango Delta, Botswana

In Botswana many herds of species and wildlife roam the country with no control causing diseases and dangerous amounts of overpopulations of animals. A solution for this problem was Veterinary Fences. A veterinary fence is a kind of boarder that keeps wildlife from passing through a certain area. This article shows the effects these fences have on the populations of wildlife in Okavango Delta, Botswana. This article says that these fences were meant to prevent diseases from spreading amongst livestock and can cause great economic benefits. But how does it affect the animals? Well, according to this article, certain fences were meant to control certain animals and diseases. For example, apparently The Buffalo Fence  was the most important because it stopped the spread of foot and mouse disease from spreading from buffalo to other kinds of cattle populations. However, it is also known for being one of the most destructive fences to migratory wildlife species. While this fence is meant to stop buffalo and cattle diseases from mixing, it also cuts across a migration path for other species such as zebras, wildebeest, and elephants. These fences are causing deaths amongst migratory wildlife because animals get separated from their groups, poached, and trapped while walking along veterinary fences. 

     This article also goes on to explain what would happen if these fences are removed and what the new laws and regulations are now that the fences have been evaluated. From what I currently know about my field, I can see that this article does a good job at not being bias. It provides both positive and negative viewpoints of the fences and the results that came from them. Along with references supporting this article, there are also charts and graphs to provide visuals as well. My response to this article was just that it made me more aware of the consequences in changing the habits of wildlife. 

References

MBAIWA, JOSEPH E., and ONALETSHEPHO I. MBAIWA. "International Journal of Wilderness." The Effects of Veterinary Fences on Wildlife Populations in Okavango Delta, Botswana 12.3 (2006): 20-23. Web.

N/a. "Fences in Botswana." Protecting the Environment with Intelligence. EIA International, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. <http://www.eia-international.org/our-work/ecosystems-and-biodiversity/habitat-destruction/fences-in-botswana>.

Free Post: "Zoo Careers and Salaries"

While some people like myself pick their jobs based on their passions and interests, some people work for the money. That I understand because we need money to support ourselves, and one day our families, so I decided to compare the salaries of different occupations within workers with zoo careers and this is what I found:

Zoo Veterinarian- Zoo Veterinarians are responsible for the health of all the animals within the zoo. They generally perform surgeries, fix wounds, and perform tests to treat each animal. The average salary for a Zoo Veterinarian in 2011 was  $82,040 per year.

Zoologist- Zoologists working in zoos usually perform experiments and do research on the captive animals while providing the zoo with data about the captive animals. The average salary for a Zoologist in 2011 was  between $60,000 and $70,000 per year. 

Zoo Curator: A Zoo Curator is responsible to oversee and supervise all of the zookeepers and veterinarians. They make the a lot of the decisions about animal breeding and acquiring new animals. The average salary for a Zoo Curator in 2011 was $48,800 per year.

Zoo Veterinarian Technician: The job of a Veterinarian Technician is to assist the Zoo Veterinarian with treatments and other procedures and tests. The average salary of a Zoo Vet Tech in 2011 was between $35,000 and $45,000 per year.

Zoo Registrar: Zoo Registrar is an administrator position that takes care of the paper work necessary by law and other reasons to keep the animals in the zoo. Zoo Registrars also advertise and do other campaigns needed by the zoo. While the salary fluctuates a lot, a reasonable salary for Zoo Registrars is $30,000 a year.

Zoo Keeper: Zoo Keepers provide a daily care for the animals they supervise. Zoo Keeper jobs are hard to come by because they use hands-on interactions with exotic animals. The average salary for a Zoo Keeper is between $20,000 and $30,000 a year in 2011.

References:

Kramer, Mary H. "Zoo Careers and Salaries." About.com. About.com, 2012. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. <http://animalcareers.about.com/od/Wildlife/a/Zoo-Careers-And-Salaries.htm>.

Week #5 Prompt: Defining Ethics

     Although the The Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics are currently under review, it remains in effect for all veterinarians. The introduction to The Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics states: 

     "All veterinarians are expected to adhere to a progressive code of ethical conduct known as the Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics (the Principles). The basis of the Principles is the Golden Rule. Veterinarians should accept this rule as a guide to their general conduct, and abide by the Principles. They should conduct their professional and personal affairs in an ethical manner. Professional veterinary associations should adopt the Principles or a similar code as a guide for their activities."

    While this introduction broadly explains that all veterinarians should follow these rules, the principle of ethics explains in detail what is expected of them. In general The Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics says that veterinarians should always put their patients needs first, always try to improve, and not  let outside sources influence how they treat their patients. These key points in the code of ethics stood out to me because they correspond to my own beliefs and I can relate to them as a college student. 

"Veterinarians should first consider the needs of the patient: to relieve disease, suffering, or disability while minimizing pain or fear."

- This relates to my own belief because as a person I think it is important to think of others before myself. Especially when people are need someone to be there to help them, the selflessness of my own actions could help them get through a bad time in their lives. As a college student, being surrounded by many different kinds of people can be difficult, and it is a big transition. Helping and understanding that other people are not necessarily cope the same way I do, I can practice putting their needs first. Although this is not the same as treating animals, to me, the basic idea is very similar.

"Veterinarians should strive to enhance their image with respect to their colleagues, clients, other health professionals, and the general public. Veterinarians should be honest, fair, courteous, considerate, and compassionate. Veterinarians should present a professional appearance and follow acceptable professional procedures using current professional and scientific knowledge."

- This relates to my own beliefs because I think it is important to always be the best person you can be. As a college student it is easy to go to class, or even to skip class, and just sit in bed all day like a potato; however, to be the best person I can be, I not only go to class, do the work and study, I also find social clubs and organization while also finding a job. Balancing all these different aspects of my life, is practice for how I can balance my career while also trying to find new ways to improve in it. However, improvement does not stop at successfulness or becoming better at doing tasks. Improving also means becoming a better person. Veterinarians should be honest, fair and so forth, and although being a college student does not necessarily prepare me for that, living on my own and growing up does. 

"The choice of treatments or animal care should not be influenced by considerations other than the needs of the patient, the welfare of the client, and the safety of the public."

- This relates to my own beliefs because I think it is important to make my own opinions, and take my own actions uninfluenced by what other people say and do. As a college student I can practice this easily because I often have to try to remain unbiased to other's opinions in regards to my friends, professors and even their opinion on my major. I think being a college student will help me practice this more based on the fact that there are so many different opinions in one place, that I constantly have to decide what is best for myself, or in the case of my major, what is best for the animal.

Free Post: "So You Want to Become a Wildlife Vet, ah?"

Often when I am interested in something, I tend to research and find out everything I can about that topic; in this case, it was wildlife veterinary medicine. While I was researching I came across a website called “Vets Into the Wild” written by a wildlife veterinarian. While reading this website I came across an article that shines a light on the darker side of becoming a wildlife vet. He talks about how his entire life he wanted to work in the wild treating animals, but once he got more into his career he realized it’s not all fun and games.
For example, he mentions that when he finally got a job offer it wasn’t anything like he expected. He went into the rainforest and everyday he worried about catching some life-threatening disease and all of the other dangers from being there. Besides from third-world country diseases, there are also many bugs and they often don’t have up to date technology. 
     However, my favorite point he brought up was that the animals are, in fact, wild. For some reason many people believe that the animals are willingly going to let a vet treat them, but the facts are they aren’t. It is very dangerous going into these places, and most of the times animals have to be hit with sleeping darts before they can treat them. This article really opened and forced me to second think my career path. 
Although I do want to treat exotic animals of some sort, I would have to seriously think about the opportunity I am given and if the risks are worth it. This article made me wonder if captive exotic animals, like in zoos or other places, would be better for me to work with. No matter the situation I end up in, I do believe that treating undomesticated animals is something I really want to do in my life. 

References

N.A. "So… You Want to Become a Wildlife Vet, Ah?" Weblog post. Vets into the Wild. Wordpress.com, 28 June 2010. Web. <http://outdoorvets.com/2010/06/28/so-you-want-to-become-a-wildlife-vet-ah/>.

Free Post: Interview with Dr. Carlos Sanchez

Listen to the audio podcast.

     While exploring what it would be like to work as a veterinarian in a zoo instead of an exotic place, I came across an article which explains the duties of a Zoo Veterinarian from the perspective of Dr. Carlos Sanchez. The first question talks about what a typical day is like, in which he responds that every day is always different. He talks about how he’ll go from treating an Alpaca to checking on a butterfly that isn’t flying correctly. In other questions he mentions how his job can be difficult because every animal is different, and it is harder to find the problem in unique animals because we do not always know what should be considered abnormal for them.
     Dr. Carlos Sanchez then goes on to talk about how he became a Zoo Veterinarian, his goals and other aspects of the job. A part of his interview that really stood out to me was how he feels about the animals he treats. He mentioned that unlike a pet, wild animals hide their symptoms if they’re sick or injured which sometimes results in it being too late to treat them. He also mentioned how losing an animal is probably the hardest part of the job, and if it wasn’t for the zookeepers themselves they usually wouldn’t realize that the animals were even sick. 
    His interview really put this career path in perspective for me. A lot of blogs and website’s are very bias when describing this career, and while it is nice knowing the pros and cons from each person, having honest answers like his give me a better outlook of what I possibly have the chance to do when I finish school. He gives real details which give me insight on what my life would be like if I were to become a Zoo Veterinarian. In my opinion, every job has its advantages and disadvantages, and for me at least, being able to work with and help these animals is enough to weight out all the negative aspects of the job.

References

"Interview with Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Carlos Sanchez." Interview by Carlos Sanchez, Dr.Teachers. Interview with Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Carlos Sanchez, 04 Feb. 2014. Web. 06 Feb. 2014. <http://kids.usa.gov/transcripts/zoo-veterinarian.shtml>.

Week #4 Prompt: Observing Community

     A big part of any career working with animals is experience, kind of like “practice makes perfect.” At Michigan State University there are a large amount of clubs and organizations that relate to any field, hobby, or interest a person has. For me, one group, the Zoo, Exotic and Wildlife club, really stood out. When going on their website I found that they are a club specifically striving to give veterinary students more information about working with animals from zoo’s and the wild. This organization not only provides information on special species, but also gives students hands-on experience opportunities, which not only is interesting for the students, but also is beneficial for their resumes.
    The Zoo, Exotics and Wildlife Club has a strong belief in helping animals; in fact, their quote: "We care for wildlife animals...because they are a part of our family," describes them pretty well. They also communicate by having meetings on Tuesdays and their own bulletin board in the Natural Science building. For just a small fee a year, members get opportunities to participate in all sorts of different events. For example, exotics animal laboratory, which includes not only a lecture to educate but also a chance for students to handle these animals and get a better sense of what is being taught. Also, this club gets a behind the scenes tour the Potter Park Zoo, along with a few other field trips as well. Furthermore, the Zoo, Exotics and Wildlife Club also participates in volunteer work. For about an hour a day, the have the opportunity to work with Wildlife Veterinarians to treat live animals. 
     Clubs like this are very beneficial for students in my major and majors similar to mine. I think they give you the experiences you need to figure out if this is something you actually want to do for the rest of your life, and if it is, the club gives you the opportunity to do it. Being a part of the community by joining clubs and groups is not only a good way to meet people who have similar interest to you, but also to start networking to get your name out there incase anyone hears an opportunity you may be interested in.

References

"MSU Zoo, Exotics, & Wildlife Club." MSU Zoo, Exotics, & Wildlife Club. Michigan State University, 2010. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.

Week #3 Prompt: Interviewing a Professional

     Interviewing a professional who works with animals from zoo's or from the wild was much more difficult than I realized. Many of them are very busy, which is understandable. However, in order to become a Wildlife Veterinarian, I am graduating as a Zoology major; therefore, I interviewed my Zoology advisor, Katie Licht. During my meeting with Katie Licht, she not only talked to me about my personal goals and what I can do in order to become someone who works with exotic animals, but she also gave me great insight into her profession. 

What routes can someone take in order to work with exotic animals?
     -Well there are a lot of different options, especially in the Zoology field. You can either go to veterinary school and specialize in a species, or you can go to grad school and specialize in learning their behavior, which is somewhat what I did, or doing research, or you can participate in internships or volunteer places.

Do you like what you're doing now?
     -I love Zoology but I wish I would have taken a different route in grad school. There are 3 options in order to work with animal behavior, and I chose more of a psychology behind people and animals rather than just animals themselves, which I do want to start working more with.

What is your best advice to students that want to go to grad school or veterinary school?
     -Take all your recommended classes, and work very hard. Also, participate in internships and work with animals to get as much experience as you can.

How often do you work with animals?
     -Well my friends actually work a lot more with animal behavior and training than I do. They work at zoos and have to train the lions to sit before they eat and things like that. 

In any profession working with animals, what kind of writing do you have to do?
     -Well it all depends exactly what your job is and entails. If you are a researcher, you're going to have to write notes and more of scientific journal typed writings. Whereas, if you are a traditional vet you write follow-ups and examinations on your patients.

How do people in this career path do their writings?
     -There are a ton of different ways people can write and get their information out. Some people write blogs, or scientific journals. Also, some people end up being professors or do some sort of teaching, so they write all of their knowledge in books or lectures. 

     I think talking with Katie helped me in regards to pointing me in the right direction. Also, she had a lot of good points and different inside perspectives on each different path I could take to become someone working with wildlife. I think her experience as she went through school and her career opened up my eyes to the different experiences I will go through.