Interested in volunteering for RAVS? What to know before you apply
Rural Area Veterinary Services
Time Commitment
Clinic length will vary, but for a weeklong surgery teaching clinic the typical time away from home is 8 days, including travel. Your commitment will begin well before the clinic though. Review of volunteer training materials, completing the online evaluation and other necessary pre-trip steps will take some time. Please review and ensure that you can meet all pre-clinic training and preparation requirements before submitting a volunteer application.
Expenses
Travel: Volunteers are responsible for transportation to and from the clinic site, and all ground transportation during the trip. On some trips the team will move mid-week to a new site, and you will need reliable transportation throughout the week. We highly encourage volunteers to arrange ride-shares with others on the clinic team to conserve resources and facilitate team logistics.
Food and Lodging: Once the team has assembled at the meeting location, basic meals (generally vegetarian) and lodging will be provided for the duration of the clinic. Onsite accommodations usually involve indoor camping in the clinic facility or other community building. Volunteers are responsible for all hotel accommodations, meals and any other expenses before the posted meeting time and after the team departs the final clinic site.
Showers, cell service/wifi, and hot water are never guaranteed. Volunteers should be prepared to meet inconveniences or unexpected events with patience and a sense of adventure. If you have any particular dietary requirements, plan to bring packaged food to meet your specific needs. Snacks are always a good idea!
Veterinary Students: All veterinary students participating in surgery teaching clinics are required to bring sterile surgeon’s gloves in their size (5-10 pairs/week).
Health and safety
RAVS’ top priority is the health and wellbeing of our patients, clients, communities and team members. All volunteers must read and agree to comply with the RAVS safety policy prior to participation. Volunteers will sign a release which includes a statement that they understand the safety policies and risk prevention protocols described here and will provide their own medical insurance. By participating in a RAVS clinic, you are agreeing to release The Humane Society of the United States and its affiliates, its staff and consultants, and the supervising professionals from liability for injuries that may occur during the trip or while traveling to the site.
Health Insurance: Volunteers will be required to have personal health insurance, and to carry an insurance card on the trip.
Rabies Prophylaxis: We recommend that all volunteers have previous vaccination for rabies. Volunteers who have not been vaccinated will be able to handle animals only after signing a release of liability form which places all responsibility for post-exposure treatment and medical expenses in the event of a bite or other potential rabies exposure on the volunteer.
If confronted with an animal who they feel poses a safety risk, volunteers are to alert RAVS staff immediately. Training materials including information on safe animal handling will be required reading for all volunteers prior to the clinic. At the start of all trips an orientation will be held including additional information on animal handling and bite prevention. Volunteers should not attempt to work with any animal they do not feel comfortable handling.
If a bite or other injury occurs, it is the volunteer’s responsibility to alert the Trip Lead in charge immediately. RAVS personnel will make arrangements for the volunteer to receive medical care at a local medical clinic. The volunteer will be responsible for any charges incurred.
Team Health & Illness Prevention: Additional information, including health and safety protocols for RAVS field teams are updated regularly. Current requirements and recommendations will be shared with all team members in advance of each scheduled clinic.
Continuing Education
Veterinarians and veterinary technicians participating in a surgical teaching clinic with five or more clinic service days are eligible to receive up to 30 hours of RACE approved continuing education credit. To be eligible, volunteers must complete the pre-clinic training assessment and participate in all clinic orientations and rounds. Participants can earn CE credit for one clinic per year.
HSVMA Student Membership
All student volunteers will automatically receive a complimentary HSVMA student membership. For information on member benefits and services visit www.hsvma.org.
