Are you interested in the veterinary profession?  The Pinecrest Veterinary Clinic has a volunteer program that is designed to allow individuals who are 14 years of age or older to gain the experience they will need to determine whether or not a career in the veterinary profession is for them.  In addition to being at least 14 years of age, the applicant for the volunteer program must also have their parent’s consent and transportation arrangements.

You may be wondering what the volunteer program entails.  The volunteer program is designed to surround the volunteer in a continuous atmosphere of learning and productive activity.  Consequently, this benefits not only our clinic, but it also benefits the volunteer as well.  Thus, the following rules are meant to keep the volunteer, staff, and pets in a safe environment.

Clothing

1.      Clothes should be tidy—nothing you are wearing should have holes in them.

2.      You are not to wear shorts or sandals—you must wear pants and shoes due to the risks that are present in this profession.

3.      You are not to wear hats.

4.      You cannot wear shirts with tobacco, alcohol, or other questionable sayings on them.

*Think about what you would wear to school or a job—you are volunteering in a profession where you are in constant contact with the public, and we want everyone to look professional.

Attendance

1.      You may call on your scheduled day to make sure there are tasks for you to do and also to make sure we have appointments/surgeries scheduled that day for you to observe.

2.      If you cannot make it on your scheduled day for any reason, always call/email the volunteer manager letting him/her know why you cannot make it.

3.      There will be an attendance sheet for you to fill out every time you come in to volunteer.  As long as you have called the volunteer manager before an absence, it will not be counted against you.

4.      If you miss several times, especially without calling/emailing the volunteer manager, it will be assumed that you are no longer interested in volunteering, and you will no longer be able to participate in the volunteer program.

5.      You are required to have transportation that will be able to get you here and pick you up on time.

What is Expected of You

1.      You are welcome to follow the doctors, technicians, and assistants into the exam rooms unless you are told otherwise. We respect our clients right to privacy as well as the anxious nature of some pets around new people.

2.      While you are in the exam rooms, you should listen and observe quietly.  Please do not interrupt the doctor, technician, assistant, or client, and do not initiate a casual conversation with the clients.

3.      If you have any questions while in an exam room with a doctor, technician, or assistant, please ask him/her after you have both left the exam room.

4.      Please make one of the staff members aware of any procedure that makes you feel uncomfortable.

5.      A list of extra things to do will be given to you when we are slow.  Make sure that you are staying busy while you are here volunteering.  We want your time spent with us to be both quality time and fun, too!

6.      Please keep in mind that we unfortunately deal with emergency situations and the loss of pets.  If you feel uncomfortable around any of these situations, please make a staff member aware.

7.      Do not handle any animals unless a doctor, technician, or assistant informs you that it is safe to do so.  We do not want anyone getting bitten, and we do not want you to accidentally cause discomfort to painful patients by improperly handling them.

8.      No volunteers are allowed in the isolation ward.

9.      Please stay in the “hospital/treatment” area at all times unless you are instructed otherwise.

10.  If you help in any pet walking area, you must pick up any feces left by the dog by using the scooper or paper towels.  Please make sure you put your initials on the treatment board so that we know it has been done.

11. The volunteer program is an introduction to the clinic. No guarantee of future employment is given. A volunteer may be asked to discontinue attendance at any time either due to conduct, performance, or additional volunteers on the waiting list. This program can end at any time.

Remember

The volunteer program was designed to provide a fun learning experience for anyone who has an interest in animals and has a career goal in the veterinary profession.

As an added note, remember to be actively involved in the volunteer program while you are here during your scheduled time.  You can do this by following the doctors, technicians, or assistants into the exam rooms, and we also have a list of tasks that you can help us out with that is located near the volunteer sign-in/sign-out sheet.  Please have the initiative to become involved in the volunteer program so that you can reap the benefits!  If you ever have any questions, please feel free to ask!

Listed below you will see the possible volunteer times that may be available when one signs up to join the volunteer program.  The applicant will be allowed to choose to volunteer one day a week during one of the listed times.  Please keep in mind that this program is quite popular, and there may be a waiting list.  You will be notified as soon as an opening becomes available, and you are more than welcome to call for an update regarding the status of your application while you are waiting.

Monday and Friday:     8:00 am – 11:00 am

                                       4:00pm – 6:00 pm

Tuesday-Thursday:  no volunteers

Saturday:  9:00 am – 10:30 am

                  10:30 am – 12:00 pm

If you have an interest in the veterinary profession and would like to participate in the volunteer program, please stop by our office and request an application form.  In addition, if you have any questions concerning the volunteer program, please call our office, and we will be more than happy to answer them for you!