VET SCHOOL has taken over my LIFE!

So, obviously it's been awhile since I have last posted a blog. This would be due to VET SCHOOL. It has taken over my life once again. My friend Shirin keeps a pretty good account of our life at vet school. If you are interested, you should check out her blog (www.modaresibeal.blogspot.com)

Yesterday was a rough day for me. We did our first surgical procedure of the year--a canine neuter! Which was a great learning experience, and we were able to do the neuter on a shelter dog, making it more adoptable! But on top of that I have a radiology test looming overhead (thursday to be precise)....this is not my strongest subject! And then they threw a kink in my spokes...by "informing" us that the alternative in place for the terminal surgery lab isn't what we thought it would be--and I broke down!
our surgical candidate--ROCKET!
he is now neutered and up for adoption at Washington-Wilkes Animal Shelter.

Basically, we are required to conduct an exploratory and OHE during our surgery lab. This is normally done on a pig or dog that is euthanized after surgery. I feel that killing an animal for my learning is unacceptable. I'm in vet school to help animals, not kill healthy animals (even if they are pigs that will be taken to market). As an alternative, we would like to obtain ethically-sourced cadavers (animals dying of natural causes or being humanely euthanized in face of pain/suffering). However, this is NOT the alternative given to us. Our so-called "alternative" is conducting surgery on a freshly euthanized pig--bought by the university! Sorry, but this is unacceptable to me!!!!

I don't want to continue ranting...so I'll leave it at that...still not sure what "option" I will choose...seeing as there isn't really an option!

And I promise, my next blog will be happier than this one!