Houston SPCA Launches New Summer Jobs Program for Students on Career Path in Veterinary Medicine
The Houston SPCA announced today a new summer jobs program that just launched with 10 college students on a career path in veterinary medicine. The students are spending the summer at the Houston SPCA in paid, full-time positions where they are working in various areas on campus including the Pet Wellness Clinic, adoptions and animal care, small animal veterinary services, equine veterinary services and Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center.
Maya Scott is among the 10 selected for the inaugural program. She is currently attending Texas A&M and plans to attend veterinary school after graduation. “This first week has been so amazing. I get to learn new veterinary skills while earning money this summer,” said Scott. Hannah Smart joined Scott in her enthusiasm about the program. “This week I got to work in the Pet Wellness Clinic, so I learned about vaccines and best practices on inoculations,” said Smart.
Maya Scott, foreground, interacting with a horse at the Houston SPCA's equine veterinary services facility. (Source: Houston SPCA) Dr. Roberta Westbrook, Chief Animal Welfare and Medical Officer at the Houston SPCA curated the program and shared how it fills the gap in the organization’s spectrum of humane education initiatives. “We have education programs that serve students as young as kindergarten through middle school and high school. Now we’ve added college-level students who have a budding awareness of their passion for veterinary medicine and to be instrumental in helping them reach their goals in serving animals is very exciting,” said Westbrook.
The Houston SPCA also has an 11-year-long partnership with Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences where all fourth-year veterinary students complete a mandatory, graded two-week rotation while living in a dormitory on their campus.
The Summer Jobs Program runs from June to August 2024. Applications for next summer will open in March 2025. For additional information, please visit HoustonSPCA.org.
Source: Houston SPCA
